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    Home » Recipes » Every Day Dinners

    Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef Tacos

    Published: May 4, 2022 by Amanda · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads

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    row of barbacoa beef tacos on a tray with queso, cilantro, lime and onions
    barbacoa beef in corn tortillas on a tray next to lime wedges
    close up shot of barbacoa beef in corn tortillas

    These slow cooker barbacoa beef tacos are cooked with lime juice, chipotle peppers and seasonings until super tender. Served on corn tortillas with queso fresco, onions and cilantro, these tacos are an easy, delicious meal!

    barbacoa beef tacos lined up on wooden tray with lime slices, queso fresco, onions and cilantro

    This post was originally published in October 2017 and has been updated for content.

    Using a slow cooker to cook large pieces of meat, helps to make the meat tender and juicy by slowly breaking down the connective tissue. It also makes for easy prep and clean up come dinner time. This barbacoa beef recipe takes just 15 minutes to prep and can be used for tacos, burrito bowls and more!

    Serve these barbacoa beef tacos with honeydew basil spicy margaritas for cinco de mayo or for a fun taco tuesday weeknight dinner with some shredded chicken nachos!

    🌶 Ingredient notes

    chuck roast, broth, vinegar, seasonings, chipotle peppers, queso fresco, cilantro, onions, limes and tortillas
    • Beef - A chuck roast is a great cut of beef for slow cooking. It has even fat marbling and will break down well for shredding. About 50% of the weight is lost in cooking, so a 4 pound roast will yield approximately 3 tacos per person for about 8-10 people.
    • Chipotle Peppers - Chipotle peppers are ripened jalapeños that have been smoked and dried. They also can be found canned in adobo sauce and add a smoky, spicy flavor to the beef. For less spice, only use 1 or 2 peppers and for more heat, use 3 or 4. The chipotle peppers can also be omitted, if desired.
    • Toppings - The traditional toppings for barbacoa tacos are diced onions and chopped cilantro. I like serving these tacos with fresh lime wedges to squeeze on top and a bit of cotija cheese. Alternative toppings ideas include salsa verde, hot sauce, sliced avocado, pico de gallo or beans.

    🔪 Step by step instructions

    First, add the chuck roast to the slow cooker and then top with the remaining ingredients, minus the accompaniments.

    chuck roast in a slow cooker and roast topped with onions, garlic, seasonings and chipotle peppers

    Cook on high for 3 hours and then reduce the heat to low for 2 hours. Remove the beef and shred with two forks.

    cooked beef roast in a slow cooker and shredded on a cutting board with two forks

    Add the shredded beef back to the slow cooker and mix with the juices. Cook on low for 30-60 minutes and then serve on corn tortillas with the accompaniments.

    shredded barbacoa beef in a slow cooker and on corn tortillas with cheese, onions and cilantro

    If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that I mention, be sure to look it up in the Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.


    ⭐ Expert tips

    • Buy a chuck roast that has even marbling for the best flavor and ease of shredding.
    • Make sure to stir up the shredded beef with the spices and juices after putting it back in the slow cooker so that it evenly flavors the meat.

    🥘 Alternative cooking methods

    Oven - Place the chuck roast in a large cast iron skillet or a dutch oven. Add the remaining ingredients, minus the accompaniments, on top of the roast. Cover with foil or a lid and cook in the oven at 300˚ for 3-4 hours until tender. Remove the roast from the dish, shred and add back to the juices to cook for an additional 30 minutes in the oven, covered.

    🥡 Storage suggestions

    This barbacoa beef will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. Frozen beef should be defrosted in the refrigerator and can be heated up in a skillet on the stovetop over medium heat with a little bit of beef broth or in a microwave.

    🥘 More slow cooker meals

    If you loved this slow cooker barbacoa beef tacos recipe, check out these other slow cooker meals that I know you will love too!

    • Creamy Crock Pot Chicken Marsala
    • Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sliders
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

    Don't Forget! If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and give it a rating. I love to hear from each and every one of you! Tag me on Facebook and Instagram as well! It makes my day to see all of your photos of the food you have made.


    row of barbacoa beef tacos with lime and queso fresco on a tray

    Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef Tacos

    Amanda
    These slow cooker barbacoa beef tacos are cooked with lime juice, chipotle peppers and seasonings until super tender. Served on corn tortillas with queso fresco, onions and cilantro, these tacos are an easy, delicious meal!
    5 from 14 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 6 hrs
    Total Time 6 hrs 15 mins
    Course Dinner, Main Dishes
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 10 servings
    Calories 299 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Barbacoa Beef

    • 3-4 pound beef chuck roast
    • 4 teaspoons chopped garlic
    • 4 teaspoons ground cumin
    • 2 teaspoons paprika
    • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
    • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
    • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
    • 2 dried bay leaves
    • ⅓ cup fresh lime juice
    • ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
    • ½ cup beef broth
    • 1 medium onion diced
    • 2-4 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

    Taco Accompaniments

    • corn tortillas
    • queso fresco
    • diced onions
    • lime wedges
    • fresh choppped cilantro

    Instructions
     

    • Add chuck roast to the slow cooker and top with all of the remaining ingredients, except the accompaniments.
    • Cover and cook on high for 3 hours, then reduce the heat to low and cook for an additional 2 hours until tender.
    • Remove the bay leaves and transfer the roast to a cutting board. Using two forks, shred the beef into smaller pieces and then add it back to the slow cooker.
    • Stir the beef together with the juices, cover and cook an additional 30-60 minutes on low.
    • Serve barbacoa beef on corn tortillas with queso fresco, diced onions, lime wedges and chopped cilantro.

    Notes

    Recipe serves approximately 8-10 people (2-3 tacos per person)
     
    • Buy a chuck roast that has even marbling for the best flavor and ease of shredding.
    • Make sure to stir up the shredded beef with the spices and juices so that is evenly flavors the meat.
    • For less spice, only use 1 or 2 chipotle peppers and for more heat, use 3 or 4. The chipotle peppers can also be omitted, if desired.
    • Alternative toppings ideas include salsa verde, hot sauce, sliced avocado, pico de gallo or beans.
     

    Alternative Cooking Methods

    Oven - Place the chuck roast in a large cast iron skillet or a dutch oven. Add the remaining ingredients, minus the accompaniments, on top of the roast. Cover with foil or a lid and cook in the oven at 300˚ for 3-4 hours until tender. Remove the roast from the pan, shred and add back to the juices to cook for an additional 30 minutes in the oven, covered.
     

    Storage Suggestions

    This barbacoa beef will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. Frozen beef should be defrosted in the refrigerator and can be heated up in a skillet on the stovetop over medium heat with a little bit of beef broth or in a microwave.
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 3tacosCalories: 299kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 28gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 502mgPotassium: 599mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 357IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 93mgIron: 4mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?Mention @SaporitoKitchen or tag #SaporitoKitchen!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Agnieszka

      May 07, 2022 at 6:17 pm

      5 stars
      I always look for new slow cooker ideas and this barbacoa beef is definitely a keeper! So good.

      Reply
      • Amanda

        May 09, 2022 at 2:14 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    2. Jerika

      May 06, 2022 at 7:14 am

      5 stars
      I love tacos!:) It's awesome that you added lime juice, chipotle peppers and seasonings.:) Love it!:)

      Reply
      • Amanda

        May 06, 2022 at 10:06 am

        Thank you so much! It has pretty amazing flavor!

        Reply
    3. Oscar

      May 05, 2022 at 7:00 pm

      5 stars
      These tacos were so flavourful and tender. I loved all the warm cumin, cloves, and allspice flavors in this recipe. Saving this recipe to make again. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Amanda

        May 06, 2022 at 10:07 am

        Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed them!

        Reply
    4. nancy

      May 05, 2022 at 5:57 pm

      5 stars
      super fork tender and juicy! love love love this recipe!

      Reply
      • Amanda

        May 06, 2022 at 10:07 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
    5. Jean

      May 05, 2022 at 5:38 pm

      5 stars
      delicious recipe and perfect for out taco tuesday nights, will make again this weekend for my friends to try.

      Reply
      • Amanda

        May 06, 2022 at 10:08 am

        woohoo! thanks for trying the recipe!

        Reply
    6. Michele

      May 05, 2022 at 3:16 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect for our Cinco de Mayo party!

      Reply
      • Amanda

        May 06, 2022 at 10:08 am

        Yah!

        Reply
    7. Cindy Davis

      October 11, 2017 at 5:13 pm

      We had friends over for dinner and so made the Barbacoa Beef Tacos. They turned out great and were so easy to make in the slow cooker! We added homemade guacamole, salsa and Monterey jack cheese. Yumm!!!

      Reply
      • Amanda

        October 11, 2017 at 5:27 pm

        Awesome! So glad you liked them and they turned out well! Thanks for sharing the pictures too!

        Reply
    8. Mireille | The Tortilla Channel

      October 07, 2017 at 2:22 pm

      Hi Amanda, This look delicious, I love me some corn tortilla taco as well! I do not own a slow cooker but when I see this result I have to seriously consider it. Just put everything in and at dinner time the meat is ready. Looks really great!!

      Reply
      • Amanda

        October 07, 2017 at 5:31 pm

        Thank you Mireille! Yes, the slow cooker comes in handy, especially on busy days!

        Reply

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