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Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef Recipe

Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef is the most flavorful, tender and juicy barbacoa beef that you will ever have.

The process of cooking the meat in a pressure cooker allows the meat to become super tender. And the favors of the spices makes this recipe a crowd favorite!

Barbacoa Beef Tacos
Barbacoa Beef Tacos

I am ashamed to admit that the very first time that I tried Barbacoa was in a Chipotle Restaurant.

I absolutely love Mexican food and often frequent authentic Mexican Restaurants.

However, I rarely stray away from ordering chicken or steak fajitas.

Although the menus at most Mexican restaurants are quite extensive, and I walk in determined to order something new, I always end up ordering the usual.

But when I started going to a fast food version of a Mexican Restaurant, Chipotle, I began to try various types of protein in my burrito bowls.

cubed chuck roast
Be sure to cut your chuck roast into 2 inch cubes for even cooking.

Yes, chicken and steak are my go-to menu items, but I have also tried the carnitas, sofritas, and of course Barbacoa.

So then I learned to order different menu items at the authentic, sit down restaurants.

Barbacoa

Traditionally, barbacoa is made from sheep, goat or beef. It is slow cooked for hours along with various seasonings until tender.

The meat is typically shredded and served as the main filling for tacos, burritos and more!

lime juice
The easiest way to squeeze the juice out of a lime is by using tongs.

Typically, the entire process takes many hours to prepare but it is definitely well worth the effort.

The meat is super tender, flavorful and literally melts in your mouth!

However, because it takes so long for the meat to break down and cook to perfection, we rarely made it at home.

That, of course, was until we began making Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef.

Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef

Now it has become one of our favorite recipes!

chunks of onions
No need to dice your onion, just cut it in large chunks and let the food processor or blender do the rest of the work.

It is so easy to prepare and the meat is so flavorful that we not only use it for fillings for tacos and burritos, but also to serve it in a bowl with rice or on top of our salads.

We use a standard chuck roast for this recipe. Yes, the same cut of meat that we use for our Pot Roast recipe.

This chunk of meat comes from the shoulder and is typically slow cooked until fall apart tender.

It is the perfect cut of meat for Instant Pot Barbacoa.

barbacoa beef marinade
Place all of your marinade in the food processor or blender and puree.

However, you must trim the exterior edges of fat so that you don’t end up with chunks of fatty meat dispersed throughout the rest of the meat.

Barbacoa Marinade

But what makes this dish so flavorful is the marinade that you cook with the beef.

A combination of ingredients, spices and flavorful liquids becomes an amazing puree that truly makes this recipe magnificent!

And as always, you can adjust the taste to your liking.

We use beer instead of beef stock. Either one will provide a rich flavor to your dish.

seared beef
For the best flavor, sear your beef chunks prior to pressure cooking.

Therefore, if you don’t like to cook with alcohol, stick to the stock.

And as for heat level in this recipe, we like it a little on the spicier side.

So we will use hot green chiles and a few extra chipotle peppers in adobo sauce to kick it up a notch.

However, if you like your meat with a little less heat, stick to the mild green chiles and just a couple of chipotle peppers.

cooked barbacoa
The meat has been cooked and ready to be shredded.

The best part is that this marinade is made in minutes using a food processor or blender.

No need to dice up your ingredients into small pieces. Simply throw chunks of the ingredients in the food processor or blender and puree until smooth.

The chunks of meat gets tossed and cooked in the liquid and becomes fall apart tender.

In fact, you can shred the meat in minutes with two forks.

shredded barbacoa beef
The meat will shred easily with the use of two forks.

Serve on tortillas, salads, or with Mexican rice for a full meal.

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Yield: 8

Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef

Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef

The most flavorful, tender, and juicy barbacoa beef made in the Instant Pot pressure cooker. Perfect for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas and more!

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds chuck roast, fat trimmed
  • 2/3 cup beef stock or beer
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 small white onion, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 1 (4-ounce can) chopped green chiles, mild or hot
  • 2-3 chipotles in adobo sauce
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon oregano
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 bay leaves

Instructions

  1. Cut chuck roast into 2 inch cubes, set aside.
  2. In a food processor or blender add the stock/beer, garlic, onion, green chiles, chipotles, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Puree until smooth. Set aside.
  3. Press the SAUTE button. Once the display reads HOT, add the olive oil. Add the chunks of roast and sear until browned on all sides, working in batches if necessary.
  4. Press CANCEL to turn off the heat.
  5. Add the sauce and toss with the chunks of roast to coat the meat. Add the bay leaves to the pot.
  6. Lock the lid in place and set the vent to the SEALING position.
  7. Pressure Cook/Manual on HIGH pressure for 60 minutes.
  8. After the cooking time expires, allow for 10 minutes of Natural Pressure Release. Then carefully quick release any remaining pressure by turning the valve to the VENTING position.
  9. Remove the lid and by using two forks, shred the beef.
  10. Remove the bay leaves and stir the shredded beef into the remaining liquid.
  11. Serve immediately.

Notes

Refrigerate any remaining portions or freeze for up to 6 months.
Recipe provided by Make Your Meals

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1 grams

Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g
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