Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa Recipe

This slow cooker beef barbacoa recipe smells ah-mazing and tastes even better! A Chipotle barbacoa copycat, barbacoa meat is perfect for tacos, burrito bowls, tostadas, and so much more…

Tacos are one of those simple meals that make it easy to please everyone. Just set out an array of fresh produce and cheese for toppings, throw together some kind of protein, and everyone can customize their meal to their heart’s content.

When it comes to protein, I lean more toward chicken and fish dishes. However, my boys have been begging me for something a little more “manly”… aka beefy. Like this beef barbacoa that I make in my slow cooker!

It’s no secret that I {big puffy pink heart} love my slow cooker. I mean, what’s not to love? It makes cooking a dish like this a total breeze. And to be honest, I actually have multiple slow cookers, my favorite being the basic stainless steel Crock-Pot slow cooker that I picked up at Target on Black Friday several years ago for $5. Best five bucks I ever spent!

Anyhow, back to this yummy beef barbacoa recipe… McCormick sent me an array of their gourmet spices to create my favorite taco recipe, a few of which are pictured above.

So much variety — and they’re all packed with flavor. I had no idea they offered dried jalapeño pepper flakes! I didn’t use them in this recipe, but you can bet I’ll be trying those out very soon.

Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa Recipe

Did I mention how easy this recipe is to make? Just toss a chuck roast into the slow cooker with about 3/4 cup of beef stock. The adobo sauce comes together very quickly in a blender and is then poured over the top. Turn the slow cooker on low and forget about it for about 8-10 hours.

Well, you can try to forget about it, but the amazing aroma will continue to remind you of it and make your mouth water until it’s ready… Truly meal prep made easy!

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Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa (Chipotle Copycat)

Yield: serves 8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes

This slow cooker beef barbacoa recipe smells ah-mazing and tastes even better! A total Chipotle barbacoa copycat, barbacoa meat is perfect for tacos, burrito bowls, tostadas, and so much more...

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Ingredients

• 4-lbs. beef chuck roast
• 3/4 cup beef stock
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 yellow onion, cut into rough chunks
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
• 4 garlic cloves
• 4 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3-4 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

Instructions

1. Trim any excess fat off the chuck roast and place it in a crock pot with the beef stock.
2. In a blender, combine vinegar, onion, lime juice, garlic, cumin, oregano, black pepper, salt, cloves, allspice, salt, and pepper. Add your desired number of chipotle peppers and blend on high. Pour the pureed sauce over the meat, and place the lid on your slow cooker
3. Cook on low heat for 8-10 hours or on high heat for 6 hours. Don't peek while cooking!
4. Shred the barbacoa meat in the juices and serve warm.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 557Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 188mgSodium: 499mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 57g

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

Have you tried this recipe?

Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag it @unsophisticook and hashtag it #unsophisticook!

I don’t claim to know what’s in Chipotle’s barbacoa recipe, but I’d say the flavor of this rivals theirs any day! I like to serve it with Coconut Cilantro Lime Rice and a side of this Chi-Chi’s Copycat Mexican Sweet Corn Cake. Or spice it up with this 30-minute Instant Pot Mexican Rice!