This Slow Cooked Beef Barbacoa recipe delivers tender, flavorful shredded beef, slow-cooked with chipotle peppers, garlic, and warm spices for the ultimate homemade barbacoa.

This is an image of slow cooked beef barbacoa on a blue and white checkered plate topped with fresh cilantro and surrounded by sliced limes.

This Slow Cooked Beef Barbacoa is tender, juicy, and packed with bold, smoky flavors thanks to a rich blend of spices, chipotle peppers, and garlic.

I began making this beef barbacoa recipe in 2020 when we were all stuck at home and looking for delicious meals. There’s A LOT to love about it – it’s easy to make, feeds a small army, reheats well, and is amazing on a variety of dishes like tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and burrito bowls!

It’s been 5 years since I started making this recipe and it’s a meal we turn to time and time again for it’s ease and versatility.

INGREDIENTS FOR THIS SLOW COOKED BEEF BARBACOA RECIPE

  • Beef chuck
  • Olive oil
  • Salt
  • Ground black pepper
  • Dried leaf oregano
  • Ground cumin
  • Ground cloves
  • Bay leaves
  • Garlic cloves
  • Chipotle peppers (from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce)
  • Adobo sauce, the sauce from the can of chipotle peppers
  • White onion
  • Water
This is an image of an uncooked beef chuck surrounded by the ingredients that it'll be cooked with.

HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKED BEEF BARBACOA

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once it’s sizzling, brown your beef chuck on all sides. You’re just looking for a good sear here to lock in all that flavor — it doesn’t have to be fully cooked yet!

This is an image of an uncooked beef chuck sitting in a roasting pan
This is an image of a seared beef chuck sitting in a roasting pan

Once your beef is browned, transfer it straight into your crock pot. Sprinkle the beef generously with salt, oregano, cumin, and just a pinch of cloves. Toss in a couple of bay leaves (don’t worry, those will be removed later), followed by the minced garlic, chopped onions, chipotle peppers, and a spoonful of adobo sauce from the can.

This is an image of uncooked beef sitting in a crockpot with the ingredients that it'll be cooked in

Next, pour in the water, pop the lid on, and let the slow cooker do its thing. For the most tender, fall-apart beef, cook it on low for 8 to 10 hours — this is my favorite method. If you’re short on time, you can crank it up to high and cook for about 5 to 6 hours.

Once the beef is done, remove the bay leaves and use two forks to shred the meat right in the pot. It should fall apart effortlessly! Stir the shredded beef back into the juices to soak up all that flavor.

This is an image of slow cooked beef barbacoa sitting in a crock pot

At this point, you can pop it in the fridge for later, or dive right in!

This is an image of slow cooked beef barbacoa on a blue and white checkered plate topped with fresh cilantro and surrounded by sliced limes.

This is one of my husbands all time favorite things that I make! We love it on my easy barbacoa tacos or my beef barbacoa burrito bowls that are topped with my super addicting cilantro lime sauce.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I have to sear the meat?

No, you don’t have to. I’ve skipped this step before and it turns out fine but if you have the time I definitely recommend it. Searing the meat enhances the flavor and caramelizes the surface, creating a richer and more complex flavor profile.

Can I freeze this?

Absolutely! Allow the meat to come to room temperature, then add it to a freezer safe container. It’ll store in the freezer for up to 3 months!

This is an image of beef barbacoa on a blue and white checkered plate topped with fresh cilantro and sliced limes on the side.

Slow Cooked Beef Barbacoa

This Slow Cooked Beef Barbacoa recipe delivers tender, flavorful shredded beef, slow-cooked with chipotle peppers, garlic, and warm spices for the ultimate homemade barbacoa. Perfect for beef barbacoa tacos, burritos, or rice bowls, this easy crock pot recipe is ideal for meal prep or feeding a hungry crowd.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 8

Equipment

  • Crockpot or Slow Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 3 lbs. Beef Chuck
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried leaf oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 chipotle peppers minced from a can of chipotle peppers
  • 1 tablespoon adobo sauce the sauce from the can of chipotle peppers
  • 1/2 white onion diced
  • 1/2 cup water

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat then brown the beef for about 10 minutes on each side once the pan is hot.
  • Immediately after, add the beef to your crock pot and sprinkle with salt, oregano, cumin, and cloves. Add in the bay leaves (these will be removed later), minced garlic, onions, chipotle peppers, and adobo sauce, then add the water and cover.
  • Cook on low for 8-10 hours (preferred) or on high for 5-6 hours, without opening the lid during the cooking time.
  • Once the roast is done cooking, remove and discard the bay leaves and shred the meat with 2 forks.
  • Add the shredded meat back into the juices
  • Serve immediately in tacos, burritos, quesadillas, or store in the fridge for up to 4 days. It also freezes well for future meals!