Recipe Critic Slow Cooker Barbacoa

Tender, flavorful, slow-cooked beef with onions, jalapenos, and spices make this the perfect barbacoa beef for burritos, tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, on a salad, or just on its own with a few side dishes.

This is our go-to Mexican Barbacoa Beef recipe. Since I have two boys who are trying to get more protein in their diet, I like to make this ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator so they can quickly whip up a barbacoa and cheese quesadilla, a burrito, or a few tacos. This only lasts a few days in our home because they eat it up so fast!

If you have teenagers in your home right now or ever have, you know how much food they can eat! They are always saying, “Mom, there is nothing to eat.” How in the world with a pantry full of food and a stocked refrigerator (it is my job to basically have a grocery store in our home), can they still not find something to eat? So this is my solution. Since they are always looking for protein, making this ahead of time and having it ready to go is a game-changer in our home.

Best Slow Cooker Beef Brisket Recipes

If you have been following me on Modern Honey, you know how much I love my slow cooker crockpot. It is my go-to kitchen appliance for dinner recipes. The amazing thing about this barbacoa beef recipe is that it takes about 5-10 minutes start to finish in preparation. It doesn’t get any easier than this! It is a “throw everything in a crockpot and forget about it” kind of meal.

This Barbacoa Beef recipe calls for a beef roast (chuck, rump, sirloin, et.), onion, chipotle or jalapeno chilies, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and some beef broth to slowly braise the beef roast in to keep it super juicy.

I have used this recipe for years and I do change it up depending on what I have on hand. There are times that I use smoky chipotle chilies in adobe sauce (from a can) and other times I use fresh jalapenos. My husband doesn’t love the flavor of chipotle chilies as much as jalapenos so I will switch it up sometimes. You can also add some red, orange, or yellow peppers for a machaca beef flavor.

Quick And Easy Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef

This Machaca Beef recipe can be cooked in the crockpot on high for about 5 hours or on low for about 8 hours. I cooked it on Sunday to meal prep for the week and cooked it on high for about 5 1/2 hours and it came out so tender and was so easy to shred.

We like to put this barbacoa beef in burritos, tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, tostadas, on top of salads, or served on its own with a few vegetable side dishes.

Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef Tender, flavorful, slow-cooked beef with onions, jalapenos, and spices make this the perfect barbacoa beef for burritos, tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, on a salad, or just on its own with a few side dishes. 

Beef Barbacoa (heavy On The Lime)

Calories: 257 kcal , Carbohydrates: 6 g , Protein: 41 g , Fat: 7 g , Saturated Fat: 2 g , Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g , Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g , Cholesterol: 104 mg , Sodium: 864 mg , Potassium: 736 mg , Fiber: 2 g , Sugar: 2 g , Vitamin A: 1297 IU , Vitamin C: 2 mg , Calcium: 57 mg , Iron: 4 mg

I am an Award-Winning Recipe Creator. Cover of Food Network Magazine. Two-Time Pillsbury Bake-Off Finalist. I am passionate about sharing the best recipes so you have success in the kitchen!Barbacoa Beef that is AMAZING and tender and is better than any restaurant I have had! The flavor is amazing and it slow cooks to perfection!

This barbacoa can be made in so many variations. Add it to your favorite taco, burrito or even salad! If you love Mexican food, enjoy a refreshing Horchata Drink and Seven Layer Dip with chips to make this a complete meal.

Family Friendly Slow Cooker Recipes

Reason #346 why I love my slow cooker. It slow cooks this barbacoa beef to perfect tender and juicy melt in your mouth perfection. Is there anything better than barbacoa beef that is slow cooked all day and it just falls apart because it is so tender? I don’t think so! And I am pretty particular when it comes to eating beef. It has to be tender and juicy. I just can’t do that dry and chewy beef.

My hubby is a huge fan of Chipotle. I wanted to make this barbacoa beef for him and when I heard that it is better than Chipotle’s I couldn’t wait to make it. Just look how amazing and juicy that barbacoa beef looks! It shreds so easily and the flavor is so dang good! This barbacoa beef recipe is so simple to make and the slow cooker does all the work. It is one of the easiest and most delicious barbacoa recipes I have made.

Barbacoa is known to be an authentic Mexican meal that is made with beef, goat or lamb meat. The meat is heavily seasoned with chilies and spices then slow cooked until perfectly tender that it literally falls apart easily. Once it is cooked, the barbacoa is used to fill tacos, burritos and salads. It is one of the best meats and tastes amazingly delicious!

Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa

My husband said that this instantly became one of his favorite meals. He thought it was even better than Chipotle and we made it right at home! You are going to love it just as much as we did!

This beef has just enough of a kick to give it some awesome flavor and the spices come together perfectly. I love beef brisket so I used that and pan seared large cubes. It smelled so amazing while it cooked all day in my house and when it was finished it just fell apart.

There are so many options for enjoying this beef barbacoa recipe. Stuff your barbacoa in a taco or burrito, fill a bowl or a wrap or add it to any salad or nacho. It is that simple and makes a complete meal within minutes.

Favorite Mexican Food Slow Cooker Recipes

Have fun with your barbacoa. Show it off and enjoy the tender, juicy flavors in every bite! These toppings for barbacoa is perfect and will create endless amounts of recipes.

AMAZING and tender beef barbacoa that is better than any restaurant I have had! The flavor is amazing and it slow cooks to perfection!

Calories: 403 kcal Carbohydrates: 4 g Protein: 48 g Fat: 21 g Saturated Fat: 9 g Cholesterol: 141 mg Sodium: 706 mg Potassium: 807 mg Fiber: 2 g Sugar: 1 g Vitamin A: 681 IU Vitamin C: 1 mg Calcium: 39 mg Iron: 6 mg

Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef (made In The Slow Cooker)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Alyssa Rivers and the food blogger behind The Recipe Critic. The blog launched in 2012 as a place to share my passion for cooking. I love trying new things and testing them out with my family. Each recipe is tried and true, family-tested and approved.