Barbacoa
Our family loves the amazing, tender, braised meat called barbacoa that is served in restaurants like Chipotle. So recently, I decided to try making beef barbacoa at home. I’m happy to report that it is so easy and so delicious! You’re going to love this recipe!
I’m sure a lot of you are familiar with barbacoa- braised, fall-apart-tender, roast beef that has been seasoned with smoky chipotle peppers and the perfect Mexican spices. This ingredient, adobo chiles in chipotle sauce, is an essential game-changer. It makes the meat especially tender, adds a little heat, and gives a nice smoky flavor. This is becoming a very common ingredient in American grocery stores, and I find mine at Aldi.
I start with a beef chuck roast, cover it with a simple mixture of peppers, garlic, and spices, and pop it into the oven for 4 hours. Seriously, it doesn’t get much easier! Then, I shred it with two forks, and leave the meat right in that delicious cooking liquid. Our family enjoys barbacoa tacos with all of these delicious toppings. A squeeze of fresh lime, and Molly’s guacamole put these over the top.
And then, I use the leftover meat in nachos or these beef quesadillas. I love when I can get two meals out of one cooking time, don’t you?! The best!
Give barbacoa a try soon; you’re gonna love it! Come back and tell me if you used it in tacos, burritos, or nachos. 
- 1 beef chuck roast
- ½ C water
- 3 chipotles peppers in adobo sauce
- 1 T adobo sauce (from the same can as the peppers)
- 1 t onion powder
- 2 T garlic, minced (I use the garlic in the jar)
- 1 t oregano
- 2 t cumin
- 2 t salt
- 1 t black pepper
- juice of 2 limes (2 T lime packaged lime just works great)
- corn or flour taco-sized tortillas
- Toppings:
- cilantro
- guacamole
- sour cream
- lettuce
- salsa
- shredded cheese (cheddar or cotija are our favorites)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Pour the water in the bottom of a dutch oven. Then add the roast on top of the water.
- Mix all remaining ingredients spread on the top of the roast.
- Roast in oven for 1 hour. Then reduce the heat to 250 degrees, and roast for an additional 3 hours.
- Meat should be fall apart tender at this point. If not, return to the oven for an additional hour or until meat is very tender.
- Serve in warm corn tortillas with your favorite toppings.
