This Chipotle barbacoa is as close to a certain big chain’s version as I have ever made. It is full of intense flavors such as garlic, cayenne, and sweet, smoky chipotle. Make sure you scale down the cayenne and serrano if you can’t handle the heat because this recipe is packing lots of it! Serve on corn or flour tortillas garnished with cilantro and topped with lime cilantro rice (from this website), black beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, cheese, lettuce, and sour cream.
Prep Time: 25 mins | Cook Time: 6 hrs 5 mins | Total Time: 6 hrs 30 mins | Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 (2 pound) beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 4 to 6 pieces
- 4 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- ⅓ cup apple cider
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled, or more to taste
- 4 teaspoons cumin
- 1 serrano chile pepper, chopped (Optional)
- 1 tablespoon ground cayenne pepper, or more to taste (Optional)
- 2 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 bay leaves
Directions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over low heat, gradually increasing heat to medium-high. Cook beef in hot oil until browned, about 10 seconds per side. Transfer beef to a slow cooker.
- Combine chipotle peppers, apple cider, lime juice, garlic, cumin, serrano pepper, cayenne pepper, oregano, black pepper, garlic powder, salt, and cloves in a blender or food processor; blend until smooth. Pour over beef in the slow cooker.
- Stir broth, onion, and bay leaves into the slow cooker.
- Cook on Low until beef is fork-tender, 6 to 8 hours. Shred beef using 2 forks to serve.
Tips
I cook everything extremely spicy, so my addition of cayenne and serrano peppers may be spicy to you. If I was a normal person, this measurement might be different. But written as is, this recipe is very hot!
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Calories: 244 | Fat: 14g | Carbs: 7g | Protein: 22g
