• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Fork's Tale
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Reviews
  • Projects
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Reviews
  • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Reviews
    • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Mexican Recipes

    Barbacoa Beef Recipe (Slow Cooker)

    November 2, 2022 Updated: November 8, 2022 By Katie Crenshaw 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    This barbacoa beef recipe makes fork tender Mexican shredded beef in a flavorful, chipotle-spiced sauce. Cook it in your slow cooker and serve in tacos, burritos, rice bowls, nachos, or salads for an easy, delicious meal!
    This barbacoa beef recipe makes fork tender Mexican shredded beef in a flavorful, chipotle-spiced sauce. Cook it in your slow cooker and serve in tacos, burritos, rice bowls, nachos, or salads for an easy, delicious meal!
    This barbacoa beef recipe makes fork tender Mexican shredded beef in a flavorful, chipotle-spiced sauce. Cook it in your slow cooker and serve in tacos, burritos, rice bowls, nachos, or salads for an easy, delicious meal!
    This barbacoa beef recipe makes fork tender Mexican shredded beef in a flavorful, chipotle-spiced sauce. Cook it in your slow cooker and serve in tacos, burritos, rice bowls, nachos, or salads for an easy, delicious meal!

    This barbacoa beef recipe makes fork tender Mexican shredded beef in a flavorful, chipotle-spiced sauce.

    Cook it in your slow cooker and serve in tacos, burritos, rice bowls, nachos, or salads for an easy, delicious meal!

    Three barbacoa tacos on a red plate

    My favorite way to eat barbacoa beef is on corn tortillas and topped with cilantro, onions, and lime juice.

    However, it is great on rice bowls over using jalapeno, cilantro, lime rice.

    Watch how to make

    It is also fantastic over nachos. If you make Mexican shredded beef nachos, try making it over homemade baked tortilla chips. They are so good!

    barbacoa beef ingredients-beef chuck roast, cumin, ground cloves, beef broth, apple cider vinegar, bay leaves, chipotle in adobo sauce, garlic, lime, Mexican oregano

    Ingredients for barbacoa beef

    You will need the following ingredients to make barbacoa beef:

    • Beef chuck roast- Because this recipe is slow cooked, the beef chuck roast is the best option for tender, flavorful, fall off the fork meat. However, you can substitute with a bottom round roast if you want a leaner cut.
    • cumin
    • ground cloves- You can substitute with a few whole cloves. If you use whole cloves, do not process them in the blender. Instead, add them in when you add the bay leaves and remove them when you remove the bay leaves.
    • beef broth-You can substitute with chicken broth or water.
    • apple cider vinegar
    • chipotles in adobo sauce- I like the extra spice and flavor from the chipotles. If you want it to be less spicy, use half of the recommended amount in the recipe.
    • Mexican oregano- You can substitute with Italian or Greek oregano.
    • ground coriander
    • bay leaves
    • garlic
    • lime juice

    NOTE: Full recipe measurements are in the recipe card at the end of the post.

    steps to make barbacoa beef in slow cooker

    Steps

    Follow these simple steps to make barbacoa beef in slow cooker.

    1. Sear chuck roast on each side until outside is brown. Add to crockpot.
    2. In a food processor or blender, add beef broth, apple cider vinegar, cumin, ground cloves, chipotles in adobo sauce, Mexican oregano, ground coriander, garlic, and lime juice. Process until smooth.
    3. Pour sauce mixture over the chuck roast. Add the bay leaves. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours until fork tender.
    4. Remove and discard bay leaves. Remove meat from juices. Shred the beef.
    5. Add beef back into the juices. Serve beef in tacos, burritos, rice bowls, nachos, and salads.

    This post contains affiliate links.

    Note: I found these fun, cute taco trays on Amazon. They are sturdy, dish washer proof, colorful, and do a great job holding my tacos in place.

    3 Mexican shredded beef tacos on a red plate

    Can you freeze barbacoa?

    You can freeze barbacoa. To freeze, store in a ziplock or airtight container up to 4 months.

    To serve, defrost meat, then reheat on stove top or microwave.

    What sides go well with barbacoa?

    Looking for some tasty sides to go with barbacoa? Try some of these:

    • Mexican Corn Salad
    • Cheesy Green Chile Rice Casserole
    • Mexican Black Beans
    • Mexican Pickled Carrots
    • Homemade Restaruant Style Salsa

    About the recipe

    This recipe is from my dear friend and neighbor, Michelle Lakeman.

    She also has shared her Apple Cider Margarita recipe with me. (It pairs perfect with barbacoa!)

    She is a fantastic cook and mixologist.  Dinner is always special and fun at her house. I am always begging for her recipes. I am so lucky to live next door to enjoy her friendship and kitchen creations.

    Did your barbacoa beef turn out delicious? Please leave me a comment below if you make this and tell me what you thought about it. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.

    Also post a picture of your barbacoa on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!

    barbacoa beef in taco shells on a red plate

    Barbacoa Recipe

    This barbacoa beef recipe makes fork tender Mexican shredded beef in a flavorful, chipotle-spiced sauce. Cook it in your slow cooker and serve in tacos, burritos, rice bowls, nachos, or salads for an easy, delicious meal!
    5 from 16 votes
    Print Pin Save Recipe Saved! Rate
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 6 hours
    Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 325kcal
    Author: Katie Crenshaw

    Equipment

    • slow cooker

    Ingredients

    • 3 to 4 pound chuck roast
    • 7 ounce chipotle in adobo sauce canned
    • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
    • 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
    • 2 teaspoons cumin
    • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
    • 3 garlic cloves
    • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • 1 lime juiced
    • 16 ounces beef broth
    • 3 bay leaves

    Instructions

    • Sear chuck roast on each side until outside is brown. Add to crockpot.
      3 to 4 pound chuck roast
    • In a food processor or blender, add beef broth, apple cider vinegar, cumin, ground cloves, chipotles in adobo sauce, Mexican oregano, ground coriander, garlic, and lime juice. Process until smooth.
      7 ounce chipotle in adobo sauce, ½ teaspoon ground cloves, 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano, 2 teaspoons cumin, ½ teaspoon ground coriander, 3 garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 16 ounces beef broth, 1 lime
    • Pour sauce mixture over the chuck roast. Add the bay leaves. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours until fork tender.
      3 bay leaves
    • Remove and discard bay leaves. Remove meat from juices. Shred the beef.
    • Add beef back into the juices. Serve beef in tacos, burritos, rice bowls, nachos, and salads.

    Video

    Nutrition- Nutrition info is based on estimation only.

    Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 765mg | Potassium: 673mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 461IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried this recipe? I want to see it!Mention @aForksTale or tag #aForksTale!

    More Mexican Recipes

    • stuffed jalapenos on a white plate with sour cream dip in a bowl in the center
      Stuffed Jalapeños with Cheese and Ground Beef
    • taco dip on a blue and white striped platter
      Cream Cheese Taco Dip
    • homemade Peach salsa
      Homemade Peach Salsa
    • King Ranch Chicken Casserole
      King Ranch Chicken Casserole

    Primary Sidebar

    Katie Crenshaw-A Fork's Tale

    Hi, I'm Katie!

    Thanks for stopping in!! I am a foodie and I LOVE to eat. I am so excited to share my recipes and adventures with you! My recipes are simple and easy for the modern cook.

    More about me →

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy

    Subscribe

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Katie Crenshaw is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to A Fork's Tale at www.aforkstale.com to Amazon.com.

    creator expertise banner  for a fork's tale

    Copyright © 2020 A Fork's Tale