A bold, flavorful dish perfect for tacos, burritos, or bowls 🌮🔥
Looking for a dish that melts in your mouth and explodes with smoky, spicy flavor? This Slow-Cooked Barbacoa Beef is the ultimate Mexican comfort food, made with juicy chuck roast simmered low and slow in a rich blend of chipotle peppers, garlic, cumin, and tangy lime juice. 🤤
Whether you’re hosting taco night 🌮, meal prepping for the week, or just craving something hearty and satisfying, this recipe delivers authentic flavor with minimal effort.
📝 Ingredients:
- 3 lbs beef chuck roast (cut into large chunks)
- 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (from a can)
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ¾ cup beef broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil (for browning)
🔥 Instructions:
1. Sear the beef 🔪
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef chunks on all sides until browned — this locks in the juices and adds depth of flavor. Set aside.
2. Blend the marinade 🌀
In a blender or food processor, combine chipotle peppers, garlic, onion, cumin, oregano, cloves, vinegar, lime juice, salt, pepper, and beef broth. Blend until smooth and fragrant. 🌶️🧄
3. Slow cook the magic 🍲
Add the beef to your slow cooker. Pour the blended marinade over it and toss to coat. Add the bay leaves. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours, until the beef is tender and shreds easily with a fork.
4. Shred and simmer 🧂
Remove the beef and shred it with two forks. Return it to the slow cooker and stir into the sauce. Let it cook for another 15–20 minutes on low to absorb the flavors fully.
🥗 How to Serve:
- Pile it into warm corn tortillas for classic barbacoa tacos 🌮
- Stuff it into burritos, quesadillas, or enchiladas
- Serve it over rice bowls with black beans, guac, and salsa 🥑
- Add it to nachos for the ultimate party platter
💡 Tips:
✅ Don’t skip searing — it adds deep caramelized flavor
✅ You can freeze leftovers for up to 3 months
✅ Want it spicier? Add more chipotle peppers 🌶️
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Final Thoughts 💬
This Barbacoa Beef recipe is packed with bold spices and tender texture that will satisfy any craving. With minimal prep and the magic of slow cooking, it’s the kind of recipe that makes your kitchen smell amazing all day — and has everyone asking for seconds. 😍