Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa

Chuck roast slow cooked with chipotles in adobo, lime, garlic, cumin and cloves until it shreds into tender, smoky barbacoa for tacos and burrito bowls. Serves 8.

Naturally gluten-freeDairy-freeKetoLow-carbHigh-proteinPaleoBudget-friendlyNo added sugar

Slow cooker beef barbacoa tacos with onion, cilantro and lime
  • Prep 15 min
  • Cook 9 hr
  • Total 9 hr 15 min
  • Yield 8 servings

Jump to: Ingredients | Instructions | Nutrition | Tips | Questions | Print recipe

Barbacoa is beef cooked low and slow until it falls apart. Chipotles in adobo bring the smoke and heat, and a little vinegar and lime keep it bright.

Pile it into warm corn tortillas with onion, cilantro and lime.

Ingredients

Beef

  • 1 (3 to 4 pound) boneless beef chuck roast, cut into 4 pieces
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 3 chipotle peppers in adobo, plus 2 tablespoons of the sauce
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 2 bay leaves

For serving

  • Warm corn tortillas, diced onion, cilantro and lime wedges, for serving

New to an ingredient? See Chipotles in adobo in our kitchen glossary.

Instructions

  1. Season. Season the beef all over with the salt and put it in the slow cooker.
  2. Blend the sauce. Blend the onion, garlic, chipotles and adobo sauce, lime juice, vinegar, cumin, oregano, cloves and broth until smooth. Pour over the beef and add the bay leaves.
  3. Cook. Cover and cook on low 8 to 10 hours, until the beef shreds easily.
  4. Shred. Discard the bay leaves, shred the beef in the pot and stir it into the sauce. Serve with tortillas, onion, cilantro and lime.

Nutrition per serving (estimated)

390Calories
4 gCarbohydrates
1 gFiber
3 gNet carbs
38 gProtein
24 gFat

Estimated per serving, based on 8 servings, using USDA FoodData Central values for each ingredient. Net carbs are carbohydrates minus fiber. Optional ingredients, garnishes and anything served on the side are not included. Brands and portion sizes change the numbers.

Naturally gluten-freeDairy-freeKetoLow-carbHigh-proteinPaleoBudget-friendlyNo added sugar

Tips

  • Use 2 chipotles for milder barbacoa, 4 for hot.
  • Crisp leftovers in a hot skillet for even better tacos.

Questions about this recipe

What cut of beef is best for barbacoa?
Chuck roast; beef cheeks are traditional if you can find them.
Is barbacoa gluten-free?
Yes, served on corn tortillas; check the chipotle label.

Serve it with

Build the whole dinner: sides, sauce and dessert ›

Pairs with: a cold Mexican lager, or a Malbec or Zinfandel. Wine pairing guide

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