Barbacoa (Chipotle Copycat) Recipe
This flavorful Barbacoa recipe is a chipotle copycat featuring tender, slow-cooked beef brisket or chuck roast infused with smoky chipotle chiles, garlic, and a blend of spices. Perfect for tacos, burritos, or bowls, this dish brings authentic Mexican-inspired taste to your home cooking with minimal effort using a slow cooker.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-6 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes to 10 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 lb Beef brisket or chuck roast (trimmed and cut into 2 inch chunks)
- 1/2 cup Beef broth (or chicken broth)
- 2 medium Chipotle chiles in adobo (including the sauce, about 4 tsp)
- 5 cloves Garlic (minced or coarsely chopped)
- 2 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp Lime juice
- 1 tbsp Dried oregano
- 2 tsp Cumin
- 2 tsp Sea salt
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- 1/2 tsp Ground cloves (optional)
- 2 whole Bay leaf
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: Combine the beef broth, chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, garlic, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, dried oregano, cumin, sea salt, black pepper, and ground cloves in a blender. Puree the mixture until it is smooth and well combined, creating a rich and smoky sauce base.
- Arrange beef in slow cooker: Place the trimmed and cut beef chunks into the bowl of your slow cooker. Ensure they are spread evenly for uniform cooking.
- Add sauce and bay leaves: Pour the pureed chipotle sauce mixture over the beef chunks in the slow cooker. Add the whole bay leaves on top for additional aromatic flavor.
- Cook the beef: Cover the slow cooker and cook the meat on high for 4 to 6 hours or on low for 8 to 10 hours, until the beef is extremely tender and falls apart easily.
- Finish and serve: Remove and discard the bay leaves. Use two forks to shred the beef directly in the juices inside the slow cooker. Stir the shredded meat to evenly distribute the flavors. Cover and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the beef to absorb more of the delicious sauce. Serve with a slotted spoon, perfect for tacos, burritos, or bowls.
Notes
- If you prefer a less spicy dish, reduce the amount of chipotle chiles or omit the adobo sauce.
- For a richer flavor, use beef broth instead of chicken broth.
- Leftover barbacoa keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and freezes nicely for up to 3 months.
- You can also cook this recipe in an Instant Pot using the slow cooker function or pressure cooking for faster results.
- Adjust salt to taste after cooking if needed.
Keywords: Barbacoa, Chipotle Barbacoa, Slow Cooker Beef, Mexican Beef Recipe, Slow Cooker Barbacoa, Mexican Barbacoa, Beef Brisket Recipe, Chipotle Beef
Find it online: https://dylangranv.com/barbacoa-chipotle-copycat-recipe/
