Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa

Carls Bad Cravings

This Slow cooker Mexican Beef Barbacoa is extremely tender, juicy, EASY and bursting with rich, spicy (customiazble), complex flavors! Great for large crowds (think taco bar/Game Day!) or make ahead meals like tacos, burritos, nachos, salads, etc!

Ingredients
1(3-5 lb) beef chuck roasttrimmed of excess fat, cut into 8-10 pieces
1tablespoon olive oil
Slow Cooker Ingredients
1/2cup mild red enchilada sauce
24 oz. cans MILD chopped green chiles
2 chipotles in adobo sauce (more or less to taste)minced (approx. 2 tablespoons)**
2tablespoons lime juice
2tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2tablespoons brown sugar
1tablespoon Worchestershire
1-3teaspoons liquid smoke(depending on how “smoky” you like it)
1 TBS EACH ground cumin, dried oregano
2teaspoons salt
1tsp EACH garlic powder, onion powder
1/2tsp EACH chili powder, smoked paprika
1/4tsp EACH ground cloves, ground cinnamon
2 bay leaves

Instructions

Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Once very hot, add cubed beef and sear on all sides. Transfer beef to a 6 qt (or larger) slow cooker along with all remaining ingredients. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 1/2 – 4 1/2 hours or on LOW for 6-8 hours, OR until the beef shreds easily with a fork.
Remove beef to a cutting board (do NOT discard juices in slow cooker), shred, and add back to slow cooker and toss with slow cooker juices. Cook on low for 20 minutes for beef to absorb juices. Add additional hot sauce, lime juice or brown sugar to taste.
Remove beef with a pair of tongs to serving bowl or strain in colander so tacos, etc. don’t get soggy. If you would like “saucier” beef, add additional enchilada sauce.

Recipe Notes
**I would say 2 chipotle peppers is medium spicy. If you don’t like spice or want to make it kid friendly then reduce to 1 or less chipotle pepper.

***Liquid Smoke can be found next to the barbecue sauces in your grocery store and adds a wonderfully smokey flavor.
****If you are not serving immediately, then refrigerate the barbacoa beef IN its juices so it stays juicy.