Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa

Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa is beef slowly cooked with onions in a flavorful broth until shreds easily with forks. This slightly sweet and smoky beef is delicious tucked into soft tacos, atop nachos or layered in tostadas! This recipe yields quite a bit and is great for serving a crowd.

First things first, what is barbacoa? Depending on where you are will depend on what type of meat and preparation. In some areas it’s goat, beef or pork. But in a nutshell, it’s slowly cooked meat. From the research I’ve done, the word barbacoa has translated to barbecue over time. Whether that refers to the spices used or preparation, it’s hard to tell. In modern Mexico, some may slowly cook it over an open fire or dug in a whole covered with a certain type of leaf. However, in my kitchen I use the slow cooker so I can set it and forget it.

The key to getting more flavor and texture with your beef barbacoa is to season the meat well with kosher salt and black pepper before searing it in a hot skillet. Then cooking the onions in the pan while scraping all the flavor-filled browned bits on the bottom of the skillet before adding it into your slow cooker.

The simplest way to serve beef barbacoa is to fill tortillas with the saucy, shredded beef and top with onions, cilantro and a squeeze lime juice. However you can’t go wrong with anyway you decide to serve it. I love it on nachos where the exposed ends of the barbacoa get crispy in the hot oven.

To Make This Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa You Will Need:

• beef chuck roast
• salt and pepper
• extra light olive oil or avocado oil
• sweet onions
• brown sugar
• garlic (grated)
• tomato paste
• chili powder
• chipotle powder
• smoked paprika
• low-sodium chicken stock

First preheat a large stainless skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season all the sides of 5 to 6 pounds beef chuck roast with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Because my grocery store doesn’t carry any chuck roast over 2-1/2 pounds, I had purchased two.

Once hot, add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan and swirl to coat, creating a non-stick surface. Sear the roast for 4 to 5 minutes on both sides. Then transfer the caramelized seared roast to your slow cooker.

Meanwhile, whisk together 1 cup dark brown sugar,6 cloves grated garlic, 2 rounded tablespoons tomato paste, 1 rounded tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoons chipotle powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika and 3 cups low-sodium chicken stock and set off to the side.

Once the meat is seared and in the slow cooker, reduce the heat under the skillet to medium and add in 1 large (or two medium) diced sweet onion with a pinch of salt. Stir and cook until tender while scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Add a few splashes of water (up to 1/4 cup) to the pan to help lift up any stuck-on browned bits. Once the water has evaporated transfer the onions to the slow cooker as well.

Pour the cooking liquids over the beef and onions, lifting and submerging the beef.

Next, cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high heat for 4 to 6 hours.

Then, once cooked, use tongs to lift out the beef and transfer it to a cutting board. It should be falling apart.

Shred the beef using two forks.

Lastly, transfer the beef back to the slow cooker along with a few pinches of salt (to taste) and cook on high heat, uncovered for about 25 to 30 additional minutes.

If making the slow cooker beef barbacoa in advance: Transfer the shredded beef barbacoa to a container. And the liquids in a separate container and once cooled refrigerate overnight. Remove the top layer of fat and reheat the liquids and beef back in the slow cooker on low until heated through.

As tempting as it is to just eat this right out of a bowl, this flavorful sweet and smoky, tender slow cooker beef barbacoa is delicious stuffed into tacos, layered on tacos or tostadas and then adorned with all the toppings.

For more slow cooker recipes, click here!

Enjoy! And if you give this Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

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Yield: 16 servings

Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa

Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa is beef slowly cooked with onions in a flavorful broth until shreds easily with forks. This slightly sweet and smoky beef is delicious tucked into soft tacos, atop nachos or layered in tostadas! This recipe yields quite a bit and is great for serving a crowd.

Prep Time: 25 minutes mins

Cook Time: 6 hours hrs

Total Time: 6 hours hrs 25 minutes mins

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil, extra light
• 6 pounds beef chuck roast
• kosher salt
• black pepper, freshly ground
• 1 large sweet onion, diced
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 6 cloves garlic, grated
• 2 (rounded) tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 (rounded) tablespoons chili powder
• 2 (rounded) teaspoons chipotle powder
• 1 (rounded) teaspoon smoked paprika
• 3 cups low-sodium chicken stock

Equipment

• Hamilton Beach 33969A 6-Quart Programmable Set & Forget w/Temperature Probe Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel

Instructions 

• Heat a large stainless skillet over medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile season the whole roast with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Add the oil to the pan and swirl to coat and sear the roast on all sides for 4 to 6 minutes per side.
• Transfer the seared roast to your slow cooker.
• Reduce the heat under the pan and add in the onions with a pinch of kosher salt, cooking until tender while scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Add a splash or two of water (up to 1/4 cup) to help scrape up those browned bits, simmer until any water evaporates. Transfer the onions to the slow cooker as well.
• Meanwhile, in a large measuring cup, whisk together the brown sugar, garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, chipotle powder, smoked paprika and broth. Pour this overtop of the roast and onions.
• Replace the cove to the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 6 hours.
• Once cooked, remove the roast to a cutting board and use two forks to shred. Transfer the shredded barbacoa back to the slow cooker and increase the heat to high and simmer for an additional 25 to 30 minutes.
• Season with kosher salt, as needed.
• Alternatively (if making in advance) transfer the shredded beef barbacoa to a container. And the liquids in a separate container and once cooled refrigerate overnight. Remove the top layer of fat and reheat the liquids and beef back in the slow cooker on low until heated through.

Notes

Serve in taco shells, salads and nachos.

Serving: 1g, Calories: 382kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 34g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 117mg, Sodium: 161mg, Potassium: 657mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 14g, Vitamin A: 111IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 49mg, Iron: 4mg

Author: Laurie McNamara

Course: slow cooker

Cuisine: Tex Mex