Barbacoa Beef

Get ready for the incredible aroma of Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef to bring the whole family to the table! My recipe makes dinner easy!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword barbacoa, barbacoa beef, barbacoa recipe, beef barbacoa

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 7

Total Time 7 20

Servings

Calories 421kcal

Using gloves and scissors, remove the stems and seeds from the guajillo and ancho peppers, and place them in a small dish filled with boiling water. Submerge, and rest for 20 minutes.
2 Guajillo peppers, 2 Ancho peppers
Drain the soaked peppers, then place them in a food processor and blend until smoothed.
Slice the beef into chunks, then add them to a bowl and pour the blended peppers over top. Toss to coat the beef completely.
3 lbs Beef chuck roast
Add oil to a cast iron skillet and set it over medium-high heat. Once it's hot, add the beef chunks and sear until each side is well browned.
3 Tablespoons Olive oil
Once seared, transfer the beef to a slow cooker. De-glaze the cast iron pan with beef stock to gather up the browned bits, then add it to the slow cooker alongside all other barbacoa ingredients.
7 oz Chipotles in Adobo, 12 oz Beef stock, 4 Tablespoons Apple cider vinegar, 1 Lime, 1 Yellow onion, 3 cloves Garlic, 1 Tablespoon Oregano, 2 teaspoons Cumin, 3 Bay leaves, Salt and pepper
Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, until the beef is tender and shreds easily. Shred the beef on a cutting board with two forks, then serve and enjoy!

Don't set the slow cooker to HIGH! The low cooking temperature is critical to making sure the beef turns out silky soft. Cooking it on high temperatures can overcook the beef and make it tough.

This recipe makes a lot of barbacoa, so it's perfect for make-ahead meals! Whip up a huge batch and then freeze it in smaller portions to heat up whenever you want barbacoa!

Check the produce section of your local supermarket for the peppers- they're sold dry in bulk bags or self serve. Getting the right peppers is important for the flavor!

Adding the seeds from the chilis will up the spice, so add seeds to your spice level preference!