Not only is this the easiest Beef Barbacoa I've ever made, but it's one of the tastiest as well! Make this deliciously tender barbacoa recipe in a fraction of the time right in your Instant Pot.
What Is Barbacoa?
Barbacoa is Mexican barbecue meat that is typically sheep, goat, or beef. It's traditionally cooked underground until it is super tender and delicious. Since most of us don't have the option of burying our meat, I decided to modify the recipe for the Instant Pot to create delicious and tender barbacoa meat.
What Makes This Beef Barbacoa Recipe So Quick And Delicious
- Better than the original. This is a great take on Chipotle Barbacoa.
- Inexpensive. Skip the high takeout prices and make your own at home.
- Great topper. Use this as a topping for rice or salad.
- Easy. A great hands-off Instant Pot recipe.
- Keto. Great for a keto lifestyle.
- Low Carb. Skip the tortillas and eat with some cheese and sour cream for a great low carb main course.
How To Make Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa
- Chop beef roast into pieces.
- In the Instant Pot, combine the beef roast pieces and the blended ingredients.
- Secure the lid on the pot. Close the pressure-release valve. Select MANUAL/HIGH PRESSURE and set the pot at HIGH pressure for 30 minutes. When cook time is complete, let pot release pressure naturally for 10 minutes, and then release all remaining pressure.
- Remove the beef to a cutting board.
- Using two forks, shred the beef. Add it back to the Instant Pot.
- Stir in lime juice and serve.
What Type Of Beef Is Barbacoa?
Traditionally, barbacoa meat is either sheep, goat or beef. However, most recipes online (including this Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa recipe) will have you use chuck roast.
It's also widely believed that Chipotle barbacoa is made of chuck roast as well. And let me tell you, it's the perfect cut of meat for this dish as it comes about perfectly tender and delicious every time!
What Does Barbacoa Taste Like?
Beef Barbacoa is perfectly tangy, savory, salty and spicy all at the same time. It has a rich, beefy flavor that's bursting with Mexican spices and it's easily one of my favorite Mexican dishes.
Tips And Tricks For Making Beef Barbacoa
- I wrote this for 1 pound of meat because many of us can’t finish several pounds of meat at once. But you can always double or triple the recipe. If you do that, double or triple everything except the water.
- You can freeze the leftovers along with some of the cooking liquid to keep it moist when defrosting.
Beef Barbacoa Serving Suggestions
- Salad: Use the cooking liquid as a dressing. You may choose to use romaine lettuce, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, chopped red onions, and cilantro.
- Tacos: Wrap in corn or four tortillas with chopped red onions and cilantro. Keep it low carb with your favorite low carb tortilla shell.
- Over Rice: Cook brown rice pot in pot in the same pot as the meat cooks.
- Lettuce Wrap: Wrap the meat in a lettuce leaf to keep it keto.
Looking For More Great Mexican Instant Pot Recipes? Check These Out!
- Pork Chile Verde - Quick, savory and delicious.
- Poblano Chicken Soup - Bursting with flavor without being spicy.
- Carne Adovada - A traditional taste made in a non-traditional way.
- Arroz Pina Colada - A great dessert for your Mexican dinner.
- Mexican Pulled Pork - Make pulled Pork tacos or use it for burritos.
- Mexican Chicken Pollo Con Salsa Rojo - A delicious Mexican chicken dish.
- Arroz Con Pollo - A simple chicken and rice dish that is bound to make the whole family happy.
- Mexican Rice Recipe - Way better than prepackaged Mexican rice!
- Instant Pot Tamale Pie - All of the taste of tamales but done in under an hour.
Still not sure what to make for dinner tonight? Check out some of these dinner ideas.
This Beef Barbacoa is the perfect main dish for your next taco night or as a quick and delicious dinner option. Make sure to share this recipe with your friends on Pinterest and Facebook so they can enjoy it as well!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Chipotle Chile in Adobo Sauce
- 6 Garlic Cloves
- 1 tablespoon Ground Cumin
- 2 teaspoons Dried Oregano
- 1.5 teaspoons Kosher Salt
- 1 tablespoon Mexican Red Chili Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cloves
- 1 cup Water
- 1 pound Chuck Roast, beef, cut into 5-6 even pieces
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
Instructions
- In a small blender jar, blend together vinegar, chipotle chili, garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, chile powder, ground cloves, and water.
- In the Instant Pot, combine the beef roast pieces and the blended ingredients.
- Secure the lid on the pot. Close the pressure-release valve. Select MANUAL/HIGH PRESSURE and set the pot at HIGH pressure for 30 minutes. When cook time is complete, let pot release pressure naturally for 10 minutes, and then release all remaining pressure.
- Remove the beef to a cutting board. Using two forks, shred the beef. Add it back to the Instant Pot. Stir in lime juice and serve.
Tips And Tricks For Making Beef Barbacoa
- I wrote this for 1 pound of meat because many of us can’t finish several pounds of meat at once. But you can always double or triple the recipe. If you do that, double or triple everything except the water.
- You can freeze the leftovers along with some of the cooking liquid to keep it moist when defrosting.
Beef Barbacoa Serving Suggestions
- Salad: Use the cooking liquid as a dressing. You may choose to use romaine lettuce, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, chopped red onions, and cilantro.
- Tacos: Wrap in corn or four tortillas with chopped red onions and cilantro.
- Over Rice: Cook brown rice pot in pot in the same pot as the meat cooks.
Get support & connect with our community on Facebook!
Nutrition
Originally Published February 17, 2020
Don't forget to check out my other Best-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot, Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy, Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot.
Jessica
This was amazing! We doubled it, and used London broil, so it did an hour at pressure and then let it come down naturally. We put it on just as a group of friends and I were going to a concert, and having tacos ready to go when we got back to our hotel room was amazing. So easy to throw together, and so tasty.
Mitchell Mosher
What do you do with the can of chipotles after using just one of them? Mitchell
Kim
I take the entire can and purée it all and then spoon the mixture in tablespoon amounts onto some parchment paper and freeze, once frozen, wrap them all up and place into a ziplock freezer bag. Chipotle peppers on the ready! Hope that helps!