The busy weeknight dinner solution

This Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa is the ultimate dinner solution because it’s so simple to prepare and enjoy in a lot of different way. In less than 15 minutes you can have everything loaded into the slow cooker and cooking away. Then, 7-8 hours later, you’ll have a big batch of the most tender and flavorful shredded beef. It’s perfect for stuffing into tortillas and lettuce wraps or piling atop a bed of cauliflower rice, salad greens, or grain bowls. This recipe makes a big batch so you’ll have plenty of leftovers for an easy reheat-and-eat meal later. This is a perfect solution for when you just can’t wrap your brain around cooking dinner.

Ingredients to make this slow cooker barbacoa Recipe

All you need is a slow cooker, 10 ingredients, and 15 minutes of prep time to make this copycat Chipotle Barbacoa recipe that is sure to please.

Boneless beef chuck roast – we love chuck roast for this recipe because it results in incredibly tender and delicious shredded Barbacoa meatYellow onionGarlic clovesTomato pasteLime juice Seasonings and spices – you’ll need ground cumin, dried oregano, ground cloves, ground chipotle pepper, bay leaves, fine salt, and black pepper. Save big and stock-up on spices and seasonings at Thrive Market!

Ingredients list with exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

How to make Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa

It takes just three simple steps to make this recipe. Bonus: The slow cooker does the majority of the work!

Make the sauce: Using a food processor or blender, combine the onion, garlic, tomato paste, and seasonings (minus the bay leaves) and give it a whirl until smooth. Add the ingredients to the slow cooker: Once the sauce is made, add the beef cubes to the slow cooker, pour the sauce over the beef, and stir to combine. Add the bay leaves, cover the slow cooker, and set the timer.Let it cook: When the meat is tender, remove the beef and shred it with two forks, then return the shredded barbacoa to the slow cooker and stir into the saucy liquid. As always, taste and add additional salt and pepper, if needed.

For the complete directions, ingredient amounts, and nutrition analysis that lists calories, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, sugar, and sodium per serving, scroll down to the recipe card below.

Barbacoa Recipe: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some FAQs about this delicious barbacoa recipe:

Prep up to the point of cooking: Prepare the sauce and add all of the ingredients to a gallon-size reusable zip-top bag. You can do this up to 2 days in advance. Store in the refrigerator and, when ready to cook, simply dump the contents of the bag into the slow cooker. Make the recipe entirely for an easy reheat-and-eat meal. If you’re looking for an incredibly easy dinner option you can prep this recipe entirely ahead of time for easy reheat-and-eat meals. Store the cooked barbacoa covered airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days (or in the freezer for longer storage).

Freezer-to-Slow Cooker: This Barbacoa recipe is the perfect freezer-to-slow cooker recipe. Prepare the sauce and add to a gallon-size reusable zip-top bag along with the raw beef cubes and bay leaves. Seal tightly, label, and place in the freezer. When ready to cook, allow the ingredients to thaw just enough so that you can transfer them to the slow cooker. You can do this by placing the bag in water for 10-15 minutes or transferring to the refrigerator 24-48 hours before cooking. Then, slow cook on the high setting until the beef is tender, about 7 hours. Fully Prepare, Then Freeze: After the barbacoa is fully cooked, shredded, and cooled, store it in reusable zip-top freezer bags and freeze for up to 6 months. Reheat in the slow cooker, on the stovetop in a large saucepan, or in the microwave.

What is Barbacoa? Barbacoa is the Spanish word for Barbecue. This method for cooking saucy, shredded meat slowly over low heat originated in Mexico. Traditionally, barbacoa is made from goat or lamb that’s slow roasted in a pit for several hours. Modern recipes are usually made with beef or pork and often use a slow cooker with a special sauce, spices, and seasonings to replicate that long-simmered flavor. Can this recipe be made in the Instant Pot? It sure can. Lucky you, we also have a recipe for Instant Pot Barbacoa! What is the best cut of beef for making barbacoa? We like to use chuck roast because it’s a budget-friendly cut of beef that has nice marbling and is perfect for slow cooking. We find that using chuck roast results in tender, juicy, and flavorful barbacoa every time.

Perfect occasions to serve barbacoa Beef

So many occasions come to mind when we think of where to serve this crowd-pleasing, easy-to-make recipe.

Tortillas, taco shells, or tortilla chips Rice or cauliflower rice Fresh Veggies – lettuce, sliced radishes, fresh cilantro, green onions, sliced jalapeno, and tomatoes, corn, cabbage or slaw The best Quick Pickled Onions Cheese (Cotija, Monterey Jack, Taco blend, or Cheddar) Salsa or pico de gallo Sliced avocado or Homemade Guacamole Lime wedges Black beans or pinto beans Sour cream

Weeknight Dinner Winner – This recipe is so easy to put together which is why it makes for a perfect weeknight meal. Toss everything in the slow cooker in the morning and dinner will be waiting for you when you get home from work. Keep it simple and serve taco-style with a few of your favorite fixings Game-Day Grub – Whether you serve this barbacoa as tacos or bowls, it’s the perfect build-your-own food to enjoy while watching your favorite team. Hey, and even if you’re not all that into the game, at least you’ll know you can still enjoy the food Build-Your-Own Taco Night – Invite friends over, set out a variety of taco and bowl fixings to serve with the Barbacoa, make a batch of margaritas, and enjoy a chill night with delicious food and your favorite people. Even if your friends have different dietary needs, everyone can make a serving that works for them Any Party or Gathering – Since this recipe for Slow Cooker Barbacoa makes a nice big batch, it’s great for parties. Set out the cooked shredded barbacoa along with all the fixings and watch everyone flock toward the food table

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Photo Credit: The photos in this blog post were taken by Rachel of Half Acre House Freezer-to-Slow Cooker Directions: Prepare the sauce and add to a large zip-top bag along with the raw beef cubes and other ingredients. Seal tightly and place in the freezer. When ready to cook, allow the ingredients to thaw just enough so that you can transfer them to the slow cooker. You can do this by placing the bag in water for 10-15 minutes. Cook on high for 7 hours or until beef is tender. For ultimate success, we highly recommend reading the tips in the full blog post above. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish a recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words. Link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians. Thank you!