Go Back
Shredded beef in a soft taco served with fresh cilantro

Slow Cooker Barbacoa Tacos

Print Recipe
Beef roast is slowly cooked in a homemade guajillo chile pepper sauce until it is fall apart and shredded, served simply in soft tortillas with red onion and cilantro.
Course Dinner Ideas
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 357
Author Janette

Ingredients

  • 6 dried Guajillo chiles stemmed and seeded * see note
  • 2 garlic cloves peeled
  • Small handful cilantro
  • 1 tomato chopped
  • 2 teaspoons agave nectar
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 pounds (1.3 kg) boneless chuck roast fat trimmed
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Mexican oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 12 corn tortillas
  • ¼ of a red onion chopped
  • Fresh cilantro chopped

Instructions

  • Add 2 cups water to a saucepan and bring to a boil.
  • While the water is heating, add the chiles to a non-stick pan over medium heat. Press the chiles into the pan so they toast, turning often, don’t burn. 
  • Transfer the peppers to the boiling water and add the garlic, cilantro, tomato, agave and salt. Turn down to a simmer for 1 minute. Turn off the heat and steep for 15 minutes to soften the peppers.
  • When the peppers have softened, transfer to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Strain the sauce into the slow cooker. Discard the paste from the strainer.
  • Turn the slow cooker on low. 
  • Season the beef with the salt, oregano and cumin, rub the seasoning all over the meat. Add the beef to the slow cooker and spoon a little of the sauce over the meat. 
  • Cover and cook for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high.
  • When the beef is done, remove some of the liquid until there is only enough left in the slow cooker to come half way up the meat. ** see note
  • Use 2 forks to shred to the beef, mixing into the liquid to moisten and flavor the meat, add more liquid if required. Taste the meat and add more salt if needed, mix well.
  • Serve in corn tortillas and top with chopped red onion, cilantro and any other toppings you like.

Video

Notes

*Don't worry if you can't remove all the seeds. They will be removed when the sauce is blended and strained.
** This leftover liquid can be used to pour over tacos when serving
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 1677mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 7g