When I’m in the mood for Mexican food, I turn to classics including salsa fresca, easy Mexican lasagna, chicken tinga, hearty charro beans and this Chipotle copycat recipe for barbacoa beef. When I eat at Chipotle, I always order the barbacoa beef. This slow cooked meat is tender, juicy and full of flavor! I decided to learn how to make Chipotle barbacoa at home, and the end result was a spectacular meal. Love Chipotle as much as I do? You should also try my copycat Chipotle carnitas recipe!
Chipotle Barbacoa Ingredients
This dish contains beef and diced onions, as well as many different seasonings to create a savory and smoky sauce including black pepper, cloves, cumin, salt and oregano.
How Do You Make Chipotle Barbacoa?
Start by cutting a beef roast into large chunks, then place the meat in a pan and sear it. Place the sauce ingredients including beef broth, chipotle peppers, lime juice, garlic, spices and apple cider vinegar in a blender, then puree until smooth. Transfer the beef to a slow cooker along with the sauce. Cook on low heat until the meat is super tender. Shred with a fork, then you’re ready to eat and enjoy!
Tips For The Perfect Dish
Any well marbled beef roast will work for this recipe including chuck roast, rump roast, brisket, or beef shoulder. This dish makes for great leftovers! The cooked meat will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3 days, or can be stored in the freezer for 2 months. The heat level in this dish is moderate. If you prefer spicy food, you can add 1-2 more chipotle peppers. For a mild dish, just use one pepper and scrape out the seeds. I really recommend taking the time to brown your meat before you put it in the slow cooker because this step adds a lot of flavor. If you’re in a hurry, you can skip this step and simply place the raw meat in the pot with the sauce.
How To Serve Barbacoa
There are so many different ways to enjoy this shredded beef!
Burrito: Place the beef in a large flour tortilla along with black or pinto beans, cilantro lime rice, shredded cheese and chipotle salsa. You can also add other ingredients like guacamole or sour cream. For an extra special finish, place your folded burrito on a griddle to crisp up the sides, or else serve it with a topping of enchilada sauce and melted cheese. Bowl: Layer Mexican rice or cilantro lime rice, beans, grilled peppers and onions, lettuce, salsa, barbacoa, sour cream, cheese and chipotle guacamole in a bowl, then serve and enjoy. Nachos: Sprinkle shredded cheese over tortilla chips, then spoon the beef and some beans over the top. Bake or microwave until the cheese is melted, then add the toppings of your choice. Tacos: Spoon the meat into flour or corn tortillas, along with lettuce, red onion, cilantro and cheese. Enchiladas: Roll up the meat inside tortillas. Pour some enchilada sauce into the bottom of a baking dish, then add the rolled tortillas on top. Pour more sauce over the tortillas, and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling. Quesadilla: Add shredded cheese and beef to a large flour tortilla. Fold in half, then cook on a griddle or in a skillet until the tortilla is golden brown on both sides. Serve with corn salsa, guacamole and sour cream. Salad: Layer the beef onto shredded lettuce, then add beans, corn, fresh pico de gallo, cheese, sour cream, guacamole and other toppings you like.
It’s totally worth the effort to make your own Chipotle barbacoa at home, the flavor simply can’t be beat!
