Barbacoa Beef
This Whole30 Barbacoa Beef is so tender it melts in your mouth, has a rich sauce and is so versatile it can be served in endless ways including tacos, salads or rice bowls. The beef requires just 20 minutes of hands on prep time, and then cooks until it’s fork tender in a slow cooker or instant pot. This beef is Whole30, Keto, Paleo, Grain Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free and Specific Carbohydrate Diet Legal.
There are so many reasons to love this barbacoa beef. The beef is so tender it literally melts in your mouth, is coated in a delicious rich sauce and is so versatile it can be served in an endless number of ways.
WAYS TO SERVE THIS PALEO BARBACOA BEEF
I love having a big batch of this Whole30 barbacoa beef in my fridge to toss into tacos (click here to find out how to make the Whole30 tortillas), add it into a salad, serve it with Mexican cauliflower rice or roll it up into enchiladas. You don’t have to get fancy because the meat is so flavourful it can really carry any dish.
WHAT CUT OF BEEF WORKS BEST?
For this recipe I used brisket because it’s so cheap and easy to find, but chuck roast or beef cheek would also work well.
CAN I COOK THIS BARBACOA BEEF IN THE OVEN?
You sure can! After searing the beef and onion in an oven proof pot on the stove top, transfer it to the oven to cook for 3 and a half to 4 hours at 160 degrees Celsius (325F).
CAN I COOK THIS BARBACOA BEEF IN THE INSTANT POT?
Yes you can! Using an instant pot to make this barbacoa beef will result in equally as delicious results as a slow cooker but save you hours of cooking time! Saute the beef and onions in separate batches in the instant pot before turning it to high pressure and cooking for just 1 hour. The instant pot barbacoa beef is fall apart tender and so delicious.
After shredding the beef, return it back to the sauce so that it can absorb all of the delicious flavour. I like to quickly put it in the oven on broil for a few minutes so that some of it gets slightly charred and crispy.
LEFTOVERS
This Whole30 barbacoa beef will last 3 to 4 days in the fridge or you can freeze it for up to 6 months. You can reheat the beef in the microwave on lay it out evenly on a sheet pan and bake it in the oven for 10 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit until hot.
Here are a few more taco recipes that you might enjoy:
- Spicy Shrimp Tacos
- Chicken Tacos
- Breakfast Tacos
- Shredded Pork Tacos
- Seared Tuna Tacos with Mango Jalapeno Salsa
- Roasted Cauliflower & Butternut Squash Tacos
If you make this recipe let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram, I love seeing your photos!
Barbacoa Beef
Ingredients
- 3 lbs beef brisket (or chuck roast)
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 large red onion finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic finely diced
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 tsp ancho or chipotle chili powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth
Instructions
- Put the slow cooker on sear/sauté and heat the oil. Sear the brisket on all sides until golden in colour, alternatively if you do not have a sear function you can do this in a pan on the stove top. Once the brisket is browned, remove from the slow cooker and set aside on a plate.
- Add the diced red onion and garlic to the slow cooker and sauté for 4 minutes until the onion begins to soften.
- Once the onion has softened add in all of the spices, salt, beef broth and lime juice and stir to mix well. Return the beef back to the pot and cook on low heat for 8 hours or high heat for 6 hours.
- The brisket is down when it tender and easily comes apart with a fork. Remove the brisket from the slow cooker and shred using 2 forks. Pour some of the excess liquid from the pot over the beef.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Turn the instant pot on to saute and sear the brisket on all sides until golden in colour. Set aside on a plate.
- Add the diced red onion and garlic to the pot and sauté for 4 minutes until the onion begins to soften. Once the onion has softened add in all of the spices, salt, beef broth and lime juice and stir to mix well
- Put on high pressure a cook for 1 hour followed by a quick pressure release.
- Remove the brisket from the pot and shred using 2 forks. Pour some of the excess liquid from the pot over the beef.
Nutrition
This turned out perfectly for 4th of July weekend when I made it with a 4 lb roast in the Instant Pot. After searing it, I cut it into 2″ pieces and then cooked on high pressure for 45 with a manual release for 15. It was delicious! I’m making it again right now only a week and a half later 😉
Incredible!! So easy to make and gives you multiple meals! Thanks for all the inspiration during quarantine!
Have you ever made this using an instant pot? If so, I would LOVE to have the cooking directions!
I haven’t tried it in the instant pot but I believe cooking it on high pressure for 1 hour should work well!