Tender shredded beef, in a flavorful spiced sauce. Perfect for tacos, burritos, salads, and more. This beef barbacoa recipe is cooked in the pressure cooker which gives it a cooked-all-day flavor but it is made in about an hour.
Barbacoa Made In A Fraction Of The Time
Traditionally barbacoa is a preparation of meat (usually beef – or sometimes goat or sheep) that is steam cooked in an underground oven until it is falling apart tender. We are going to achieve this in a fraction of the time using the pressure cooker. This meal is going to knock your socks off!
What Do I Need To Make Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa?
- a beef roast
- beef broth
- tomato sauce
- canned chipotle peppers
- rice vinegar
- lime
- garlic
- onion
- olive oil
- chili powder
- paprika
- cumin
- ground chipotle
How Do I Make Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa?
- Season beef with salt and pepper
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In your Instant Pot or pressure cooker, add olive oil. Select the saute setting and heat oil.
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Sear both sides of your roast in oil.
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Add onion.
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Add garlic.
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Add lime zest.
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Add lime juice.
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Add chipotle pepper.
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Add spices.
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Add tomato sauce.
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Add vinegar.
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And beef broth.
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Using the manual mode, cook for 60 minutes and allow a natural pressure release.
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Remove beef from pressure cooker and shred.
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Return shredded meat to liquid.
What cut of beef should I use for this beef barbacoa recipe?
You can use a chuck roast, or a brisket for this recipe. Choose a nice cut of beef that has some marbling.
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Tender shredded beef, in a flavorful spiced sauce. Perfect for tacos, burritos, salads, and more. This beef barbacoa recipe is cooked in the pressure cooker which gives it a cooked-all-day flavor but it is made in about an hour.
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 lb beef chuck roast, rump roast, or brisket
- 1/2 onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- zest from 1 lime
- juice from 1 lime
- 1 canned chipotle pepper minced
- 1 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground chipotle
- 1 tsp paprika
- 4 ounces tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1 cup beef broth
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In your Instant Pot or pressure cooker, add olive oil. Select the saute setting and heat oil.
-
Sear both sides of your roast in oil.
-
Add onion, garlic, lime zest, lime juice, chipotle pepper, spices, tomato sauce, vinegar, and beef broth.
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Using the manual mode, cook for 60 minutes and use a natural pressure release.
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Remove beef from pressure cooker and shred.
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Meanwhile set pressure cooker to saute and reduce liquid by about a third.
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Return shredded meat to liquid.
Recipe Video
What cut of beef should I use for this beef barbacoa recipe?
You can use a chuck roast, or a brisket for this recipe. Choose a nice cut of beef that has some marbling.
I love that I can make these in the instant pot, so easy!
Have you ever tried marinading the meat before cooking? I am going to make this today and was just wondering if the flavors would be richer with marinade.
Hi Cyndi,
I’ve not marinated the meat before cooking. I get plenty of flavor without marinating. Let me know how it turns out.
The instructions in the post say 60 minutes and natural release, but the recipe says 44 minutes and quick release. Which one is correct?
That is a typo. It has been corrected. Thanks for the heads up.
No salt & pepper?
There is plenty of saltiness in the broth, but feel free to add to taste. :)
I made this for a family gathering and it was super delicious!! I got a lot of compliments! I loved the flavor with a little kick but not too spicy!! It was pretty quick and easy and I had everything on had except the chipotle peppers! I’ll be making this one again! Thanks!