Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa (Print Version)
Slow-simmered chuck roast with chipotle, cumin, lime and garlic, shredded for tacos, bowls, or burritos.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef
01 - 3.3 lbs beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into large chunks
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 large white onion, chopped
03 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
05 - 1 lime, juiced
→ Spices & Seasonings
06 - 1 tbsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tbsp dried oregano
08 - 2 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 2 tsp salt
10 - 1 tsp ground black pepper
11 - 2 bay leaves
→ Liquids
12 - 1/2 cup beef broth
13 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
# How to Make It:
01 - Spread the chopped onion and minced garlic evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - Nestle the beef chuck pieces on top of the onion and garlic layer.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, combine the chopped chipotle peppers, lime juice, ground cumin, dried oregano, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, apple cider vinegar, and beef broth. Whisk until well blended.
04 - Pour the seasoning sauce evenly over the beef pieces. Tuck the bay leaves into the liquid around the meat.
05 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on the low setting for 8 hours, or until the beef is fall-apart tender and shreds effortlessly with a fork.
06 - Discard the bay leaves. Using two forks, shred the beef directly in the slow cooker, stirring thoroughly to absorb all the cooking juices.
07 - Serve hot with warm tortillas, over steamed rice, or in burrito bowls. Garnish with chopped cilantro, diced onions, lime wedges, and pickled red onions as desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The beef comes out so tender it practically falls apart when you glance at it sideways, and the smoky, citrusy sauce soaks into every shred.
- You do most of the work in twenty minutes, then the slow cooker takes over while you live your life.
02 -
- Resist the urge to lift the slow cooker lid during cooking, because each peek adds roughly thirty minutes to the total time and lets precious moisture escape.
- This recipe tastes even better the next day, making it ideal for meal prep or making ahead of a gathering.
03 -
- Cut the chuck into large chunks rather than one whole roast so more surface area gets coated in that incredible seasoning mixture.
- A quick sear on the beef in a hot skillet before adding it to the slow cooker adds a caramelized crust that deepens the overall flavor dramatically.