Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chipotle's Barbacoa Beef Recipe (2024)

This beef is slow cooked until tender in a perfect blend of spices. It's great for filling tacos, burritos, salads, or just served over rice.

Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chipotle's Barbacoa Beef Recipe (1)

If you love Chipotle, you’re going to love this copycat slow cooker chipotle’s barbacoa beef. This was really easy and made my house smell amazing all day!

If you’re looking for a new slow cooker, this one is a favorite.

We love to serve this beef as filling for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, salads, or just “bowl style” over rice with vegetables on the side.

How to make slow cooker chipotle’s barbacoa beef:

Place garlic, onion, lime juice, cumin, oregano, chipotles, and cloves in a blender or food processor.

Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chipotle's Barbacoa Beef Recipe (2)

Trim all fat off meat, cut into 4 inch chunks. Season with salt and pepper and brown on high heat in 1 teaspoon oil. If you’re short on time, you can skip this step, but it does give a nice depth to the flavor of the meat.

Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chipotle's Barbacoa Beef Recipe (3)

Add liquefied spices, water, bay leaves and cook in a slow cooker on high for 4 hours, or low for 6-8 hours.

Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chipotle's Barbacoa Beef Recipe (4)

Once cooked and the meat is tender, remove the meat and place in a dish. Shred it with two forks, and reserve the liquid for later (discard the bay leaf). Return the shredded meat to the pot, adjust salt and cumin (you may need to add more) to taste and add some of the reserved liquid back. Simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes to let the flavors penetrate.

Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chipotle's Barbacoa Beef Recipe (5)

Slow Cooker Chipotle Barbacoa Recipe Notes:

This recipe uses canned chipotles in adobo sauce (you can see the kind we prefer to use below) and calls for 2-4, depending how spicy you would like it. My kids don’t like spicy food, so I can usually only get away with one chipotle pepper and a little bit of adobo sauce.

Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chipotle's Barbacoa Beef Recipe (6)

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Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chipotle's Barbacoa Beef Recipe (8)

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Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chipotle's Barbacoa Beef Recipe (9)

Serves: 8

Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chipotle’s Barbacoa Beef Recipe

This beef is slow cooked until tender in a perfect blend of spices. It's great for filling tacos, burritos, salads, or just served over rice.

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

  • 5 teaspoons minced garlic
  • ½ medium yellow onion
  • ½ lime juiced
  • 2-3 chipotles in adobo sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 Tablespoon ground oregano
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 3 pounds bottom round roast (or beef eye of round, all fat trimmed)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 4 cups cooked rice

Instructions

  • Place garlic, onion, lime juice, chipotles, cumin, oregano and cloves in a blender until smooth; set aside.

  • Trim all fat off meat, and cut into 4 pieces. Season all sides with salt and pepper and brown in a skillet over high heat in 1 teaspoon olive oil just until the outside is brown and seared to seal in the juices.

  • Remove meat from skillet and place in the bottom of a slow cooker sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

  • Pour liquefied spices, water and bay leaves on top and cover and cook on high for 4 hours, or low for 6-8 hours.

  • Once cooked and the meat is tender, remove the meat and place in a dish. Shred it with two forks, and reserve the liquid for later (discard the bay leaf).

  • Return the shredded meat to the pot and mix together with juices in the slow cooker. Let cook on warm for 10 minutes.

  • Serve over cooked rice.

Notes

  • My kids don’t like spicy food, so I can usually only get away with one chipotle pepper and a little bit of adobo sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 358 kcal · Carbohydrates: 25 g · Protein: 40 g · Fat: 9 g · Saturated Fat: 3 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g · Cholesterol: 105 mg · Sodium: 147 mg · Potassium: 644 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 1 g · Vitamin A: 202 IU · Vitamin C: 2 mg · Calcium: 56 mg · Iron: 4 mg

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Recipe Details

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

This post was included in our 10 of the Easiest One Pot Meals Video – for more inexpensive and delicious recipes like this one, click here to check it out!

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See how to make these quick and easy slow cooker steak fajitas below:

Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chipotle's Barbacoa Beef Recipe (10)

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  1. Darci says:

    Yum! Going to have to try this one as well. You could have a complete Chipolte meal and make the Cilantro Lime Rice from her site as well. I made it last night as a side dish to chicken tacos and it was delish. Thanks for sharing!

  2. Tessa says:

    Love Chipotle. It can be high calorie, but you can eat healthier there too. It all depends on what you add.

    Their barbacoa has to be my favorite meat, so I'm happy to have this one. Showed it to the hubbs, and he thinks we need to make it this next week :) Thanks for the recipe!

  3. A Kitchen Witch says:

    Ah, Chipotle's. We don't have one where I live, now, just a Freebird's (same concept...not as good). Funny thing, if you're ever in South Texas and order Barbabcoa, you'll find a nasty surprise. Barbacoa around these parts is typically cooked cow head! Not a fan : (

  4. ladywiththeredrocker says:

    Just made this and posted this recipe on my blog tonight! So yummmm! Seriously good! Thanks for sharing it!
    Stephanie @

  5. Misty says:

    I looove Chipotle's barbacoa meat so this is a must-try for me. Thanks!

  6. kandigurrl says:

    I can't find a way to "PIN" this dang it....I don't think I will survive....LOL

  7. Susan H says:

    can you find the recipe for the Chipotle's Carnita Pork??? That's my favorite :)

  8. Sarah says:

    I'm confused. You mention the crock pot, but the recipe calls for a pressure cooker. I'd love to make this, but only have a crock pot. Any advice on cook times for the crock pot?

  9. Ruthann Marie says:

    I'd like to know the answer to your question too!

  10. Barbara says:

    Ditto! I have both a slow cooker and a pressure cooker. I'd prefer to use the slow cooker because my pressure canner is is a huge monster.

  11. Chelle says:

    I'm wondering the same thing. I'd love to be able to do this in the crockpot.

  12. Sarah Belz says:

    I made it in the crock pot and it worked great! I did not brown the meat first. Just cut it into large chunks and put it on for 5 hours on high with a cup and a half of water.

  13. Kim says:

    How many points and what's the serving size

  14. Cyd says:

    Hi Kim, just click on the MAGIC button under the picture and then click on NUTRITION. It will give you all of the nutritional information on this recipe. This recipe is just for the barbacoa beef only. It would be more calories if you served it over rice or as quesadillas.

  15. stan poth says:

    I hunt for most of my food and tried this with deer and goose. Takes a lot longer in crock pot, but it is delicious.

Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chipotle's Barbacoa Beef Recipe (11)

About The Author:

Elyse Ellis

Elyse lives in northern Utah with her husband and her four kids: 2 boys and 2 girls. She loves working out and movie theater popcorn.

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Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chipotle's Barbacoa Beef Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What cut of meat is Chipotle barbacoa? ›

Round and round we go When it comes to beef, it's not just the quality that matters - it's the cut, too. Our Barbacoa mainly comes from the shoulder, because those cuts have enough fat to keep the meat moist during our long braising method, making the end result seriously juicy and tender.

Can you overcook barbacoa slow cooker? ›

Recipe tips

You want to make sure that you don't overcook your beef as it will dry out. The beef is cooked when it easily shreds with a fork. If you like your food with a real kick of heat, add some extra red chilli flakes.

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!

Is Chipotle barbacoa fully cooked? ›

Rubbed in our chef's chipotle spice blend and slow-braised in natural juices – that's how we make our mouthwatering, fully-cooked Beef Barbacoa at Big Shoulders Smokehouse®.

What ingredient does Chipotle use in its barbacoa? ›

Barbacoa at Chipotle is made from tender and moist seared beef that's been braised in an incredible blend of adobo, lime, cumin, garlic, and oregano. This slow-cooked masterpiece can be added to tacos, salads, bowls, and more! To see us make copycat Chipotle barbacoa from start to finish, watch the video in this post!

What is the best cut of meat 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.

Does meat get more tender the longer you cook it in a slow cooker? ›

Aside from being juicier, slow-cooking makes meat a lot more tender and flavorful. The extra juices help to accomplish this but it's mainly the long-cooking time that brings out the richness of the meat.

Why is my meat not getting tender in crockpot? ›

Meat that is over-cooked, even if it's submerged in liquid, will eventually dry-out, and get tough, and different cuts of meat cook differently. There are a few reasons for that. Not having enough liquid in the pot can do it. A poor cut of meat can result in toughness as well.

Why is meat not tender in slow cooker? ›

“Beef may be tough in the slow cooker if you haven't added enough liquid, or haven't cooked it for long enough,” Kristen Carli, M.S., R.D., owner of Camelback Nutrition & Wellness, tells SELF. “For cuts of meat, the fattier cuts are often the ones that get juicy and tender.

How many people does a pound of barbacoa feed? ›

You usually order barbacoa by the pound and the best way to eat it is with corn tortillas. A pound is a good amount and can probably feed four people comfortably (even as three hungry dudes we had some left overs at our table).

How much is a serving of chipotle barbacoa? ›

Chipotle Barbacoa (4 oz) contains 2g total carbs, 1g net carbs, 7g fat, 24g protein, and 170 calories.

How many pounds of meat per person for barbacoa? ›

This same barbacoa recipe can be used to make anywhere from 5-10 pounds of meat. Estimate approximately 1/2 pound of raw meat per person. If you can't find dry pasilla peppers, use guajillo peppers. Use leftover barbacoa meat to make barbacoa quesadillas, barbacoa sliders, burrito bowls, or add it into burritos.

Why is Chipotle barbacoa so good? ›

The barbacoa at Chipotle is made with beef.

Barbacoa is a slow-cooked beef dish that is marinated in a blend of spices and chili peppers and braised for many hours. The end result of the long, slow cooking process is flavorful, juicy meat that is savory and spicy, with a tender texture that is easily shreddable.

Is Chipotle barbacoa real barbacoa? ›

Among the meats you can choose for your burrito bowl or tacos, however, one protein stands out from the rest as a fan-favorite option: Chipotle's barbacoa. Barbacoa generally refers to any slow-roasted, barbecued meat. But the barbacoa at Chipotle is specifically beef, and it packs flavors that fans rave about.

What is the most popular meat at Chipotle? ›

The most popular Chipotle meat options among customers tend to be the grilled adobo chicken and steak. These options are versatile, flavorful, and widely enjoyed by a large number of Chipotle customers.

What part of meat is barbacoa? ›

“Barbacoa, made from the meat of a cow's head, is cheap yet rich in flavor.” Customarily served at weekend breakfasts, the cheek, or cachete, is loaded with collagen, and slow-roasting enhances its savory flavor and silky texture.

What kind of meat is barbacoa made out of? ›

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.

What is the difference between carnitas and barbacoa at Chipotle? ›

What is the difference between carnitas and barbacoa at Chipotle? To keep it simple, carnitas is made from pork while barbacoa is made from beef. Both are shredded meat but another main difference in how they're made is that barbacoa has spices where the carnitas at Chipotle aren't spiced at all.

Is barbacoa from Chipotle lamb? ›

The Barbacoa at Chipotle is made with beef that has been seasoned with a blend of spices, including chipotle chilies, cumin, cloves, garlic, and Mexican oregano. This seasoning gives the Barbacoa its signature smoky, spicy, and aromatic flavor profile.

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