Authentic Mexican Barbacoa Recipe

Tacos de Barbacoa is what we used to get on Sundays morning for breakfast. It would be either barbacoa de res or menudo. There are certain meals in Mexico that are used for special occasions. Mexican beef Barbacoa is definitely a good one after you had a lot of alcohol the night before. Even when beef is a heavy meal we Mexicans traditionally have it for breakfast if you have a bad hangover! With this authentic Mexican barbacoa recipe, you will find out that there is nothing like tacos de barbacoa with a salsa muy picante! adios a la cruda!

Ir a la Receta Jump to Video Imprimir Receta

Barbacoa de Res in English Recipe!

I need to be honest and tell you that I almost died when I saw other recipes in English for barbacoa de res. My grandma could die again if she could see us cooking The Authentic Barbacoa recipe in Instant Pot. Just kidding I wish she was still here she would adore having an electric pressure cooker to make this amazing recipe I learned from her.

The truth is that the traditional Mexican barbacoa recipe varies a lot depending on the zone of Mexico. The barbacoa de res estilo jalisco is very famous. It is served with beef broth which is amazing but in other parts of Mexico like in the north, Durango, and Chihuahua we will have it in tacos without the broth. Tortas and burritos de barbacoa are also very popular for breakfast on the weekends.

I am from the north of Mexico, Chihuahua, and the barbacoa de hoyo is very traditional, especially in ranches. In the ranchos of Mexico, you will see people making the barbacoa but with goat beef. It tastes spectacular. They make holes in the dirt, set a fire in them, and then wrap the marinated meat in maguey leaves and cook them there.

The maguey brings so much flavor. It has been difficult for to me find maguey in supermarkets in the United States. If you find them you need to toast them a little bit on a grill and then just place them under the beef when cooking. Is your mouth watering yet? 

I know it might sound funny but many cultures such as Hawaiians, Maoris in NZ, and other groups cook in holes made in the dirt.  

Now you start to understand why my Abuelita could die to see us cooking in Instant pots LOL I am just kidding. She would be so jealous! And would have been the first one to have an electrical pressure cooker to make barbacoa, without so much work. ​​​​​​​

Well, let’s get started with this recipe…

What do I need to make Mexican Beef Barbacoa

These portions are for 6 people. These are the ingredients you need to make an authentic Chihuahua- Durango style Barbacoa (North of Mexico barbacoa recipe)

• 2 guajillo chile​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• 1 Red hot chili (chile de arbol)
• ½ teaspoon of Cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon of Oregano
• ½ onion
• 5 garlic cloves
• 1/2 tablespoon Salt
• 6 whole black pepper
• 3 Bay leaves​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• 2.5 pounds of beef shank, chuck roast, or beef brisket. I go for beef shank for a low-fat version and would use chuck roast for decadent barbacoa.

How to Make Barbacoa de Res Step by Step

We are going to start by making the barbacoa marinade. If you only need the barbacoa sauce, check out this recipe. The secret here is to toast the dried chiles, garlic, and onion.

• Start by placing the guajillo and red chili on a hot griddle. let them toast for about 3 seconds on each side. If you can smell them you are late! this need to be very fast they burn really easily. If they burn use new ones.

• Toasting the chiles helps to bring out certain oils that change the chili flavor and make it tastier.
• On the same griddle toast the garlic and onion or you can just air fry them for a couple of minutes.
• Put all the toasted ingredients in the blender together with 1 tsp of oregano 1/2 tsp of cumin, 1/2 tbsp of salt, 6 black peppercorns, and 3 bay leaves.

• Add 1 cup of water and blend everything very well.

With the sauce, you created marinate the meat for one night in the refrigerator. If you don’t have time, don’t worry, I have prepared it without marinating and it is still very tender and delicious, so if you marinate it, it will be gourmet (almost like barbacoa de Hoyo)

• Put the meat in the Instant Pot together with the marinade and activate the Meat / Stew button in your Instant Pot and let it cook.
• Once it is finished and you can open the pot, let the meat cool a little and crumble it. There you have your healthy barbacoa… do you want to know the secret of the barbacoa street tacos? They actually fry the beef!

Do you want to take your barbacoa tacos to another level of flavor (and cholesterol)? Drop some oil in the pan and fry the shredded beef. There you have the most amazing and traditional barbacoa homemade by yourself! Awesome! need some help to ensemble the barbacoa tacos? check out this post!

What to do with the beef broth

As I told you some people serve the barbacoa with some broth. In Chihuahua, we have it dry and we have the broth apart. So to make a barbacoa broth soup follow these instructions:

• Add to the barbacoa juice or broth 5 cups of water
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/2 teaspoon salt and taste to add more to taste if needed.
• 1/2 onion
• Now set the Instant Pot in the soup cooking option., if you are making thin on the stovetop just let it boil all together for 20 minutes.
• When you serve it sprinkle some chopped cilantro, and fresh onion on top! do not forget to squeeze some lime into it. Some people also like to add cooked chickpeas to this broth same as they do with Birria consomé.

The barbacoa is a consommé to lick your fingers, you can add cooked chickpeas and there you have the next day’s food.

What kind of beef should I use to cook Mexican Barbacoa Tacos de Res

The type of beef I use depends on how I want to prepare it. If you are looking for a low-fat and healthy barbacoa recipe, beef shank is the option. If you are looking for a more decadent taste you can use

• Beef brisket: It is very delicious and soft, I try to cut off the extra pieces of fat.
• Chuck roast or Pot roast chuck roast. 
• Beef Cheeks
• For goat meat, ask the butcher for a mix of ribs, loin, and shank.
• Lamb meat

For this recipe, I used chuck roast and it worked perfectly and was delicious.

How to cook barbacoa of res in Pressure Pot or Instant Pot

The first thing is to season in this barbacoa sauce preferably leaving it to marinate from the night before. If you do not have time do not worry just put everything in the amounts mentioned in the pot and it is delicious in any way.

Once the pot reaches the indicated pressure, it takes about 30 minutes to cook the meat for the barbecue. If you are using Instant Pot put it in the Meat / Stew function.

Once the pot reaches the indicated pressure, it takes about 30 minutes to cook the meat for the barbecue. If you are using Instant Pot put it in the Meat / Stew function.

How to steam

Place the marinated meat on a large piece of foil. Wraps the marinated beef in the aluminum and closes the edges very well so that the steam cannot escape and much more importantly the juice. Steam for about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

How to cook barbacoa de res in the oven or Dutch Oven

Season the meat using this barbacoa sauce and leave it to marinate overnight. To cook beef barbacoa in the oven, place the meat and marinade inside an ovenproof dish and cover with foil paper. Make just a couple of pinches with a fork to let some steam out. Bake at 360 degrees for 40 minutes. Check and if it is missing a little more, put it back for another 20 minutes. 

If you use Dutch Oven place the beef and marinade inside and bake at 360 degrees for 40 minutes. Check and if it is missing a little more, put it back for another 20 minutes. 

How to make it in a Slow cooker or Crock Pot

If you are making the barbacoa in a slow cooker cook it at low for 8 to 9 hours. Crock Pot use the high option and have it ready in 4 hours or until tender.

How to Make Barbacoa Tacos

The Barbacoa tacos recipe is very easy to make. Tacos de barbacoa in Chihuahua is used a lot for breakfast, especially after a good fiesta! such as a Torna Boda (a wedding next day party) or a colorful quinceañera. Preparing Mexican barbacoa tacos is very easy. First of all, you must follow my barbacoa recipe step by step and also prepare what you will need to assemble the tacos follow this instruction to how to ensemble the best tacos de barbacoa ever! but anyway here are the fast instructions.

Place the corn tortillas on the griddle and start heating the corn tortilla on both sides without getting toasted.

To warm corn tortillas, just place them on a hot griddle, you don’t need oil or anything else.

Once the tortillas are hot, place some barbacoa in the middle, and on the barbacoa, you can add chopped onion, cilantro, and Mexican sauce to taste.

Some people also like to put avocado or pico de gallo on top of their tacos de barbacoa. better check out this Mexican avocado salsa.

Arriba Chihuahua! See you next time you are hungry and craving some authentic Mexican Food.

Some other delicious recipes with Barbacoa

• Tacos de Barbacoa
• Barbacoa sauce
• Torta de Barbacoa

• Authentic Mexican burrito de barbacoa
• The best Tacos Toppings
• Serrano and Tomatillo Salsa Verde

Toppings for Mexican Barbacoa Tacos

Tacos would not be as special without the amazing variety of authentic Mexican Tacos toppings. I created a list of the best Tacos toppings, check it out here. For Mexican Beef barbacoa, goat, cheek, or lamb barbacoa these are some of the best options.

• Finely chopped cilantro
• Onion chopped into small squares
• Salsa Roja
• Avocado (optional)
• Pico de gallo (optional)
• lime
• Corn or flour tortillas

Side Dishes Options for Barbacoa

If you are looking for what to serve with barbacoa these are some traditional Mexican recipes that go great with tacos de barbacoa or consomé (broth).

• Chile Pasado with potatoes and cheese
• Authentic taco toppings
• Mexican Cabbage Salad
• Nopales Salad
• Papas Enchiladas
• Air Fryer beets with Tajin
• Authentic Guacamole recipe