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I had Chipotle Restuarant’s barbacoa tacos and thought they were fantastic. Then I found this Slow Cooker Chipotle Barbacoa recipe on Coupon Crafty’s blog a couple years ago. My husband loved it and when you luck out to get chuck roast on sale, it’s an inexpensive and easy recipe. I could write a whole post on how much I love my slow cooker*, it even made my list of 8 Must Have Tools in the Kitchen.
Three chipotle peppers was too spicy for my kids but Superhubby and I liked it. I had read in one of the blog’s comments to put the whole can of chicken broth in so that’s what I did and it came out fall apart tender and juicy! The extra broth helps keep the meat tender should you have leftovers that you need to keep (keep some of the broth too).
The recipe below shows how I’ve adapted it and I make this pretty often. This is one of our family favorites and as you can see by the serving suggestions, a very versatile and tasty meat. This is a great dish to make for company or to feed a crowd where guests can build their own soft tacos, rice bowls, nachos or salad. I even put leftover meat and loads of fresh veggies on top of my homemade pizza and it is our favorite way to eat pizza. This Slow Cooker* Chipotle Barbacoa is a definite party pleaser and so easy to make it only tastes like you slaved all day making it!
Barbacoa
Family Yumminess Rating: 5 of 5 stars
RA Ease of Prep Rating: 4 of 5 stars (the hardest part of this recipe is handling the roast, squeezing the lime juice and getting the lid on my mini food processor secured properly. Otherwise it’s very simple and only tastes like you’ve slaved over it all day!)
* Tip: To make this recipe even easier or if you are rushed for time, don’t worry about blending ingredients in food processor (save yourself another thing to clean). Chop the chipotle peppers as fine as you can and distribute the peppers and seasonings evenly over the browned pieces of meat in the slow cooker. Carefully pour the broth in the spaces between the meat so that the spices aren’t washed off when you pour it. The slow cooker* melds the flavors together beautifully as it cooks and the taste is amazing!
Cilantro-Lime Rice
Family Yumminess Rating: 3 of 5 stars
RA Ease of Prep Rating: 4 of 5 stars
- For Barbacoa:
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, canned (for mild flavor. Add more peppers if you like it spicy)
- 4 garlic cloves
- 4 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1½ teaspoons ground black pepper
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 lbs chuck roast
- 1 10-ounce can chicken broth
- 3 bay leaves
- For Cilantro-Lime Rice:
- 4 cups water
- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- 2-3 teaspoons olive oil
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- ⅓ cup fresh cilantro, minced
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- For Barbacoa:
- Make adobo sauce by combining vinegar, lime juice, peppers, garlic, cumin, oregano, black pepper, salt and clove in a blender or food processor and puree on high-speed until smooth.
- Trim the fat from the meat, and then slice the roast into 6 smaller pieces.
- Sear all sides of the chunks of meat in olive oil until browned.
- Put meat in the crockpot.
- Add the adobo sauce on top of the meat, pour in the chicken broth, and add the bay leaves.
- Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- At the five-hour mark, take the lid off and shred the beef with two forks. Cover and cook for the last hour.
- Topping suggestions: pico de gallo, salsa, shredded cheese, sour cream, jalapeño
- Serving suggestions: in a warmed tortilla for a taco, on top of yellow or white rice for a rice bowl or on top of tortilla chips for nachos or on top of lettuce with corn, tomatoes and black beans for a fantastic Tex-Mex salad! It's a very versatile and tasty meat.
- For the Cilantro-Lime Rice:
- Combine water, rice, olive oil and salt in a large saucepan.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat to low, cover saucepan, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Turn heat off and let sit for 10 more minutes.
- When the rice is done stir in the cilantro and lime juice. Keep covered until ready to eat.
Slow Cooker Chipotle Barbacoa is perfect for tacos, pizza and a definite party pleaser! #recipes Click To Tweet
See my Linky Parties I Love page for where this recipe might be shared.
What are your favorite recipes to serve a crowd? What are your favorite slow cooker recipes? I always like to try new things, so please share your recipes with me!
This looks delicious, Tanya! I absolutely love barbacoa and cilantro lime rice, so I need to try this!!!!!
That looks amazing! Wonderful idea of making one meat then using it for both my favorite foods…tacos and pizza! Love co-hosting with ya’ #SmallVictories
I love crockpot recipes & this one looks great!
Thank you Cathy. It’s very delicious and fall apart tender. Let me know if you try it out!
Made this last night, Tanya. My husband and I loved it. I am sharing it in my newsletter today and in my FB group tonight! So good!
Wonderful, so glad to hear it and thank you for sharing. I just made half the recipe on Wednesday and boys devoured it.
Mmmm, looks like a winner. Love any recipe I can throw in the crockpot and come back to a yummy meal! You should come link this up at Welcome Home Wednesdays if you have a chance. Party opens 7a CST Wed. http://www.suburbansimplicity.com
I have never heard of barbacoa before.
Thank you for participating in the Pinterest Party.
Jen
This looks so yummy, I want it in my belly right now. I love Chipotle anything! Thank you for sharing with us on The Sunday Social Linky Party…
Oh my gosh that looks so good! Thanks for sharing such an awesome recipe on the #ThursdayHuddle Link Up! I can’t wait to try this meat out!
Yum! This looks so good! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday, hope to see you again next week!
Thanks Chelc, I will be there!
I have this on my menu for next week. I’m glad I found your recipe. The other recipe was a bit too much. This is much simpler. I can’t wait to try it!!
Saw you on #MMBH!!
Tamala
http://tamalatoday.blogspot.com
Oh great, let me know how you like it! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Tanya. Thanks for linking at Pintastic Pinteresting Party!
This looks fantastic. I too have RA so I really appreciate the tips on how easy or difficult it is with RA. I was a little scared when you said it was Barbacoa because I really don’t care for Barbacoa, at least not the way it was prepared when I tried it. I think using the chuck roast, though, it would be wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Regina. I was so happy that you featured my post on the party this week, thanks so much! I am glad you find my RA ease of prep rating useful. It always takes me longer to make recipes and then factoring in clean up time. It feels like I am in the kitchen most of the time I am awake. The Chuck roast comes out really tender and just falls apart (really I can shred it with a spoon). My husband’s family is from Mexico. When they’ve bought barbacoa at restaurants it comes with a lot of fat. Trimming the fat and cooking in chicken broth really helps, even my in laws love it when I make this for them. Score!
This looks FABULOUS. My last slow cooker was possessed so I had to get rid of it – but this makes me want to go get another one!
Thanks for linking up with Spread the Love!
Oh I could write an ode to my slow cooker like I did for my kindle. I highly recommend the Hamilton beach stow n go. I think its either $40 or $60 so not overly expensive but fantastic!! I use mine at least once or twice per week.
This recipe looks YUMMY! I think I might have to make it soon:)
Thanks for linking up with us at Flashback Friday!
Oh I hope you do try it and let me know if you do.
OMG I am so trying this TODAY!!Saving recipe to ziplist!
Tanya,
This recipe looks tasty! I’ll definitely have to give it a try.
After reading your recipe, I was drawn to the about me section of your site. I too am a young arthritis sufferer. I have psoriatic arthritis and appreciate your comment about celebrating small victories 🙂
My husband would love this recipe, I’m pinning this!!
Stopping by to show an old post some new love, thanks for hosting.
Ps. Thanks for stopping by A Chicago Mom
Oh, how I love barbacoa! What a great recipe. I can’t wait to try it!
Visiting from Throwback Thursday! Great party too!
This looks amazing! I am a big Chipotle fan. I can’t wait to make it for my family. #ThrowbackThursdaylinkup
-Doree
Thanks Doree. I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine does!
This looks delicious! My husband is from Mexico and his mom has made barbacoa! I love it.
My husband’s family is from Mexico too. The biggest complement is my in-laws love when I make it too (and my hubby likes it more than the one his mom buys premade from the meat market). Its leaner too since I trim the fat from it and it cooks in chicken broth. I hope you try it out!
Oh my giddy aunt – this recipe sounds delicious! My tummy is growling 🙂 I’ll be trying it very soon – thank you so much for sharing!
You are welcome Ginger. So glad you stopped by our first #ThrowbackThursdaylinkup!
Looks like a great recipe! I will be sharing with my friends! Thanks for linking up!
Thanks Heather, I hope you do. When even my youngest loves it, I know its gotta be good. I make it at least once a month!
I am totally drooling over this recipe! I want some right now! Too bad I need to go to the store first. 🙁
Hi Becca, it’s pretty good. I’ve only eaten at Chipotle once and I gotta admit this recipe is even better. I used a whole can of chicken broth so it stays tender and the leftovers with the flavors all melded together are even better. Still my hubby’s favorite dish I make. Whenever chuck roast is on sale at Food Lion I stock up and make one roast fresh and freeze the other.