Pressure Cooker Barbacoa Beef
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Pressure cooker barbacoa beef. This is my favorite, homemade shredded beef recipe made pressure cooker friendly! Serve the shredded meat in tortillas or turn it into a burrito bowl!
Barbacoa beef made in the instant pot is a foolproof win.
What you see right here is my I-only-want-to-spend-fifteen-minutes-making-dinner-tonight barbacoa beef. Without fail, it will turn out delicious every single time and give you tons of meals from this one batch which requires minimal effort on your part. As in, give the meat a quick sear, toss in the rest of the flavor bomb ingredients and sit back while the pressure cooker releases all these glorious barbacoa beef smells. Can you see why the instant pot is my new favorite kitchen tool? Shamelessly obsessed with it.
After I shared my pressure cooker chicken carnitas with you guys, I started thinking, what other kinds of meats could I throw into the pressure cooker that would satisfy my weekly taco cravings? Because like clockwork, I need my taco fix every week and even though we’re doing this low carb thing, i’m allowing myself 1.) a burger once a month because a girl NEEDS a burger sometimes and 2.) low carb tortillas filled with some kind of shredded/ground/crispy meat or poultry thing every now and then. Sure, i’ll eat kale 6 days straight if you promise me a shredded beef type taco situation in the future. And this instant pot barbacoa beef does just that.
The recipe makes a ton and with it just being the two of us, I get to enjoy it a couple of times in a couple of different ways AND pop a zip top bag full of this stuff in the freezer because barbacoa beef enchiladas covered in red sauce are totally on my radar when I can consume flour tortillas and cheese on the same day. Just one of the things i’m going to obsess over in 2017. Watch me.
A couple of weeks ago, I caved and bought yet another basil plant. It’s like my 5th if you’re keeping count. Please don’t be keeping count. ? This time i’m happy to report, IT’S STILL ALIVE. As in i’ve managed to keep it going for now almost a month. Guys, if you’ve got a green thumb, you truly cannot appreciate the kind of miracle this is. Things DO NOT live past a week here. If you need a plant killed, bring it to me, i’ve got you covered. I’m unfortunately really, really good at it. Oh gosh, that reminds me, I haven’t watered the plant in our living room for now, I can’t even remember so it’s at least been the entire month of March. Let me just clarify, the guy at the nursery told me it was nearly impossible to kill this type of plant, so really, this was my only option. <– This means nothing, i’ve legit killed a CACTUS before.
But here I am a proud one-month old basil plants mama. And you know what I did to celebrate? I bought a mini thyme bush. The herb farmer inside of me leapt out as I passed the plant stand in front of Trader Joe’s on Tuesday.
And speaking of killing things, does anyone listen to the My Favorite Murder podcast? I’m only just discovering this now. Always behind the times, always. But no really, these girls had me hooked from the get go. I could do without the F*bombs that get dropped every 6 seconds though. I love how nonchalant yet totally freaked out they get about every murder they talk about. If you know me at all, you know that I LIVE for thriller//mystery//who done it type of books//movies//podcasts.
Serial? I listened to it 3 times. There may possibly be a forth.
Lets talk about this thang!
It starts with 2 – 2 ½ pounds of either chuck or round bottom roast. <– this is always what I use regardless of whether i’m making pressure cooker barbacoa beef or its brother, the slow cooker version. Sear that meat up. I know i’m always drilling this thing, but when you sear the meat, all those flavors just develop so much more during the pressure cooking process.
In the blender we’ll combine your barbacoa essentials like apple cider, lime juice, GARLIC, chiptole peppers, beef broth, tomato paste and our ground seasonings – cumin, oregano, and cloves. Also, I go back and forth on this, but sometimes I like to toss in the onion as well. When it’s all blended up it marinates the meat better, IMO. But if you like bits of onion running throughout, just give it a chop and toss it in with the sauce directly into the pressure cooker.
This goes to my need for wanting all the CRISPY things all the time. Sometimes I like to transfer the shredded beef to baking sheet sprayed with a little oil and then pop it under the broiler to give the outside that crispy texture that we know and love about carnitas. It’s soo good. I live for crispy, smokey, burnt bits of beef.
But if it’s a barbacoa bowl you’re going for, maybe skip the broiling and pop it right on top of some cooked rice or cauliflower rice. I have a love hate relationship with that stuff. Sometimes I’m obsessed and other times i’m like nope. But in either situation, you need some good quality salsa, roasted corn (or straight from a can because who cares!) And avos. Don’t you even think about forgetting those. Also delicious – grilled peppers and onions.
And when you’re done with all of this how about barbacoa nachos? Is that a thing? Would you like shredded chipotle style beef on your nachos followed by pickled hella-penos and drizzled this thick, so-not-good-for-you cheese? The answer is always yes.
This is one of those recipes where you can make 10 things from making just this one thing. So click ‘print’ and get in that kitchen.
Your weekend needs pressure cooker barbacoa beef.
Pressure Cooker Barbacoa Beef
Pressure cooker barbacoa beef. This is my favorite, homemade shredded beef recipe made pressure cooker friendly! Serve the shredded meat in tortillas or turn it into a burrito bowl!
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion (see notes)
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 6 cloves garlic
- 2-4 chipotle peppers (to preference)
- 1 cup beef broth
- 4 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 ½ pounds chuck or round bottom roast (trimmed of excess fat)
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- Add the onion, vinegar, lime juice, garlic, chipotle peppers, beef broth, cumin, oregano, cloves, and tomato paste to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Cut the chuck or round bottom roast into 3-4 large pieces. Season the meat with a good pinch of salt and pepper on all sides. Heat ½ the oil in the pressure cooker or instant pot and sear the meat for 7-8 minutes per batch (in two batches.) Add all the beef back into the pressure cooker along with the blended sauce and bay leaves. Cover the pressure cooker. On the instant pot, hit the 'beef/stew' button and let cook for 60-70 minutes depending on the thickness of the meat (mine took exactly 65 minutes). Allow the pressure to release naturally or turn to the 'vent' setting if you're impatient like me. Allow it to vent completely before attempting to remove the lid.
- Discard the bay leaves and use two forks to shred the beef. Toss the beef in the juice, cover and allow the beef to soak up the juice for another 10 minutes or so. Serve as tacos, burritos, nachos, burrito bowls or however you like!
Notes
- I blended my onion but if you want it to present along with the meat, you can always dice it and add it in with the bay leaves for a chunkier texture like I do in my slow cooker version.
- To crisp up the beef under the broiler: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to the ‘broiler’ setting. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of oil over the surface of a baking sheet. Add the shredded beef to the sheet pan with a few tablespoons of the liquid from the pressure cooker. Drizzle another tablespoon of oil on top. Stir to coat evenly. Broil for 6-12 minutes stopping half way to toss and drizzle another 1-2 tablespoons of cooking liquid. Rotate the pan for even broiling.
IS THIS A GOOD CHOICE FOR YOU?
assumes 12 servings.
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32 Comments on “Pressure Cooker Barbacoa Beef”
Would a tri top roast work for this recipe? That is what I have on hand.
Just a reminder here: if your roast is tied with string, be sure and remove the string before you shred with your mixer. From experience here!!! Trying to find all the little pieces of string now so we can eat. Do you know how much little pieces of string look like beef when all soaked with juices?! I do!! LOL!
Oh no! I don’t trust myself with string for that very reason ? Hope you still enjoy the barbacoa!
Hi or low pressure?
Hi pressure! I’ve never used the low pressure setting
Made it this weekend and it was a hit ! Everyone loved it
I’m making this right now. I pressure cooked refried beans this morning….. we have snow coming for the next 3 days. This will warm us right up. ❤️
Hi! I’m new to the instant pot and am still figuring out how to use it. Does the 60-70 minute cooking time include the time it takes to come up to pressure?
Thanks for the recipes! Love your site 🙂
No unfortunately, it doesn’t include the pot coming to pressure. It’s really difficult to predict how long it will take for that so I don’t include that in the time.
It is delicious. Cut back on the cloves. Added fresh chilis. Shared with my neighbor. She served over rice, I used tortilla
On the repeat list.
Do you think this could be frozen in batches for future use?
I’m not sure if you mean prior to cooking or post! If it’s freezing once cooked, yes for sure! This freezes just fine. If it’s prior, I haven’t thrown it into the IP frozen before, so not sure about how much that would change cooking times, unfortunately.
Delicious, thank you!
This is the first thing we have cooked in our new instant pot and WOW, so so good. I gave the recipe to my boyfriend who made this two nights ago and now I’m making it again tonight! 🙂 We are on the Keto diet so finding good recipes like this is like hitting the jackpot. For anyone reading the comments who is also on the Keto journey, we made tortillas using this base recipe:
https://www.wholesomeyum.com/recipes/fathead-pizza-crust-low-carb-keto-gluten-free-nut-free/
We added cumin, garlic salt and cayenne to the dough and rolled out thin tortillas. Another score!
(I hope you don’t mind me sharing another site on your site. Forgive me 0_0 )
Since you mentioned that you’re into murder/crime podcasts (I love Serial!!!), I have some good ones to share.
S-Town, Sword and Scale, Dirty John, Someone Knows Something, Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo, Atlanta Monster and In the Dark.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the barbacoa beef recipe! And thank you for the recommendations on the podcasts! Currently in the thick of Dirty John and it’s soo good! I’ll be sure to work my way through your list 🙂
My husband and I made this and it came out absolutely delicious! We had enough to have it two diff nights! I wouldn’t change a thing! Thank you for sharing!
This looks absolutely delicious!! If I’m making it for a crowd, with roast that are 3 lbs each, should I just make the recipe twice?? (instead of putting both roasts in.)
Not sure if you’d be able to fit 6 pounds in one go, but if you can, you can simply double the ingredients. The pressure cooking time may vary though and unfortunately without testing, I’m really not sure by how much. It would be easier if you made it twice, but totally your call! Hope everyone enjoys the Barbacoa!
I don’t have an instant pot but I have the Fagor appliance….what’s the beef/stew button
Hi Anna! The beef/stew button is just a shortcut on the IP. If you’re using a different pressure cooker, you’ll just use the button that you use for pressure cooking and dial it to the same amount of time listed. Please keep in mind that the timings listed may vary. It may take less/more time in a different pressure cooking appliance. I hope you enjoy the barbacoa!
This Barbacoa is delish!! I didn’t have clove so it was left out. And I used Italian season instead of oregano….I also forgot the add the bay leaves (bummer cause they are expensive). Even without those things and the substitution, it made a fantastic meal!! My boyfriend told me that this will have to be on our favorites for rotating meals.
This turned out delicious!!! I used a blade roast, cut into a few big chunks. I deglazed the pan, after browning the meat, with a couple ounces of tequila. I like the way you got that heautful char on your tortillas!!! I just figured out how to get them like that by dipping the tortilla in cold water then frying them in a crazy hot cast iron pan…sooo yummy!!!
Can this be made in a slow cooker?
Hey Kim, here’s a link to my slow cooker version. You can use these ingredients and make it in the slow cooker if you’d like (there are slight variations between the recipes.) Hope you enjoy it!
Both lime and tomatoes are on my can not eat list due to medical reasons (along with avocado! ☹), would they be okay to leave out or would they need to be replaced with something else?
You can just leave out both the avocado and the tomato paste (it’s such a small amount anyway.) I would suggest using a replacement for the lime juice such as lemon juice (if you can have that) or white vinegar. If you decide to go the vinegar route, I’d suggest using 2-3 tablespoons 🙂
Made this tonight for dinner. Excellent dish. I placed avacado in a taco shell, laid the barbacoa on top with cheese and sour cream. Side quinoa and mexican corn with black bean. Yum! Thanks!
How would you do this if you don’t have a pressure cooker (I know, I know) and want to do it in your slow cooker?!
Hey Katie, if you look below the ‘notes’ on the recipe card you’ll see a link to a slow cooker version of a similar recipe. If you’d like to make this particular recipe, I’d suggest following the recipe through most of step #2, searing the meat in a skillet, then placing everything into a slow cooker and letting it cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 and then picking back up at step #3. Hope you enjoy it!
By Chipotle peppers, is that canned in adobo sauce or fresh chipotle peppers?
It’s the peppers that are canned in adobo sauce, Nathan!
I made this as a test to see if I’d like it for a taco bar for faculty I will be serving at my son’s school. It was fabulous! I cooked mine the night before we were going to try it, and I think the flavor was even better then. I also made the chicken carnitas from this site, and they were great too. I liked the barbacoa beef better, but my son preferred the chicken carnitas. Both will be on the bar!
Made this minus chipotle peppers. Soooo Good! My daughter liked it so much she asked for it for her birthday!