Barbacoa

4.4
(28)

A simple barbacoa, perfectly seasoned with chiles and spices and slow cooked until tender. Serve on tortillas with salsa, rice, beans or other accoutrements.

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Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
6 hrs 10 mins
Additional Time:
10 hrs
Total Time:
16 hrs 40 mins
Servings:
24
Yield:
12 cups
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 24 servings

  • 4 dried guajillo chilies

  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds

  • ¼ teaspoon whole cloves

  • 1 cup boiling water

  • ½ teaspoon ground ancho chile powder

  • 1 large onion, quartered

  • 6 cloves garlic

  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano

  • 1 teaspoon ground thyme

  • cup apple cider vinegar

  • 2 teaspoons lime juice

  • 1 (6 pound) boneless beef chuck roast

  • 2 bay leaves

Directions

  1. Heat a heavy skillet over medium heat. Place dried guajillo chiles into the skillet and cook, turning occasionally, until the color changes and chiles have puffed, about 5 minutes. Set chiles aside to cool for a moment. Meanwhile, toast cumin and cloves in the hot skillet until cumin seeds begin to pop; remove from the pan and set aside. Remove and discard stems, seeds, and veins of chiles, and place into a small bowl. Pour boiling water over top, and cover. Let chiles soak for 1 hour.

  2. Grind toasted cumin and cloves into a powder, and place into a blender. Add ancho chile powder, onion, garlic, oregano, thyme, vinegar, and lime juice. Remove chiles from soaking water, and place into the blender along with 1/3 cup of the soaking liquid. Cover, and blend until a smooth paste forms.

  3. Place beef roast into a mixing bowl, and pour the guajillo chile paste over top. Coat beef on all sides with paste, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Marinate in the refrigerator overnight.

  4. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

  5. Transfer beef and marinade to a roasting pan, and arrange bay leaves over top. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven until beef is very tender and easily pulled apart with a fork, about 6 hours. Let stand, covered, at room temperature for 1 hour before discarding the bay leaves and shredding with two forks.

Cook’s Note

Don't buy guajillo paste, it's usually not very good. Just buy the dried chiles and rehydrate them with hot water.

52 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

175 Calories
13g Fat
1g Carbs
14g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 24
Calories 175
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 13g 16%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 52mg 17%
Sodium 34mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 14g 27%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 15mg 1%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 138mg 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.