Barbacoa Tacos are filled with tender chuck roast slow-cooked in a spicy, flavor-packed sauce that comes together quickly in a food processor. This traditional Mexican recipe is one of my favorites, and it is so incredibly versatile. Leftovers heat up wonderfully and are delicious in burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and chimichangas.
Barbacoa Beef Tacos
Looking for a new and tasty dish to add to your dinner repertoire? Look no further than barbacoa beef—a delicious and versatile recipe for tacos, burritos, salads, and more! Here’s how to make it at home.
There is something wonderful about having the main part of your meal ready at the end of the working day, not to mention the fantastic aroma of slow-cooked beef simmering with garlic, peppers, cumin, oregano, and lime filling every room of your house. These Barbacoa Tacos are one of my family’s favorite meals. If you like this flavorful recipe, try ropa veija, chile verde, Cuban picadillo, and beef birria.
Barbacoa Beef Taco Ingredients
How Do You Make Barbacoa Tacos?
First, brown the chuck roast in a little bit of vegetable oil, preferably in a cast-iron skillet. When browned on both sides, place it in a large slow cooker. Add garlic, chipotle peppers, cumin, onion powder, oregano, cloves, salt, pepper, vinegar, beef broth, and lime juice to a food processor. Pulse several times to blend, and pour the mixture over the chuck roast in the slow cooker. Add the bay leaves to the crock pot. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for about eight hours.
Shred beef in the slow cooker using a couple of forks, removing any fat or gristle. Spoon the meat into soft taco shells and top with lettuce, tomato, red onion, and avocado. Serve it promptly so the meat is warm and juicy and the taco shells do not get soggy.
Recipe Tips
- You do not have to brown the chuck roast before placing it in the crockpot. However, I think it is worth the effort. The caramelized surface of the meat adds excellent flavor to the barbacoa recipe.
- If you do not have a food processor, use a blender, but mince the garlic and chipotle peppers first.
- Cook the roast whole and then shred, removing unwanted fat and gristle.
- If you like things spicy, add four chipotle peppers. If you like things less spicy, add two chipotle peppers.
- You can cook on high for about six hours or until fork tender. I prefer it cooked on low as it seems a tad more tender and more flavorful.
- Customize your choice of toppings to suit your taste.
Topping Suggestions for Barbacoa Tacos
- Crisp lettuce
- Thin sliced red onions
- Halved grape tomatoes
- Avocado slices
- Cheddar cheese
- Sour cream
- Black olives
- Salsa
- Roasted Corn
- Guacamole
- Pico de Gallo
- Chopped Cilantro
What are chipotle peppers?
Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce are dried smoked jalapenos packed in a slightly sweet, spicy red sauce. The peppers and the sauce pick up flavors and aromas from each other, creating a cook’s flavor haven. Use the pepper and adobo sauce in salad dressings, meat marinades, tacos, nachos, burritos, sauces, dips, and soups.
Chipotle peppers packed in adobo sauce are in the Mexican food section of most grocery stores. They come in a small can. You only need a few, but you can freeze the rest for future recipes. Freeze flat in a freezer bag, then break off a piece when needed.
Barbacoa Tacos
Ingredients
- 3-4 lb beef chuck roast
- 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2-4 chipotle peppers
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1 lime juiced about 2 tablespoons
- 2 bay leaves
- Flour or corn tortillas
- Chopped romaine lettuce
- Grape tomatoes halved
- Red onions thinly sliced
- Avocado slices
Instructions
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown chuck roast on both sides; place in a large slow cooker.
- Add garlic, chipotle peppers, cumin, onion powder, oregano, cloves, salt, pepper, vinegar, beef broth, and lime juice to a food processor. Pulse several times to blend and pour the mixture over the chuck roast. Add the leaves to the crock pot.
- Cover the slow cooker; cook on low for 8 hours or high for 5-6 or until fork tender.
- Using a couple of forks, shred chuck roast right in the slow cooker removing any fat or gristle. Spoon meat into soft taco shells and top with lettuce, tomato, red onion, and avocado. Serve promptly.
Notes
- You do not have to brown the chuck roast before placing it in the crockpot. However, I think it is worth the effort. The caramelized surface of the meat adds great flavor to the barbacoa recipe.
- If you do not have a food processor, use a blender but mince the garlic and chipotle peppers first.
- Cook the roast whole and then shred, removing unwanted fat and gristle.
- If you like things spicy, add four chipotle peppers. If you like things less spicy, add two chipotle peppers.
- You can cook on high for about six hours or until fork tender. I prefer it cooked on low as it seems a tad more tender and flavorful.
- Customize your choice of toppings and suit your own taste.
Nutrition
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Christine
Absolutely delicious! We had these for dinner tonight! Wiped every one of out!
Thank you for such a great recipe!!!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Christine! I am so happy that you liked them!
Archie
Great tacos! We really enjoyed them our Taco Tuesday meal. Thanks for the great recipe! I am going to put them in the regular rotation.
Jenny
My kids love tacos so much, I really need to try making this for them soon
Tisha L
These are the perfect recipe for taco Tuesdays! We loved every bite! The beef was so tender and flavorful!
Jeanette
Our family loves a good taco, and these barbacoa tacos were outstanding! They were a little more work than you average taco but so worth it. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Jeanette! So glad that you enjoyed them!
Hari
These tacos are mouthwatering delicious with great flavor and tender beef. There will be on repeat for Cinco de Mayo!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Hari! So glad that you liked the tacos!
Ree
This has really made me want to make tacos now. I have some wraps in the cupboard so maybe it’s about time as these look so goodx
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ree! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
Renata F
These are so much better than my ususal ground beef tacos. They were tasty and I had all kinds of customizable topping for the crew! It was a great meal!
Violet L
I used your recipe yesterday and safe to say it may now be a family favorite!! Absolutely delicious, the kiddos couldn’t get enough!
Beth Pierce
So glad that the kids liked the tacos!
Susan
This blog post celebrates the mouthwatering delight of Barbacoa Tacos, showcasing a tantalizing combination of tender chuck roast and a spicy, flavorful sauce. What sets this recipe apart is its versatility; not only does it make for sensational tacos, but its leftovers can be repurposed into an array of other delectable dishes like burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and chimichangas. With its ease of preparation and ability to please a variety of tastes, Barbacoa Tacos are sure to become a beloved staple in any kitchen.
Karen Unger
I had tacos yesterday for dinner but I am sure it wasn’t as good as your recipe.. Your tacos look fabulous! I am doing it next week for sure, I can’t wait….
Hailey
Ahh so darn good. These were so delicious and so flavorful…perfect for warm weather gatherings!
Sienny L
Thanks for sharing this tasty tacos recipe. It was delicious! I am going to add these to regular rotation.
Yolanda L
We are big fans of Mexican food here, and we love tacos. This recipe was very good, I tried it out on the whole family and everybody loved all of the flavors. Good job!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Yolanda!
Ella
This turned out to be a really flavorful recipe. The meat was really tender and spicy and delicious. I will be making this again.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ella! So glad that you liked it!
Avril
Loved the flavor! They were super juicy and tender!