Description
Sizzling Mexican Beef Barbacoa promises a journey through rich, tender meat infused with bold spices and slow-cooked perfection. Succulent shreds melt in your mouth, delivering authentic flavors that transport you straight to the heart of traditional Mexican cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3–5 lbs beef chuck roast or beef cheek
- 1 cup beef broth
- 3–4 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Spices:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
Liquid Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Optional Ingredients (for serving):
- Tortillas
- Chopped cilantro
- Diced onion
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Create a robust sear on the beef by heating oil in a large cooking vessel over high temperature, ensuring a deep golden-brown crust develops on all surfaces of the meat.
- Craft a vibrant marinade by pulverizing orange and lime juices, beef broth, chipotle peppers, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, garlic, onion, cumin, and oregano into a smooth, aromatic liquid.
- Submerge the seared meat completely in the prepared marinade, guaranteeing full flavor penetration throughout the protein.
- Select a slow cooking method, either traditional slow cooker or pressure cooker, allowing the beef to tenderize gradually over several hours until it reaches a melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
- Once the meat becomes exceptionally tender, carefully extract it from the cooking liquid and use two forks to deconstruct into delicate, succulent strands.
- Return the shredded beef to its cooking liquid, allowing it to absorb additional seasoning and moisture for enhanced flavor intensity.
- Warm fresh tortillas as a serving companion, creating an inviting platform for the rich, complex barbacoa.
- Offer an array of complementary garnishes such as diced onions, fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and salsa to personalize each serving.
Notes
- Choose fattier beef cuts like chuck roast or brisket for maximum tenderness and rich flavor that melts in your mouth.
- Marinate meat overnight in the blended sauce to intensify the deep, complex barbacoa flavor profile if time permits.
- Adjust spice levels by reducing or increasing chipotle peppers based on personal heat tolerance, ensuring a customized taste experience.
- Freeze leftover barbacoa in airtight containers
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 hours (slow cooker)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg