INSTANT POT BARBACOA BEEF (slow cooker option as well)

I’m back with another favorite in our house - beef barbacoa, fast or slow. You’ll need a food processor or blender to quickly chop the sauce, but other than that, this is an easy weeknight meal that you and your family will love.

Another quick Instant Pot recipe. Do you have a blender or food processor? If not, use a knife to chop your ingredients as finely as possible. Want the recip...

INSTANT POT BARBACOA BEEF (slow cooker option as well)

INGREDIENTS

  • 2/3 cup beer or water

  • 4 cloves garlic

  • 2 chipotles in adobo sauce (or more, to taste)

  • 1 small white onion, peeled and roughly chopped

  • 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles

  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice

  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin

  • 1 tablespoon dried Mexican oregano (or regular oregano)

  • 2 teaspoons salt

  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves

  • 1 whole cinnamon stick

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 3 pounds beef chuck roast* (fat trimmed), cut into 2-inch chunks

  • 3 bay leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Combine beer, garlic, chipotles, onion, green chiles, lime juice, vinegar, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and cloves in a blender or food processor.  Purée for 30 seconds, or until completely smooth.  Set aside.

  • Press the “Sauté” setting on the Instant Pot.  Add oil.  Then once it is heated and shimmering, add the roast and sear — turning every 45-60 seconds or so — until the roast is browned on all sides.  Press “Cancel” to turn off the heat.

  • Add the bay leaves, cinnamon and pureed sauce, and briefly toss everything until the roast is evenly coated in the sauce.  Close lid securely and set vent to “Sealing”.

  • Press “Manual”, then press “Pressure” until the light on “High Pressure” lights up, then adjust the +/- buttons until time reads 60 minutes.  Cook. Let it naturally release for 15 minutes then  turn the vent to “Venting” for quick release, and wait until all of the steam has released and the valve has dropped, if there is any steam remaining.

  • Remove the lid, and discard the bay leaves.

  • Using two forks, shred the beef into bite-sized pieces.  Give the beef one more good toss in all of those juices so that it can soak them up.

  • Serve warm, or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

NOTES

*If you would like to make this in the slow cooker, you can slow cook everything for 4-5 hours on high, or 8 hours on low, until the beef is tender and shreds easily with a fork.

justin halbert