Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa (Print)
Meltingly tender chipotle-cumin beef, slow-cooked for tacos, burritos, or bowls.
# Ingredient list:
→ Meats
01 - 3.3 lbs beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into large chunks
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 large white onion, chopped
03 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
05 - 1 lime, juiced
→ Spices & Seasonings
06 - 1 tbsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tbsp dried oregano
08 - 2 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 2 tsp salt
10 - 1 tsp ground black pepper
11 - 2 bay leaves
→ Liquids
12 - 1/2 cup beef broth
13 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
# Directions:
01 - Spread the chopped onion and minced garlic evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - Nestle the beef chuck pieces on top of the onion and garlic layer.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, combine the chopped chipotle peppers, lime juice, ground cumin, dried oregano, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, apple cider vinegar, and beef broth. Stir until well blended.
04 - Pour the seasoning mixture evenly over the beef. Tuck the bay leaves into the liquid. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours, or until the beef is fork-tender and shreds effortlessly.
05 - Discard the bay leaves. Using two forks, shred the beef directly in the slow cooker, allowing it to absorb the cooking juices. Mix thoroughly to ensure even coating.
06 - Serve the barbacoa hot with warm tortillas, over steamed rice, in burritos, or in grain bowls.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The beef shreds with almost no effort and tastes like it came from a proper taqueria.
- It makes the house smell incredible for the entire day, which is basically a bonus.
02 -
- Resist the urge to lift the lid during cooking because every peek adds roughly thirty minutes to the total time.
- The flavors genuinely improve overnight, so making it a day ahead is a strategy, not a compromise.
03 -
- For more heat, add an extra chipotle pepper or a diced jalapeno, but taste the adobo sauce first because brands vary wildly in intensity.
- Always check labels on your adobo sauce and beef broth for hidden gluten or soy if those are concerns for anyone at your table.