Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef Recipe (2024)

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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!

Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef Recipe (1)

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.

Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef Recipe (2)

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,barbacoais 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!

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!

Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef Recipe (4)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef Recipe (9)

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Yield: 8

Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef Recipe (10)

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

Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How many pounds of barbacoa do I need for 6 people? ›

Ingredients Needed

Chuck Roast – you'll need 3 pounds of chuck roast to serve 6-8 people. Spices – a combination of salt, pepper, cumin, chipotle chili powder, Mexican oregano, cloves, garlic, and bay leaves lend so much flavor to the beef!

What cut of beef is used for barbacoa? ›

In the US, people typically make barbacoa with chuck roast, brisket and beef cheeks. However, any cut of beef that has a lot of connective tissue and takes a long time to cook until tender works well.

How long to cook tough meat in Instant Pot? ›

The cooking time depends on how much beef you have. I like to assume 20 minutes for every pound of meat. So, for my 3-pound beef chuck, I will need to cook at high pressure for 1 hour. After the hour, I release the pressure and shred the tender beef.

Why is my roast beef tough in Instant Pot? ›

If you find that it's still tough after cooking, you'll need to cook it for another 10 to 20 minutes at high pressure – it just needs a bit longer to continue to brine and break down the connective tissue.

How much does 1lb of barbacoa feed? ›

BY THE POUND OPTION OF BARBACOA, CARNITAS OR CHICHARRON (Serves 2 – 3 people) Served with guacamole, tortillas and salsa.

How much beef do I need for 6 adults? ›

Calculate roughly 400g per person. If cooking beef off the bone, 1kg will serve four and 1.5kg will serve about six, so 200-300g per person. Calculate your cooking time for medium-rare with 20 minutes per 500g or for medium use 25 minutes per 500g.

Is barbacoa the same as shredded beef? ›

Barbacoa (or Mexican shredded beef) is made out of tougher cuts of meat that require long, slow cooking times with flavorful chiles and seasonings. It's usually hand shredded and used for tacos, burritos, etc.

What meat is similar to barbacoa? ›

The word “carnitas” means “little meats” in Spanish. These three dishes are very similar, but have some differences. Barbacoa can be either shredded or chopped, birria is usually shredded and served with a sauce or broth, and carnitas is usually chopped.

How is barbacoa traditionally cooked? ›

Barbacoa is a method of cooking meat (historically lamb or goat, though beef or pork is often used today) that produces tender and juicy results. It's traditionally steam-cooked underground, but modern barbacoa can be prepared over an open fire, on the stove, or in a slow cooker.

How much liquid do I need to pressure cook beef? ›

Pour in at least two cups of water; use 1 to 2 cups more if the beef is a tough cut or to reach the minimum amount recommended by the pressure cooker's manufacturer. Seal the lid and bring the cooker up to full pressure over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, maintaining full pressure, and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

What is the best meat to pressure cook? ›

You can still pressure cook leaner pieces – like eye of round and top sirloin – but these work best if they've been stuffed, shredded or rolled (with other ingredients). Best cuts of beef to use: Chuck steak, Round Roast, Shoulder, Pot roast, Ribs, Brisket, Oxtail.

Which makes meat more tender, slow cooker or pressure cooker? ›

Tenderises Tough Cuts: Slow cookers excel at turning tough cuts of meat into fork-tender delicacies.

Do you cover meat with liquid in a pressure cooker? ›

While you may cover meat almost completely for a conventional braise, use just enough liquid for the cooker to reach pressure – during pressure cooking the meat will release it's own juice and braise in that flavorful liquid, instead.

Does quick release make meat tough? ›

Quick release does not necessarily make your meat tough. There are many recipes that have a longer cook time, so doing a quick release is better. It really just depends on what you are making. However, if the recipe calls for a natural release and you do a quick release, then yes your meat could come out tough.

Does pressure cooking dry out meat? ›

If you prepare meat in a pressure cooker and it turns out dry, this is usually because the meat has cooked too long & the natural juices have been squeezed out. The result is a tasty gravy but dry meat. To keep your meat moist, ensure there is enough liquid in the cooker and stick to cooking times.

How many pounds of meat do I need for 6 people? ›

What weight of meat per person to order?
Boneless MeatNumber of PeopleBone in meat
2lb / 0.91kg4 – 53lb / 1.36kg
3lb / 1.36kg6 – 74lb / 1.82kg
4lb / 1.82kg8 – 96lb / 2.73kg
5lb / 2.27kg10 – 117lb / 3.18kg
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How much meat do I need for 6 guests? ›

A question we often get is “How much meat do I need?” The starting rule of thumb is: Boneless Meat: 1/2 lb. per person for adults and 1/4 lb. per person for children.

How much meat do I need for 6 people for tacos? ›

For instance, plan for about 3-4 ounces of ground beef taco meat per person, which means a pound of ground beef can feed roughly four people. Use a similar scale when shopping for other proteins, and remember, it's easier to have a little extra at the end of the party than to run out of food for your guests!

How much is a serving of barbacoa? ›

Simple Eats
Nutrition Facts
For a Serving Size of 3 oz (85g)
How many calories are in Classic Barbacoa Beef? Amount of calories in Classic Barbacoa Beef: Calories 180.2Calories from Fat 99 (54.9%)
% Daily Value *
How much fat is in Classic Barbacoa Beef? Amount of fat in Classic Barbacoa Beef: Total Fat 11g-
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