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Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef Recipe

4.6 from 85 reviews

This Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef recipe offers a tender, flavorful Mexican-inspired dish that is perfect for easy weeknight meals. The beef is slow-cooked with a blend of spices, garlic, and vinegar, creating juicy and shredded meat that’s great for tacos, burritos, or bowls.

Ingredients

Scale

Beef

  • 3 lbs beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into large chunks

Spices

  • 2 tbsp chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt

Other Ingredients

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup beef broth or water (optional for moisture)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the beef: Trim excess fat from the chuck roast and cut it into large chunks to ensure even cooking and easy shredding later.
  2. Mix the spices and season: In a small bowl, combine chipotle peppers, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Rub this spice mixture evenly over all sides of the beef chunks.
  3. Set up the slow cooker: Place the seasoned beef chunks into the slow cooker. Add minced garlic and pour in the apple cider vinegar. If desired, add beef broth or water to keep the meat moist during cooking.
  4. Slow cook the beef: Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 6 hours until the beef is very tender and can easily be shredded with a fork.
  5. Shred the beef: Remove the beef from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded beef to the slow cooker and stir it into the cooking juices for extra flavor and moisture.
  6. Serve: Serve the barbacoa beef warm in tacos, burritos, bowls, or on your favorite Mexican dishes.

Notes

  • For spicier barbacoa, add extra chipotle peppers or a dash of cayenne pepper.
  • Use beef chuck roast for the best balance of tenderness and flavor.
  • Leftover barbacoa can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
  • Serve with fresh cilantro, lime wedges, diced onions, and your favorite salsa for extra zest.

Keywords: slow cooker barbacoa beef, shredded beef recipe, Mexican beef slow cooker, easy barbacoa, slow cooked beef tacos