HOW TO MAKE BEEF BARBACOA: Easy Slow Cooker Recipe for the Most Tender & Delicious Beef Barbacoa

I know, I know. Technically, this isn't true barbacoa because traditional barbacoa is made with goat meat or lamb meat, AND it's slow cooked underground. But this recipe for Beef Barbacoa is delicious, and so tender, it practically melts in your mouth. It's made with beef cheeks (cachete de res, in Spanish). And, if I can be honest, I like it even more with beef chuck. So, use whatever meat you prefer. You're the one eating it, after all. And enjoy. Read on for the easy recipe.
Beef Barbacoa
3 - 5 lbs. beef cheeks or beef chuck
half a large onion, coarsely chopped
2 garlic cloves
3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1/4 cup lime juice, orange juice, or water
salt to taste
2 bay leaves
Rinse meat clean and pat dry with paper towels. Season all sides with salt. Heat skillet over medium high with just enough olive oil to coat the bottom, and quickly sear the meat on all sides. (Do not fully cook, only sear the outside.) Transfer meat to crockpot that has been set to high. Place coarsely chopped onion, garlic, chipotle peppers and lime juice in blender and purée. Drizzle purée on top of meat in crockpot. Add two bay leaves. Cover and cook for 5-7 hours, or until meat is tender and breaks apart easily. Remove meat from liquid that has been rendered in crockpot. Shred meat with forks, removing any excess fat before serving. You can also broil it for a few minutes, if you like it a little crispy. Serve with corn tortillas, chopped onion, cilantro, and your favorite salsa. Or enjoy it on it's own.
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*All music in this video used with rights from Storyblocks:
1:53 "Don't Stop Instrumental"
3:14 "Nueva Fresca"

[@lupeschulte8239]

I recently came across your channel and I have really enjoyed it. I love the way you explain your recipes…simple, quick and to the point. Please keep sharing these amazing recipes with us and we’ll keep giving you 👍🏻. Thank you!!

[@marcyinspired1442]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate your feedback. I'll do my best. ;)

[@eldeRobe]

Your video takes me back to my youth and Sunday mornings at my Guelita's house. Our extended familia came together to enjoy this special delicacy with fresh corn tortillas and home-made salsa. Thank you for another great and informative video.

[@marcyinspired1442]

I love hearing that it brings back good memories. Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@KarenGarcia-rg4or]

Tried this recipe out today and it can't be beat! AWESOME!!! Perfect Flavor...thanks for the great tips!!! 😋😋😋

[@marcyinspired1442]

So glad you liked it. Thanks for the comment.

[@sharilynn3024]

Wow, Marcy! I have GOT to try this ASAP.

[@marcyinspired1442]

Let me know when you do! It’s hard to go wrong with slow-cooked meat. But I think you’ll really like the way it’s seasoned.

[@hopeschneider2667]

OMG this looks delicious, and if I can find the meat, we are having it for dinner soon! Thanks Marcy.

[@Tee_Jay_Rey]

I’m going to make this for Super Bowl meal. Thank you

[@taosjedi]

Ok I'll admit when I was young I had a lot of "food issues" another way of saying I was picky! This was one of those foods I was scared to eat, God knows why... So when I finally tried it I kicked myself for not eating it sooner! I've never made it, I generally have this at a place here in ABQ called Barbacoa El Primo whith is a taco place and they do this soooo good! This has become one of my favorite place to eat! I'm gonna attempt this in a few weeks I'll let ya know how it turns out! Good Job!!🌮🌮🌮

[@marcyinspired1442]

That's funny that you would have "food issues" with barbacoa, of all things! Lol But, then again, I definitely have my own food issues. I've really had to work at eating seafood and finally have gotten to the point where I like some of it. If it still has an eye on it, I'M OUT! And if has tentacles with little suction cups, I might even run. Lol

[@savagedick1462]

I was the same way with menudo.

[@studio_547]

This meal looks absolutely yummy and flavorful!!❤ big thumbs up❤ Beautiful presentation👌Thanks for sharing ❤

[@marcyinspired1442]

Thanks for checking out my video and taking the time to comment.

[@jesterfacedjuggalo]

Thank you so much for your help today god bless

[@marcyinspired1442]

Thank you! May God bless you, as well.

[@cesarvazquez1972]

Oh my God looks so good

[@marcyinspired1442]

It is. Hope you try it.

[@chelleroberson3222]

Come to Texas where we have put the head in the ground for years . The true way to do barbacoa

[@L.Spencer]

The barbacoa where we lived in Tamaulipas was often rather plain and with funky parts in it. I'm not even sure they added salt. On Sunday mornings people would go buy a bag of it and take it home for almuerzo. We like to cook the meat in the crockpot and after it's tender cook it up with salsa.

[@marcyinspired1442]

Lol. Definitely don’t like funky parts in it. Beef cheeks can be really fatty. I actually prefer using beef chuck, for that reason, but purists will knock that. Anyway, thanks for the comment.

[@MadebyYouandI]

Happy New Year!, Marcy! Hope you've had a great one. This looks great! 😁 Not perfect for my New Year's resolutions. 🤣

[@marcyinspired1442]

Right? I seriously need to make some healthy dishes because I'm still eating in holiday-mode. Lol

[@MadebyYouandI]

@@marcyinspired1442 🐮 I feel you! 😁 Have a great day, marcy.

[@hopeschneider2667]

OMG this looks good and, if I can find the meat, we are having it for dinner real soon😋 Thanks Marcy!

[@marcyinspired1442]

I actually prefer it with beef chuck as opposed to beef cheeks, but beef cheeks is more traditional for barbacoa. Either way, you can't go wrong. Hope you enjoy it.

[@hopeschneider2667]

@@marcyinspired1442 I’ve never had beef cheeks but we do enjoy beef Chuck Roast so I think I will go with that. Thanks for letting me know.

[@charlienatera467]

That's awesome

[@marcyinspired1442]

Thanks so much!

[@charlienatera467]

@@marcyinspired1442 can I use chuck roast might not find cheek meat

[@marcyinspired1442]

@@charlienatera467 absolutely, try it with chuck roast. I actually prefer that to beef cheeks. But any meat will work.

[@KarenGarcia-rg4or]

You remind me of Sofia Vergara! You're a beauty inside and out!!!🥰I Love barbacoa and your channel😘Blessings be yours now and always😇💛💯💙🙏

[@marcyinspired1442]

Oh my goodness! In my wildest dreams, but thank you so much! You are too kind. So happy you found my channel.

[@Islandcandies5963]

Hi, can I use untrimmed (with fat cap) tri tip instead? Thx

[@lawrencekellie]

Story about yellow limes. In high school, a friend of mine got some limes--yellow. He was sucking away on wedges, when another person, thinking they were lemons, ask for a piece. I wish smart phones were around then!

[@ramiemanderscheid3716]

At my grocery store I haven’t seen Beef Cheeks, what other beef cut could I use?

[@marcyinspired1442]

You can use beef chuck. In fact, I like it more than beef cheeks, but beef cheeks is more traditional.

[@cynthiamontez1917]

How can I print this recipe

[@marcyinspired1442]

Look for the written recipe in the description box, then copy & paste and you can print.

[@kingbentley8210]

You forgot to add garlic to your ingredients list in the caption

[@marcyinspired1442]

Thank you so much for catching that! I was able to go in and add it. I really appreciate it.

[@jeremydarr8642]

Can’t find beef cheeks unfortunately

[@marcyinspired1442]

Use regular beef chuck. I actually use that more than beef cheeks.