Description
A tender and flavorful Barbacoa recipe that mimics the taste of Chipotle’s signature dish. Perfect for tacos, burritos, or salads, made with beef brisket or chuck roast and seasoned with bold spices for an authentic Mexican experience.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Barbacoa:
-
- 3 lb Beef brisket or chuck roast (trimmed and cut into 2 inch chunks)
- 1/2 cup Beef broth (or chicken broth)
For the Sauce:
-
- 2 medium Chipotle chiles in adobo (including the sauce, about 4 tsp)
- 5 cloves Garlic (minced or coarsely chopped)
- 2 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp Lime juice
- 1 tbsp Dried oregano
- 2 tsp Cumin
- 2 tsp Sea salt
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- 1/2 tsp Ground cloves (optional)
Other:
- 2 whole Bay leaf
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a blender, combine the broth, chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, garlic, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, dried oregano, cumin, sea salt, black pepper, and ground cloves. Blend until smooth.
- Prepare the beef: Place the beef chunks in the slow cooker. Pour the sauce from the blender on top and add the (whole) bay leaves.
- Cook the beef: Cook on high for 4-6 hours or on low for 8-10 hours, until the beef is fall-apart tender.
- Shred the meat: Remove the bay leaves from the slow cooker. Use two forks to shred the meat, and stir it into the juices.
- Let it rest: Cover and let rest for 5-10 minutes to allow the beef to absorb maximum flavor. Serve using a slotted spoon for the perfect Barbacoa experience.
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate the beef in the sauce for a few hours before cooking.
- The recipe works well with lamb or pork if you prefer.
- This dish can be made ahead and reheated; the flavors only get better with time!
- Pair it with your favorite taco toppings like guacamole, salsa, or fresh cilantro.
- Leftovers can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 4 oz)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
