Our Copycat Recipe for Chipotle's Beef Barbacoa (2024)

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You’ll love this Chipotle Barbacoa Recipe! Start with an easy marinade, then braise or slow-cook the beef until it’s meltingly tender. It tastes even better than the real thing!

Chipotle Barbacoa beef is excellent, and making the real thing at home couldn’t be easier. The resulting shredded beef is fall-apart tender and just waiting to be stuffed into tacos, burritos, taquitos, quesadillas, and more.

It’s also great with scrambled eggs for breakfast! Call me crazy, but you’ll love it too.

Recipe ingredients

Ingredient notes

• Adobo sauce: To make your own adobo sauce, whisk together 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 1 tablespoon cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon chipotle powder (or ½ teaspoon EACH smoked paprika and cayenne powder), ½ teaspoon ground cumin, and a pinch EACH of oregano, garlic powder, and salt.
• Ancho chile powder: You can buy ancho chile powder online or buy dried ancho chiles and grind them to make your own ancho chile powder or soak them and add straight to the marinade (Culinary Hill may earn money if you buy through these links).
• Olive oil: Chipotle uses rice bran oil, but olive oil is more widely available (and probably already in your pantry).
• Oregano: Chipotle uses Mexican oregano, but you can use Italian oregano if that’s all that you have. They have different flavors (Mexican oregano tastes more like marjoram) but both taste great in this recipe.
• Water: You can substitute chicken broth or beef broth, if desired.

Step-by-step instructions

1. To make the marinade, in the bowl of a food processor or blender, add garlic, adobo sauce, ancho chile powder, olive oil, cumin, dried oregano, cloves, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Blend until smooth (add water if needed to fully blend the marinade).

2. Sprinkle beef liberally on both sides with salt and pepper. In a large skillet over Dutch oven, heat oil until shimmering. Add beef and cook until browned on one side, about 5 minutes. Flip the beef and continue cooking until the other side is brown, about 10 minutes total.

3. Transfer to a slow cooker and top with marinade, turning to coat. Add water and bay leaves.

4. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 to 6 hours or low for 8 to 10 hours, until the fat is melted and the meat falls apart easily.

5. Remove both bay leaves and shred the beef with two forks. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with tortillas, onion, cilantro, and lime wedges.

Recipe tips and variations

• Yield: This recipe makes 8 generous servings.
• Storage: Store leftovers covered for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: The Barbacoa can be cooled and frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Or, make just the marinade ahead and freeze that for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before proceeding with the recipe.
• Toppings: Top your barbacoa bowl with lettuce, sour cream, shredded cheese, and serve with a side of flour tortillas for a fresh family dinner or delicious lunch.
• To substitute dried ancho chiles:
  1. Remove stems and seeds from dried chiles (wearing gloves is recommended).
  2. In a dry skillet over medium-low heat, toast the chiles until fragrant but not smoking, about 5 minutes.
  3. Transfer to a medium bowl and add 4 cups (1 quart) water and 2 Tablespoons adobo sauce. Microwave on HIGH for 6 minutes. Drain well, then add the chiles to the food processor in step 1.
• To braise the Barbacoa in the oven:
  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Sprinkle the beef liberally with salt and freshly ground pepper on both sides.
  2. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven or stock pot until shimmering. Add beef and cook until browned on one side, about 5 minutes. Flip the beef and continue cooking until the other side is brown, about 10 minutes total.
  3. Top with marinade. Add water and bay leaves and cover. Transfer to oven and bake for 3 ½ hours, turning beef every 30 minutes.
  4. Remove both bay leaves. Shred beef with two forks. Taste for seasonings, add more salt and pepper until it tastes just right, and serve.
• To simmer the Barbacoa on the stove:
  1. Sprinkle the beef liberally with salt and freshly ground pepper on both sides.
  2. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven or stock pot until shimmering. Add beef and cook until browned on one side, about 5 minutes. Flip the beef and continue cooking until the other side is brown, about 10 minutes total.
  3. Reduce heat to medium-low. Top with marinade. Add water and bay leaves and cover. Cover and simmer for 3 ½ hours, turning beef every 30 minutes.
  4. Remove both bay leaves. Shred beef with two forks. Taste for seasonings, add more salt and pepper until it tastes just right, and serve.
• Chipotle Burrito Bowls: Make your own copycat burrito bowls, tacos, and salads at home with my full collection of Chipotle Copycat Recipes:
  • Proteins: Chipotle Chicken, Chipotle Steak, Chipotle Carnitas, Chipotle Sofritas
  • Sides:Chipotle Cilantro-Lime Rice, Chipotle Black Beans, Chipotle Pinto Beans, Chipotle Fajita Veggies
  • Sauces: Chipotle Guacamole, Chipotle Tomato Salsa (Pico de Gallo), Chipotle Corn Salsa, Chipote Tomatillo Salsa, Chipotle Hot Salsa, Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette