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Mains · Mexican

Beef Barbacoa

Smoky chipotle-and-lime shredded beef, slow-cooked until it falls apart — taco and bowl gold.

Serves
8
Prep
15 min
Cook
8 hr
Storage
Freeze & reheat
Freezer
up to 3 months

Rich, smoky shredded beef for tacos, burrito bowls, and quesadillas. Freezes and vacuum-seals as well as any braise.

Ingredients

  • 3–4 lb beef chuck roast, cut into chunks
  • 3 chipotles in adobo, plus 1 tbsp adobo sauce
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ½ cup beef broth
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 1 tbsp cider vinegar
  • 1½ tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Blend the chipotles, adobo, garlic, cumin, oregano, broth, lime juice, vinegar, and salt into a smooth sauce.
  2. Place the beef and onion in the slow cooker, tuck in the bay leaves, and pour the sauce over.
  3. Cook on low 8 hours until fork-tender.
  4. Shred the beef and stir it back through the juices. Discard the bay leaves.

Make-Ahead & Storage

Freeze shredded in its juices up to 3 months; vacuum-seals well for reheating from the bag. Serve in tacos, bowls, or over rice.

Notes

Adjust the chipotles up or down for heat. No cilantro, per the household rules — lean on extra lime and diced onion to finish.

Equipment
slow cookerblender
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