Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef

A weeknight slow cooker version of everyone’s favorite Mexican specialty, this beef barbacoa recipe is ideal for feeding a crowd!

With kids back in school, many people working from home, and the holidays coming up, life can be a bit crazy. However, with everything going on we still have to eat dinner too, right? Right? Since I know this time of year could not possibly be more hectic, I’ve got a super flavorful slow cooker dinner recipe: Mexican Beef Barbacoa! 

Slow cooker recipes are the perfect solution when you don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen but still want to provide your family with a healthy and delicious dinner. For example, I assemble meals like this Slow Cooker Indian Butter Chicken or my Slow Cooker Healthy Turkey Chili in the morning (or the night before) and leave them to cook throughout the day. Then, when we’re ready for dinner they are waiting, and the whole house smells amazing.

A client of mine gave me this Beef Barbacoa recipe during our visit to the JW Marriott Cancun earlier this year. His mother is a chef there in Mexico and he was gracious enough to spill all of her secrets. So, of course, I’m here to share them with all of you.

Packed with warm spices like whole cloves, cumin and oregano, Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa is ideal for feeding large crowds. If I’m not entertaining, I still make the large batch and reserve leftover shredded beef to use throughout the week in soups, salads, tacos, quesadillas and more!

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Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef

Liz Della Croce

5 stars average

A slow cooker version of everyone’s favorite Mexican specialty, this beef barbacoa recipe is ideal for feeding a crowd!

Print Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

CourseCourse: Main Dish

ServesServes: 12

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition

Ingredients

 

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• ▢ 6 pounds beef chuck roast
• ▢ 7 leaves bay
• ▢ 5 cloves whole
• ▢ 3 cloves minced garlic
• ▢ 2 tablespoons cumin
• ▢ 2 teaspoons thyme
• ▢ 2 tablespoons salt
• ▢ 1 tablespoon pepper
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ▢ 1 chile de árbol optional
• ▢ 6 cups beef or chicken broth
• ▢ 1 lime juiced
• ▢ corn tortillas minced cilantro and onion – to serve

Equipment

• Slow Cooker

Instructions

 

1. ▢
   Place all ingredients in slow cooker and heat on low for 8 hours.
2. ▢
   Remove roasts from the slow cooker and toss cloves and bay leaves. Let rest for 10 minutes before shredding with two forks.
3. ▢
   Return shredded beef to slow cooker and sprinkle with lime juice. Serve with corn tortillas, cilantro and minced onion.

Nutrition

Calories: 560kcalCarbohydrates: 0.5gProtein: 44.6gFat: 40.8gSaturated Fat: 16.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 24.3gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 150mgSodium: 1338mgFiber: 0gSugar: 0g

Have you tried this?

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For more Healthy Slow Cooker meals, check out my Pinterest page!