Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef

Spice up dinner in a fraction of the time with this Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef! Chipotle and cumin make this perfect for tacos, burritos, enchiladas and more!

PIN IT FOR LATER!

I’ve been blogging for a long time. Over 10 years, in fact. So in the blogging world, I’m really old. In those 10 years, I’ve never felt like I’ve had a shortage of ideas or recipes to post about. In fact, I often feel like I just can’t keep up with all of the recipes I want to try.

So what are the chances that I’d make a recipe that is really similar to another recipe I already have on the blog, and not even realize it until pictures are taken and a video is filmed. Oops. Apparently, this is becoming a regular thing for me, because this isn’t the first time this has happened. In 2012, I posted a recipe for Reuben Dogs, then in 2014, I did a Pastrami Wrapped Hot Dog Recipe that was really similar. I guess I know what I like and I’m not afraid to admit it! 😜

In my defense, this Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef does taste different from the Chipotle Shredded Beef I posted. The ingredients are similar, but I’m surprised how different the 2 recipes actually taste. This Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef is a bit spicier and the seasonings seemed to come through a bit stronger for me. It is bold and flavorful and so perfect for tacos, burritos, enchiladas – you name it!!

I have made this recipe in the oven, and it turned out great as well. But I love the time saver that the Instant Pot is. I’m sure you could probably do this in the slow cooker as well, but I prefer the Instant Pot to the slow cooker. It’s definitely time to call it a Taco Tuesday with this Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef!

What is Barbacoa?

Typically, barbacoa is beef that has been slow cooked with chipotle in adobo and other spices. While the beef is usually slow cooked until it is super tender, in this version, we cut out some of that time and effort by using the Instant Pot. That way you get long cooked results in only a portion of the time!

What is in this Barbacoa recipe?

This barbacoa recipe starts with a chuck roast. Add in sauteed garlic and onion then lots of cumin and oregano. Then don’t forget the chipotles in adobo! The more you add, the spicier the meat will be. Add in some broth, lime juice, cider vinegar, cloves and bay leaves and season with salt and pepper.

How to Make Barbacoa

This barbacoa recipe is super simple!

• Start by browning the beef in chunks. This will give the final dish more flavor and texture.
• Cook the onion and garlic until they are soft, then add in the rest of your ingredients. Add the beef back into the Instant Pot.
• Lock the lid, then cook on high pressure for 60 minutes. Allow the pot to naturally release.
• Once cooked, remove the beef from the Instant Pot with tongs, then shred the meat with two forks. Return the shredded beef to the Instant Pot to allow it to soak up some of that liquid in the pot.

Watch How to Make This Barbacoa Beef (video)

Don’t quit there – here are more beef recipes that make perfect fillings for tacos, burritos, enchiladas and quesadillas!

Brisket Tacos, Dallas Style
Chipotle Shredded Beef
Chipotle Beef Quesadilla Recipe
Slow Cooker Balsamic Shredded Beef from Shugary Sweets
Poblano Braised Beef Tacos from Sweet Basil
Slow Cooker Chili Lime Shredded Beef from 730 Sage Street

Tools I Used in this Recipe

You need a pressure cooker – I use an Instant Pot.
I find that a good pair of tongs really helps with dinner prep. Tongs work great in this recipe to move the beef to and from the Instant Pot.

Looking for more free recipes?

Subscribe to my free recipe newsletter to get new family friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more family-friendly inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.

Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef

---

★★★★★

5 from 25 reviews

• Author: Deborah
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 75 mins
• Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Main Dish

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Spice up dinner in a fraction of the time with this Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef! Chipotle and cumin make this perfect for tacos, burritos, enchiladas and more!

---

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 2 pound chuck roast
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 2–4 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, minced (remove seeds for less heat)
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3 bay leaves

---

Instructions

Cut the roast into 4-6 large chunks, removing any large pieces of fat.

Press saute on the Instant Pot and add the vegetable oil. Add half of the roast chunks.  Brown completely on each side. Remove to a plate and brown the second half of the meat. Remove from the Instant Pot.

With the Instant Pot still on saute, add the onion and cook until it starts to become translucent, about 3 minutes.  Add the garlic, cumin and oregano and cook an additional minute.  Pour in the broth, chipotle chiles, lime juice, cider vinegar, salt, pepper, cloves and bay leaves. Stir to combine, then add the roast back into the Instant Pot.

Place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock. Select high pressure and 60 minutes.

When the pot beeps, allow the pressure to naturally release.  Once the pin has dropped, remove the lid and, using a set of tongs, remove the meat from the instant pot to a cutting board. Use 2 forks to shred the beef.  Once shredded, return to the Instant Pot and stir to coat the meat in the leftover juices.

Serve in tacos, burritos, bowls, or whatever your heart desires!

Recipe Notes:

*the meat will be very wet once you stir it back into the cooking liquid. If you don’t want this, you can skip the last step and just serve it after you have shredded it. I like to use tongs to remove the beef in the liquid to let any extra drip off, but I love the extra flavor and moisture the liquid brings.

adapted from Closet Cooking

Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts.

Nutrition

• Calories: 291
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 907 mg
• Fat: 28 g
• Saturated Fat: 11 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 5 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 29 g
• Cholesterol: 93 mg