Chipotle Barbacoa Slow Cooked Beef (Printer-Friendly)

Slow cooked beef in chipotle adobo sauce with a blend of garlic, cumin, oregano, and lime for bold flavors.

# What You’ll Need to Cook:

→ Barbacoa Marinade

01 - 80 ml apple cider vinegar
02 - 45 ml freshly squeezed lime juice
03 - 4 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
04 - 4 teaspoons minced garlic
05 - 4 teaspoons ground cumin
06 - 2 teaspoons dried oregano
07 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cloves
08 - 1 teaspoon salt
09 - 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Main Components

10 - 2 to 2.25 kg beef chuck roast
11 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
12 - 180 ml chicken broth
13 - 3 bay leaves

# Steps to Prepare:

01 - Combine apple cider vinegar, lime juice, chipotle chiles, garlic, cumin, oregano, ground cloves, salt, and black pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend on high until fully smooth. Set aside.
02 - Remove excess fat from the beef chuck roast and cut into six evenly sized chunks.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, sear each beef chunk on all sides until deeply browned, about 2–3 minutes per side.
04 - Transfer the seared beef chunks to the slow cooker. Pour the prepared adobo marinade over the beef, ensuring each piece is evenly coated. Add chicken broth and nestle in the bay leaves.
05 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 6 hours or LOW for 8 hours, until the beef is extremely tender and easy to shred.
06 - Remove and discard the bay leaves. Using two forks, shred the beef directly in the slow cooker and stir to coat with sauce. Adjust seasoning as needed and switch to the warm setting until ready to serve.

# Extra Cooking Tips:

01 - Substitute brisket or beef cheeks for chuck roast if preferred. For optimal flavor, marinate beef overnight and pat it dry before searing.
02 - Deglaze the skillet after searing and pour the pan juices into the slow cooker for enhanced depth of flavor.
03 - Reserve 1–2 tablespoons of the marinade and add during the last hour of cooking for brighter flavor.
04 - For a milder result, reduce chipotle chiles to two.

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