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You are here: Home / Ingredient / Steak / Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa Beef

Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa Beef

Published: April 5, 2021 | Updated: October 30, 2022 | By: Jordan

3.4K shares

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This Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa Recipe is the Mexican night of your dreams. If you love beef barbacoa, you’ve got to try this! It’s low carb, easy to make, and fall apart delicious!

Chipotle barbacoa meat is one of my favorite things to order. I almost always get it in a rice bowl! Making it at home is SO easy and much more cost effective, so now I turn to my slow cooker for this Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa Beef.

If you love this Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa Beef Recipe, you should try these Crockpot Carnitas too!

chipotle barbacoa in a white bowl on a tray

Chipotle Barbacoa Beef Recipe

We all know Chipotle has amazing chicken, fajita veggies and more, but if you’ve tried their barbacoa beef, you know it’s the real deal. It’s mouthwatering delicious.

The beef is so tender and full of flavor.

There was a point in time where I was ordering Chipotle for lunch almost every day. I had this trick where I doubled up on the rice and meat so that I could have leftovers!

With this Barbacoa Recipe, you can make your own Chipotle burrito bowls at home!

Barbacoa Beef Ingredients

Meat: Bring on the meat! I used Beef Chuck Roast. If you have trouble finding it, you can substitute with top chuck or chuck shoulder.

Pro-Tip: trim the fat and cut the meat into chunks before cooking!

chipotle barbacoa in a white bowl with a black spoon

Peppers and onions: one of the most important ingredients in this recipe is the chipotle peppers in adobo! You will also need green chiles and white onions.

Substitutions: don’t sweat if you can’t find the chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. For a quick workaround, you can use a few splashes of tabasco chipotle hot sauce or a combination of chipotle powder and paprika.

Pro-Tip: I would still add in a diced chipotle pepper if you can find one!

Spices: Time of open up that pantry or spin that spice rack, we are going to need: cumin, chili powder, dried oregano, ground cloves, bay leaves, and garlic cloves.

Substitutions: ground cloves bring a lot of amazing flavors to the beef, so you are definitely going to want to use them. If you don’t have any ground cloves, you can sub with allspice or nutmeg.

Wet ingredients: white wine vinegar, chicken broth (or beef bone broth), and lime juice.

Pro-Tip: don’t have any white wine vinegar handy? You can sub with lemon juice or rice vinegar.

How to Make Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa Beef

1. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Heat a cast-iron skillet on medium-high heat and add a splash of olive oil.

2. Sear the beef for 3-4 minutes on each side.

ingredients in a slow cooker

3. Place the beef in the slow cooker with the chipotle peppers, diced green chiles, diced onion, white wine vinegar, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, ground cloves, dried oregano, chicken broth, bay leaves, and smashed garlic cloves. Cook on low for 7-8 hours until the beef falls apart.

4. To serve, transfer the beef to a serving bowl and shred the beef with two forks.

What is Barbacoa Beef made of?

Barbacoa is traditional Mexican cooked meat with spices that is SUPER tender and flavorful.

Making authentic barbacoa beef requires three things: the right meat, the proper spices, and time to cook it so that the flavors come together!

What is the right meat? In the US, barbacoa is made from beef. However, in Mexico, it can be made from beef or goat!

close up of chipotle barbacoa

How to serve Barbacoa Beef

One thing I love about making Barbacoa Beef is that is can be served in a variety of ways! Here are some of my favorite ways to use the beef:

  • Tacos
  • Salad
  • Burritos
  • Stuffed peppers
  • Breakfast skillets
  • Fajitas
  • Chimichangas

This Barbacoa Beef goes great with some Homemade Mango Salsa too!

Questions about the recipe

What does barbacoa mean?

Fun fact! The word “barbacoa” is where the word “barbecue” derives from. Barbacoa is the term for slow cooking shredded or chopped meats over an open fire or fire pit.

What does barbacoa taste like?

Barbacoa beef tastes very tender and melt in your mouth delicious., slow cooked shredded beef cooked in an adobo sauce with loads of flavorful Mexican spices. In other words, it tastes delicious!

What’s the secret to cooking the best barbacoa?

The secret to cooking the best barbacoa is cooking it low and slow.

When you slow cook the beef it allows the flavors to come together in a truly mouth-watering and authentic way making it the best beef you will ever make.

What is the difference between carnitas and barbacoa?

Barbacoa is beef, goat, or lamb cooked low and slow until the meat is tender and then shredded. However, carnitas, are only made of pork. Although also cooked slow and low, before serving you brown the meat in a skillet to give it that crispy texture.

beef barbacoa in a white bowl with limes and radishes

How long does barbaoca last?

Your homemade barbacoa beef will last in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can reheat it in the microwave or in the oven at 350F.

I like to reserve some of the liquid from the slow cooker for reheating purposes.

Pro-Tip: The beef is freezer-friendly. Store in an airtight freezer bag or container and pull it out when you need it!

How do you make barbacoa healthy?

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that all of the ingredients are already keto, low carb, paleo, and Whole30. However, watch/check the sugars in your chipotle chiles in adobo if you are aiming for a Whole30 recipe.

More Beef Recipes To Try

  • Air Fryer Flank Steak Tacos
  • Tex-Mex Flank Steak Salad With Avocado Lime Dressing
  • Jalapeño Lime Air Fryer Steak

More Dinner Recipes You Might Like

  • Hawaiian Shrimp Taco Bowl
  • Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass
  • Blackened Shrimp Recipe
  • Creamy Balsamic Mushroom Risotto
  • Chicken Meatballs

WANT TO TRY THIS COPYCAT CHIPOTLE BARBACOA RECIPE?

PIN IT to your beef recipes, copycat recipes, or Mexican recipes board to save it for later!
Find me on Pinterest for more great recipes. I’m always pinning!

chipotle barbacoa long pin

Did you make this recipe? Post a photo on Instagram and tag me @JZEATS or #JZEATS so I can see! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think, too!

close up of chipotle barbacoa
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5 from 12 votes

Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa Beef

This Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa Recipe is the Mexican night of your dreams. If you love beef barbacoa, you've got to try this! It's low carb, easy to make, and fall apart delicious!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time8 hrs 15 mins
Total Time8 hrs 20 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: barbacoa beef, chipotle barbacoa
Servings: 8
Calories: 232kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark
Author: Jordan

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 6-8 chunks & fat trimmed
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 4 chipotle peppers, from a can of chipotles in adobo
  • 4 ounces diced green chiles
  • 1 large sweet onion, diced
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 2 limes, juice
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth, beef broth works too!
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 5 cloves of garlic, smashed
  • olive oil, for cooking

Instructions

  • Season the beef with salt and pepper. Heat a cast iron skillet on medium-high heat with a splash of olive oil and sear the beef for 3-4 minutes on each side.
  • Place the beef in the slow cooker with the chipotle peppers, diced green chiles, diced onion, white wine vinegar, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, ground cloves, dried oregano, chicken broth, bay leaves, and smashed garlic cloves. Cook on low for 7-8 hours until the beef falls apart.
  • When ready, transfer the beef to a serving bowl and shred the beef with two forks.

Notes

  • This is the slow cooker I have!

Nutrition

Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 156mg | Sodium: 426mg | Potassium: 841mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 597IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 6mg
Nutrition information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.
Tried this recipe?I’d love to see your dish, mention @jzeats or tag #jzeats!

3.4K shares

Published: April 5, 2021 Filed Under: Main Dishes, Recipes, Slow Cooker Recipes, Steak

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brenna

    November 2, 2020 at 7:31 pm

    Can you recommend a good slow cooker & what size do you find is best?

    Reply
    • JZ Eats

      November 2, 2020 at 10:57 pm

      Hi Brenna! This is the one I’ve had for years: https://rstyle.me/+O7ceR-YImKMMej9JwvlyIw

      Reply
  2. Sara Welch

    May 11, 2021 at 10:22 pm

    5 stars
    Enjoyed this for dinner tonight and it does not disappoint! So bold and delicious; even better than the original! The whole family loved it!

    Reply
    • Andrea

      January 21, 2022 at 5:06 pm

      5 stars
      Oh does this beef sound fabulous. Love all the flavors in it and how versatile it is. Will definitely be a hit in my house.

      Reply
  3. Nart at Cooking with Nart

    May 11, 2021 at 10:30 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is bomb. Made for my family and it was all gone in no time! So, so good. Definitely bookmarking this so I can keep coming back to it!

    Reply
  4. Rika

    May 11, 2021 at 10:40 pm

    5 stars
    This barbacoa recipe is just perfect! Simple seasoning and easy to make. The perfect meal for any weeknight.

    Reply
  5. Anjali

    May 11, 2021 at 10:45 pm

    5 stars
    I love Barbacoa but have never made it at home before! I’m so glad I came across your recipe because this Barbacoa turned out perfectly! It was flavorful and tender, great for our dinner tonight!

    Reply
  6. Biana

    May 11, 2021 at 11:18 pm

    5 stars
    Looks so delicious — will be perfect for taco night with some veggies!

    Reply
  7. saif

    May 11, 2021 at 11:20 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve been looking for this Chipotle Barbacoa recipe and I am glad I come across in your post. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  8. Linda Stanton

    October 22, 2021 at 4:26 pm

    We always have a gang over for Florida Gator Football & I am always looking for easy pick up snacks for these hungry tailgaters!! This did not disappoint!! Will be making at home for TV football also!!!

    Reply
  9. Stacey

    January 21, 2022 at 2:07 pm

    5 stars
    So freaking good and flavorful. Better than chipotle, I must say! I love all of the spices in this dish. Great tip to cut the meat into chunks at the beginning.

    Reply
  10. Tayler Ross

    January 21, 2022 at 3:36 pm

    5 stars
    I had this barbacoa for dinner last night and it was amazing! This will be going on our regular rotation!

    Reply
  11. Nathan

    January 21, 2022 at 4:07 pm

    5 stars
    Love Chipotle but don’t love how pricey it is! So happy to have found this recipe, next time I’m craving their barbacoa I can just make it for myself!

    Reply
  12. Cathy Delapaz

    October 30, 2022 at 8:07 am

    You put chicken broth in your narrative portion. I bought wrong thing! Now have all these ingredients and guest coming and wrong broth!

    Reply
    • JZ Eats

      October 30, 2022 at 8:24 am

      Hi Cathy – I’m not sure why you are upset, as chicken broth is the correct ingredient. I also wrote that beef broth works too if you prefer to use that.

      Reply

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about meI’m that girl behind the camera and the creator of all the delicious recipes on this website. I’m a Baltimore food blogger who enjoys nothing more than food!
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