Chipotle Barbacoa Copycat Recipe | Mexican Slow-Roasted Beef (original) (raw)

Chipotle’s tender slow-roasted Barbacoa is easy to make once you know the secret spice combination. This authentic copycat recipe delivers incredibly flavorful, fork-tender shredded beef that’s perfect for salads, tacos, burritos, and so much more. The rich, complex flavors come from traditional Mexican ingredients like guajillo chilies, cumin, cloves, and dried avocado leaves, creating that signature taste you love from Chipotle Mexican Grill.

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This recipe takes time, but the hands-on work is minimal, and the results are worth it. Whether you’re feeding a crowd, meal prepping for the week, or simply craving your Chipotle favorite without leaving home, this keto and low-carb-friendly barbacoa will become your new go-to recipe for authentic Mexican flavor.

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Chipotle barbacoa beef

Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants have many great recipes! The franchise’s limited menu of classic Mexican-inspired dishes is all great, but for many guests, no trip to Chipotle is complete without ordering something with barbacoa beef.

Chipotle barbacoa is steam-roasted for a rich, authentic flavor that most other quick-serve restaurants can’t beat. If you want to recreate the taste of Chipotle meats at home, this copycat Chipotle barbacoa recipe is definitely worth the time and effort. It’s so good you are going to make a pot of cilantro lime rice to go with it.

What is barbacoa?

The term ‘barbacoa’ comes from the Arawak-speaking Taino people of the Caribbean region, and it is the origin of the English word ‘barbeque.’ The traditional barbacoa cooking technique began with heavily coating a large piece of meat with herbs and spices before slowly steam-roasting the barbacoa meat in an underground firepit covered with green leaves. This unique cooking method produced meat that was very tender, flavorful, and smoky.

It wasn’t long before the cooking method began to appear in Mexico where the local cooks added their own flavor preferences and introduced the idea of roasting the meat in special clay ovens. Over time, different methods for cooking and serving barbacoa evolved as the recipe spread to other regions across the country.

Chipotle Barbacoa ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need to make barbacoa:

• Guajillo Chilies – Provides deep, smoky heat and authentic Mexican flavor
• Cumin seeds – Adds earthy warmth and traditional Mexican spice profile
• Ground cloves – Contributes sweet-spicy depth and aromatic complexity
• Allspice berries – Brings warm, complex undertones similar to traditional pit cooking
• Mexican oregano – Offers citrusy, earthy notes distinct from Mediterranean oregano
• Fresh thyme – adds bright, herbal freshness
• Garlic cloves – Provides an essential savory base flavor and act as a natural meat tenderizer due to its enzymes
• Yellow onion – Creates a foundation of sweet-savory flavor and helps tenderize the meat while releasing natural sugars during slow cooking
• Cider vinegar – Tenderizes the meat by breaking down muscle fibers, adds tanginess, and helps balance the rich flavors
• Beef roast 6 to 8 pounds – The main protein that becomes tender through slow cooking; shoulder/chuck cut provides ideal fat content for moisture and flavor
• Salt and pepper – Salt draws out moisture initially, then helps the meat reabsorb it with the spices while also enhancing all other flavors. Pepper adds subtle heat and depth

What type of meat is best for this beef barbacoa recipe?

You might wonder what kind of meat you should choose. When choosing the meat for this recipe, remember that it will be in the oven all day. That means you want to stay away from thinner cuts as well as those that are lean. Ideally, you are looking for a joint of meat from a more exercised part of the animal, yet one with enough fat to enrich the dish’s flavor.

The meat from the shoulder region of the animal is a fantastic choice. Depending on your supermarket, it may be sold as beef chuck roast, shoulder, or clod. The good news is that although this cut is one of the most inexpensive ones available, the low and slow cooking method makes it incredibly tender. One bite of this meat will make you think this is one of your favorite beef recipes that you have tried recently.

How to make Chipotle Mexican Grill barbacoa

1. Toast chilies and cover them with boiling water in a deep bowl. Set aside for 20 minutes.
2. Grind cumin, cloves, allspice, and oregano in a coffee grinder.
3. Drain soaked chilies and place them in a blender.
4. Add ground spices, thyme, garlic, onion, vinegar, and 1/2 cup of water to the blender and blend until smooth.
5. Push the mixture through a sieve.

1. Season beef with salt and pepper. Rub the paste all over the meat.
2. Place coated beef in a deep bowl or pot. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for four hours.
3. Place meat and marinade in the pan.

1. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil. Cook the beef at 325°F for 6 to 7 hours until the meat is falling off the bone.
2. Use forks to shred the beef and serve with warm tortillas and your favorite fillings for burritos and tacos.

Tips for cooking and storing Chipotle Mexican Grill’s barbacoa meat

• Don’t cheat yourself. This recipe takes time, but patience pays off big in the end on this one. Please don’t rush the marinating or cooking times. You will regret it.
• Shredding the barbacoa meat. If you can handle the heat, shred the meat when it is still hot. Shredding when it is hot will allow you to get more delicate shreds. Don’t shred more than you will need at one time. Keeping leftovers in a large chunk will prevent the meat from drying out. You will find this Mexican shredded beef has so many uses and can make so many dishes.
• Storing leftovers. Keep the leftover barbacoa in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to 4 days in the fridge. Or freeze it in a freezer-safe container. It will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
• Reheating leftovers. Reheat leftovers covered in a pan and their juices for 30 minutes in a 300°F oven. Shred when hot.

How to serve this Chipotle barbacoa recipe

The best part of Chipotle barbacoa meat is its versatility, no matter how you serve it, you will have a delicious meal. Sure, you can serve it in a taco or burrito or on top of a salad as they do it at Chipotle Mexican Grill, but you don’t have to limit yourself.

Try having beef barbacoa over rice, in a barbacoa burrito bowl, using it for a Mexican-inspired cheesesteak sandwich, or even on top of a pizza!

What to serve with Chipotle barbacoa beef?

You could turn this into tacos, nachos, or a taco salad. So let’s talk about favorite toppings, here are a few ideas for you!

• black beans
• chopped red onion
• chopped cilantro
• pico de gallo
• squeeze of lime juice
• salsa
• shredded cheese
• shredded lettuce
• sour cream
• corn or flour tortillas

Love Mexican Food? Try these recipes

• Mexican Ranch Dip
• Copycat Chili’s Queso in Crock Pot
• Wendy’s Taco Salad
• Best Mexican Hot Sauce Recipe
• Creamy Mexican Green Sauce Recipe
• Doritos Casserole
• Baked Mexican Rice
• Easy Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
• Simple Taco Sauce Recipe
• Fresco Tacos

Top Chipotle Mexican Grill Copycat Recipes

• How to Make Chipotle Rice
• Chipotle Guacamole
• Chipotle Carnitas

Be sure to check out more of the best Mexican food recipes and popular fast food recipes.

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This recipe originally came from the web archive of the News 10 recipe page.

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Chipotle Barbacoa Copycat Recipe – Tender Slow-Roasted Beef

Make Chipotle's famous tender, flavorful barbacoa at home with this authentic copycat recipe. Perfect for tacos, salads, and burrito bowls!

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Servings : 20

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time2 hours

Total Time2 hours 10 minutes

• 4 Guijillo Chilies
• 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 10 allspice berries
• 1/3 cup Mexican oregano
• 12 sprigs fresh thyme
• 6 garlic cloves
• 1 chopped yellow onion
• 1/3 cup cider vinegar
• 8 pounds beef roast
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Toast chilies, cover with boiling water in a deep bowl and set aside for 20 minutes. Grind cumin, cloves, allspice, and oregano in a coffee grinder. Drain soaked chilies, puree Chillies in a blender, ground spices, thyme, garlic, onion, vinegar, and 1/2 cup of water.
2. Process mixture until it is smooth. Push mixture through a sieve, and season beef with salt and pepper. Rub paste all over the meat. Arrange in a bowl and allow the meat to marinate for four hours, refrigerated. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
3. Add meat and marinade to the pan.
4. Cover the pan with a lid or tightly with aluminum foil. Cook the beef 6 to 7 hours until meat is falling off the bone.

⏰ TIMING IS KEY: Never rush the marinating or cooking process – proper timing ensures the signature tender texture

🔥 HOT SHRED TIP: Shred meat while hot for finer, more delicate pieces that better absorb the flavorful juices

❄️ STORAGE SMART: Store leftover meat in larger pieces rather than shredded to maintain moisture and prevent drying

Calories: 479kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 159mg | Potassium: 903mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 2995IU | Vitamin C: 34.9mg | Calcium: 430mg | Iron: 23.9mg

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