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chipotle beef barbacoa ready on the Instant Pot
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4.83 from 23 votes

Easy Chipotle Barbacoa Recipe

A simple, easy recipe you could use to make Chipotle-inspired barbacoa burritos and tacos at home. A hearty shredded beef that’s ready in about 2 hours.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 10 minutes
Natural release15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 355kcal
Author: Vanessa

Equipment

  • 6 quart (or larger) Instant Pot
  • Blender
  • Sharpened knife
  • Spatula or large spoon

Ingredients

For the meat:

  • 3 pounds chuck roast
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ cup beef broth
  • 4 ounces green chiles
  • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt & pepper

For the sauce:

  • ½ cup beef broth
  • 2 chipotle peppers
  • 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
  • ½ yellow onion
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • ½ teaspoon allspice

Instructions

  • Place all of the ingredients for the sauce in a blender and blend them until they are smooth.
  • Cut the roast into 3 or 4 large chunks. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Turn Instant Pot to Saute. When hot, add oil and the beef. Brown on both sides for about 3 to 4 minutes each side. Then remove meat and set aside. You may have to work in batches if your roast is large.
  • Turn Instant Pot Off. Deglaze the pot with beef broth, scraping up any cooked-on bits. Add in green chiles and tomato paste, and give it a stir.
  • Place beef back into the pot. Pour sauce from the blender over the beef and top with the bay leaves.
  • Secure Instant Pot lid. Make sure it is set to Sealing. Set pot to Manual mode for 60 minutes.
  • When finished cooking, allow for a Natural release for 15 minutes. Then quickly release any remaining pressure and open the lid.
  • Discard the bay leaves. Shred the beef and return it to Instant Pot. Taste and add salt if needed.

Notes

  • Use a can of chipotles - If you don’t have fresh chipotles on hand, you can use a can!
  • Change up how you serve the meat - You can serve the meat in tacos or burritos. You can also serve it with rice and beans.

Nutrition

Calories: 355kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 1012mg | Potassium: 673mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 110IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 4mg