Beef Barbacoa - Mexican Pulled Beef

Beef Barbacoa - Mexican Pulled Beef

Recipe video above. Ultra-juicy Mexican pulled beef, tossed in a chipotle-spiced sauce! With a unique subtly spiced, tangy flavour, use this Beef Barbacoa for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, taquitos – the possibilities are endless. This is a slow cooker version that's simple to put together. Which means ... effortless. YES!

Ingredients

  • 2kg / 4 lb beef cheeks

    or chuck beef, see Note 1

  • 1 tsp salt

    kosher/cooking

  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil

    for searing

  • 4 bay leaves
  • 4 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce

    Note 2

  • 3/4 cup dark ale

    or low sodium beef broth/stock, beer

  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 4 tbsp lime juice
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 4 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves

Directions

  1. 1

  2. 2

    Cut beef: Cut large cheeks in half so you have around 12 – 15 pieces cheeks. If using chuck, cut into 12 or so pieces.

  3. 3

    Season: Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

  4. 4

    Brown beef: Heat oil in a large pot or skillet over high heat. Sear beef in batches, browning aggressively all over. Place beef in slow cooker.

  5. 5

    Blitz sauce: Place Barbacoa Sauce ingredients in a blender, food processor or similar (I use a Nutribullet). Blend until smooth – it shouldn't take long.

  6. 6

    Slow cooker (see Note 4 for alt. cooking methods): Pour sauce over cheeks in slow cooker. Add bay leaves. Arrange cheeks so they are submerged as much as possible. Don't worry, they will release juice as they cook and raise the liquid level.

  7. 7

    Slow-cook for 8 hours on low. The beef should be effortless to shred when done.

  8. 8

    Shred: Remove cheeks from slow cooker into a pan. Shred using 2 forks.

  9. 9

    Sauce: Pour over 3 or 4 ladles of the sauce, then toss.

  10. 10

    Serve: Use in tacos with taco fixings of choice! Pictured with Mexican Red Rice, Pickled Red Cabbage for Tacos (in this Fish Tacos recipe) and Lime Crema (Note 5).

Beef Barbacoa - Mexican Pulled Beef

Beef Barbacoa - Mexican Pulled Beef

5.0(37)

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Ratings & Reviews

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Exceptional

Based on 37 ratings

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5.0(37 reviews)
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About this Recipe

Dream of ultra-juicy, flavorful Mexican pulled beef without hours of fuss? This slow cooker Beef Barbacoa delivers that authentic, subtly spiced, tangy taste, ready for all your favorite dishes. The beauty of this Beef Barbacoa lies in its hands-off slow cooker preparation, transforming humble beef cheeks or chuck into incredibly tender, fall-apart perfection. The unique blend of chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, apple cider vinegar, and fragrant spices creates a deeply satisfying, complex flavor profile that sets it apart from simpler versions. Prepare for a truly rich and succulent experience. Each bite of this Mexican pulled beef melts in your mouth, infused with a warm, smoky heat from the chipotle chiles, balanced by a bright tang from lime juice and apple cider vinegar. The earthy notes of cumin and oregano, along with a hint of cloves, round out the deep savory flavors, making it irresistible in tacos, burritos, or any dish needing a robust, flavorful filling.

This versatile barbacoa is forgiving and adaptable. You can easily substitute beef chuck for beef cheeks if preferred, ensuring the same tender results. If you don't have dark ale, low sodium beef broth or stock works wonderfully to achieve a similar depth of flavor as the beer. For those who prefer less heat, you can reduce the number of chipotle chiles. This flavorful Beef Barbacoa is perfect for weeknight dinners or feeding a crowd, serving as a star filling for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or even crispy taquitos.

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