Crock Pot Barbacoa

5 from 11 votes

Tender, flavorful crockpot barbacoa is an easy, hands-off meal that's perfect for tacos, burritos, rice bowls, or nachos.

Course Dinner

Cuisine American, Mexican

Keyword beef barbacoa, crock pot barbacoa, crock pot beef barbacoa, crockpot barbacoa, crockpot barbacoa beef, slow cooker barbacoa

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 8

Total Time 8 10

Servings people

Calories 463.5kcal

2-3 lb. boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 2-inch cubes
1 (7 ounce) can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced (SEE NOTE BELOW FOR A LESS SPICY DISH)
1 cup diced onion
3 large garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tablespoon total)
¼ cup less-sodium soy sauce
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
Juice from 2 limes
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano (or 1 teaspoon dried oregano)
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Optional, for serving: corn or flour tortillas, pico de gallo or salsa, queso fresco or other cheese, chopped fresh cilantro, chopped onion, lime wedges, tomatoes, sour cream

In a 6-quart slow cooker, stir together the chipotle peppers in sauce, onion, garlic, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lime juice, sugar, oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Add the beef and toss to coat.
Cover and cook until the beef is very tender; about 6-8 hours on LOW or 3-4 hours on HIGH. The meat should be fall-apart tender and shred easily with a fork. If it's still tough, cook it a little longer. Remove the beef and shred the meat with two forks. Stir the beef back into the cooking juices.
Use a spoon or tongs to serve.

Using the entire can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce yields a very spicy barbacoa. If you prefer a mild dish, you can use only a portion of the chiles or omit them altogether. You can also just use the adobo sauce for a sour-sweet flavor and a slightly less-fiery, smoky heat. Be aware, however -- if you omit the chipotles in adobo, you're also eliminating some great flavor. The chipotles are dried, smoked jalapeños, and the adobo is a tangy, slightly-sweet sauce. Together, the canned peppers and sauce give the barbacoa a ton of flavor! When preparing this dish for my family, I typically use some of the adobo sauce and just a small amount of peppers.
Oven Method: You can roast the beef in a Dutch oven instead of using the slow cooker. To do so, bake in the oven at 325°F until the meat reaches at least 200°F and easily shreds with a fork (approximately 3-4 hours).
Add 1-2 bay leaves to the slow cooker for even more flavor.