Description
This Braised Beef Barbacoa recipe features tender, flavorful beef chuck roast slow-cooked in a blend of smoky chipotle peppers, fragrant spices, and tangy lime juice. Perfect for tacos, burritos, bowls, or served over rice, this traditional Mexican dish offers rich, shredded meat with deep, robust flavors that improve even more the next day.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Marinade
- 3 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
- ¾ cup beef broth
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- Juice of 2 limes
- 2 bay leaves
Spices and Aromatics
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat and Sear: Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). In a large Dutch oven or heavy oven-safe pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef chunks and sear on all sides until browned, about 2–3 minutes per side. Work in batches if needed. Remove beef and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics and Toast Spices: In the same pot, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in the chopped chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, ground cumin, dried oregano, smoked paprika, ground cloves, salt, and black pepper. Cook for an additional 1 minute to toast the spices and build flavor.
- Combine and Simmer: Return the seared beef to the pot. Pour in the beef broth, apple cider vinegar, and lime juice. Add the bay leaves. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer on the stovetop.
- Braise in Oven: Cover the pot with a lid and transfer it to the preheated oven. Braise the beef for 3 to 3½ hours, or until the meat is fork-tender and easily shreds.
- Shred and Serve: Remove the bay leaves from the pot. Using two forks, shred the beef directly in the pot and stir it back into the flavorful cooking juices. Serve the barbacoa hot in tacos, burritos, bowls, or over rice with your favorite toppings.
Notes
- This dish freezes well and the flavors deepen after resting, making it ideal for meal prep or leftovers.
- For extra flavor and texture, broil the shredded beef on a baking sheet for 5–7 minutes before serving to develop crispy edges.
