Slow Cooker Barbacoa Recipe | The Best Chipotle Barbacoa for Tacos! (2024)

Published: Feb 18, 2018 · Modified: Jul 25, 2023 by Sherri · This post may contain affiliate links · 15 Comments

This authentic Barbacoa recipe is an easy slow cooker meal that makes the most amazing beef seasoned with chipotle peppers and other simple ingredients.

Does anyone else love Chipotle as much as I do? One of my favorite things to order there is their Barbacoa beef. This recipe is the real deal!

I have never cooked with chipotles in adobo sauce before so this is a first for me. They are partly responsible forthe delicious flavor of this dish. I found them in the same Mexican foods aisle at the grocery store right by the greens chilies.

For this Barbacoa recipe, just simply add all the ingredients toyour slow cookerbefore you leave for the day. Your house will smell completely amazing when you walk through the door.

You can serve it in soft or hard tortillas toppedwith cilantro lime rice, black beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, cheese and sour cream.

Or forget the tortilla and make it a rice bowl or even a taco salad. However you decide, it’s all fantastic!

Ingredients to Make Barbacoa in a Slow Cooker

3 lbs chuck roast (fat trimmed), cut into 2-inch chunks

½ cup chicken or beef broth or water

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 chipotles in adobo sauce, chopped (more if you like more heat)

1 small white onion, chopped

3 tablespoons lime juice

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 bay leaves

1 Tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons dried oregano

¼ teaspoons ground cloves

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

How to Make this Barbacoa

In a medium-sized bowl, combine all the ingredients except the meat, and stir to combine.

Place the meat in the slow cooker.

Pour the sauce over the meat and gently toss to combine.

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.

Shred the beef using 2 forks inside the slow cooker.

Use a pair of tongs or a slotted spoon to serve the barbacoa.

Refrigerate in the juices in a sealed container. It also freezes well.

What is Barbacoa?

Interestingly, Barbacoa originally was prepared from parts of a cow’s head (mainly cheeks). You would also see goat or venison used as well.

It was slow-cooked in a brick-lined oven dug into the ground in Central Mexico. Today, we know it more commonly as a “brisket”.

I actually boughtchuck roast already cut into chunks for stew. You could also use a beefbrisket too.

Here are other slow cooker recipes for you to try:

Apple Pork Tenderloin

Slow Cooker Chicken Paprika

Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

Slow Cooker Angel Chicken

Adapted from Food.com