Slow Cooked Barbacoa Beef

Name: Slow Cooked Barbacoa Beef
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 8 h
Total time: 8 h 15 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 3 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 onion, finely diced; 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped; 1/4 cup fresh lime juice; 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 1 tablespoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 cup beef broth

A cozy, melt in your mouth beef recipe that is perfect for taco night.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 Mexican· July 19, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

8 hours

Total

8 hours 15 minutes

Serves

There is nothing quite like coming home to the smell of slow cooked beef. This barbacoa is tender, juicy, and packed with a deep smoky flavor that makes it a favorite for family dinners.

My best tip is to sear the beef before you let it slow cook. It adds a wonderful depth of flavor that really makes the dish taste like it came from a restaurant kitchen.

🧺 Ingredients

3 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, finely diced
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup beef broth

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Brown the beef chunks in a large skillet over medium high heat until they have a nice crust on all sides.
2
Place the seared beef into your slow cooker.
3
In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, onion, chipotle peppers, lime juice, vinegar, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, and beef broth.
4
Pour the liquid mixture over the beef in the slow cooker.
5
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours until the beef is very tender and shreds easily with a fork.
6
Remove the beef from the slow cooker, shred it using two forks, and toss it back in with the juices before serving.

💡 Tips

Serve this beef in warm corn tortillas with fresh cilantro, diced onion, and a squeeze of lime. If you have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days or freeze them for a quick meal later.

#beef #tacos #dinner #slow cooker #gluten free

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