🍳DailyRecipes
Dinner

Slow Cooked Barbacoa Beef

A tender and flavorful shredded beef recipe that is perfect for tacos or bowls.

By Daily Recipes Book· 🌍 Mexican· July 16, 2026
Slow Cooked Barbacoa Beef
dailyrecipesbook.com
Prep
15 minutes
Cook
8 hours
Total
8 hours 15 minutes
Serves
6

There is nothing quite like coming home to the smell of slow cooked beef waiting in the kitchen. This barbacoa recipe uses a blend of smoky spices and fresh lime juice to create meat that falls apart with the touch of a fork.

Most people love this dish because it is so versatile. I like to prepare it on a Sunday so we have easy lunches ready for the rest of the week. My top tip is to sear the beef in a hot pan before adding it to the slow cooker to give the meat a deeper, richer flavor.

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 2 bay leaves

Instructions

  1. 1

    Pat the beef chunks dry with a paper towel and season them with salt and pepper.

  2. 2

    Sear the beef in a large skillet over medium high heat until browned on all sides, then place the meat into your slow cooker.

  3. 3

    In a small bowl, whisk together the minced garlic, chopped chipotle peppers, cumin, oregano, cloves, beef broth, and lime juice.

  4. 4

    Pour the spice mixture over the beef and tuck the bay leaves into the liquid.

  5. 5

    Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours until the beef is very tender.

  6. 6

    Remove the bay leaves and use two forks to shred the beef directly in the slow cooker so it can soak up all those juices.

  7. 7

    Give it a final stir before serving.

💡 Tips

Serve this beef in warm tortillas with diced onions and cilantro. If you have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days or freeze them for up to three months.

#beef#slow cooker#tacos#mexican#dinner#high protein

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