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Betsylife » Recipes » Meat/Seafood » Spicy Beef Barbacoa {Crock Pot Recipe!}

Spicy Beef Barbacoa {Crock Pot Recipe!}

September 11, 2020 By betsy Leave a Comment

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Spicy beef barbacoa can be on your dinner table tonight (and have plenty for leftovers!) with minimal effort. Load up your crock pot in the morning and eat delicious shredded beef for days. 

Sheet pan covered in shredded beef and limes with two gold forks

**This recipe was updated in 2020

 

Ahoy! A rare beef post here on betsylife! Its true, I don’t eat a whole lot of beef, but that’s not to say that I don’t enjoy it… especially when its smothered in eggs and wrapped in a tortilla!

Whenever I see a delicious sounding recipe online, the first thing I do is read the whole thing to see if it sounds like something I can do and if I already have all the necessary equipment to make it. When I found a for Beef Barbacoa I had to laugh because it called for a dutch oven.

Funny side story: a few years ago, The Hubs asked for a dutch oven for Christmas. Instead of a regular kitchen style dutch oven, we got the ol’ 25lb camping kind (i’m not sure which kind he really wanted) I suppose we could make some badass camping food if we camped more often but, most of the time it sits on a shelf in the garage.  

Anyway, when I saw this recipe I thought “yes! time to bust out the dutch oven!”

Cast iron dutch oven

FAST FORWARD: Ok that first part was when I originally wrote the post in 2010. You can still use a dutch oven for this recipe, but I updated it for a crock pot (because: easy)

Things that still ring true; we don’t eat a lot of beef, we still don’t camp hardly at all, but we still love barbacoa, and have thought of a ton of ways to eat it over the years.

Spicy Beef Barbacoa

Did you know the word barbacoa is where the word barbecue comes from? Basically it’s meat cooked low and slow, generally over an open flame or in a pit in the ground. For my urban, non-cowboy purposes, I’ll be using a crock pot as my “pit”. 

What I love about recipes like this is that a single batch of spicy, shredded meat can be enjoyed in so many different ways. Here are some of our top hits

Burrito bowl with spicy beef barbacoa, avocado, tomatoes, lime, cilantro, cabbage and corn next to a blue pattern napkin

Burrito bowls! Add some cabbage, avocado, salsa, corn, tomatoes, or whatever your favorite toppings may be. This recipe is super family friendly because everyone can make their own. I know that The Hubs is going to douse his in the hottest hot sauce known to man, so I’m glad I have control over my own spice levels.

Shredded beef on a tortilla topped with salsa, queso fresco, avocado and cilantro with a fork

This breakfast-y, dinner taco thingy was how I presented this recipe back in 2010. #putaneggonit should be my life’s motto. I love the combo of spicy beef barbacoa, runny egg yolks, queso fresco, avocado, onions and salsa. This might be my death row meal. There’s nothing not to like. 

hand folding a taco on a blue plate with a red napkin

 

Can’t go wrong with a classic taco! Melt some cheese, add some pico de gallo and you’ve got yourself dinner. 

Some other delicious barbacoa serving options you might like to try

  • Spicy barbacoa grilled cheese sandwich
  • Add it to a casserole with cheese, noodles, and veggies
  • Make a ramen soup with barbacoa

See what I mean? A crock pot full of meat can really take you places! Don’t even get me started on a shredded pork shoulder. 

If you make this recipe tag me @betsylife on Instagram or Facebook! I love seeing your creations. 

Sheet pan filled with shredded beef and limes with two gold forks
5 from 7 votes
Print

Spicy Beef Barbacoa

Spicy beef barbacoa can be on your dinner table tonight (and have plenty for leftovers!) with minimal effort. Load up your crock pot in the morning and eat delicious shredded beef for days. 

Course Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword barbacoa, beef barbacoa, shredded beef
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 9 hours
Total Time 9 hours 30 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 238 kcal
Author betsy

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs beef chuck roast
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 chipotle chilis in adobo chopped
  • 1 1/4 cups beef broth
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons ground cumin
  • 1 Tablespoons dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoons ground cloves
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Cut the beef into large cubes. Season generously with salt and pepper.

  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Sear the beef on each side. Transfer meat to your slow cooker.

  3. In a bowl, whisk together chilis, beef broth, garlic, cumin, oregano, cloves, lime juice and apple cider vinegar. Pour over meat.

  4. Cook on low for 8-9 hours or high for 6 hours. Shred the meat with two forks. Return meat to crock pot and simmer in juices for an additional 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes

For a stovetop version. Sear the meat in a large dutch oven, add the remaining ingredients, and simmer on low for 8 hours 

Nutrition Facts
Spicy Beef Barbacoa
Amount Per Serving (4 oz)
Calories 238 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g25%
Saturated Fat 6g30%
Cholesterol 78mg26%
Sodium 250mg10%
Potassium 423mg12%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 22g44%
Vitamin A 281IU6%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 37mg4%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

 

 

 

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