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!
- Barbacoa de Res in English Recipe!
- What do I need to make Mexican Beef Barbacoa
- How to marinate Beef to Make Barbacoa Tacos
- How to Make Barbaco de Res Step by Step
- What to do with the beef broth
- What kind of beef should I use yo cook Mexican Barbacoa Tacos de Res
- How to cook barbacoa of res in Pressure Pot or Instant Pot
- How to steam barbacoa Mexican Beef
- How to cook barbacoa de res in the oven
- Barbacoa Tacos Recipe
- Toppings for Mexican Barbacoa Tacos
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 how some non-Mexican bloggers are cooking “Authentic Mexican Barbacoa recipe ” no way girls! Authentic Mexican Barbacoa recipe in English is here!
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, Chihuahua we will have it in tacos without the broth.
I am from the north of Mexico 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. Is your mouth watering get?
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 grandma 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.
Many people have asked me which Instant Pot size would I recommend. That defiantly has to be with how many people you are cooking for.
I have the Nova Duo 8 quart. I cook daily for 5 people but usually, what I cook for dinner we also have it the next day for lunch or dinner. That way I try to cook natural homemade meals for my family without going crazy all day in the kitchen.
Here are the options to choose the perfect Instant Pot for your family
The Duo Nova is 7 appliances in 1: pressure cooker, sauté pan, steamer, slow cooker, rice cooker, food warmer, and yogurt maker. Clear the clutter from your counter and do it all with just one tool.
3 Quart is great for cooking rice, side dishes, or meals for up to 3 people.
6 Quart is the perfect size for feeding up to 6 people.
8 Quart is perfect for large families or whipping up big batches of prepared meals for the week.
10 Quart is Instant Pot’s largest pressure cooker yet, ideal for preparing larger meals to feed a crowd or to stock the freezer with family dinners.
Anyway, you have to promise me as I am giving you the best Beef Barbacoa Recipe that if you travel to Mexico you will find a place where they sell tacos de barbacoa de hoyo and eat them! Not afraid of the Moctezuma revenge! (I do have my own theory about Moctezuma Revenge)
Well, let’s get started with this recipe…
What do I need to make Mexican Beef Barbacoa
These portions are for 6 people. This is the recipe for Chihuahuas style Barbacoa (North of Mexico barbacoa recipe)
- 2 guajillo chile
- 1 Red hot chili (chile de arbol)
- ½ teaspoon of Cumin
- 1 spoon of Oregano
- ½ Onion
- 5 Garlic cloves
- 1 spoon Salt
- 6 whole black pepper
- 3 Bay leaves
How to marinate Beef to Make Barbacoa Tacos
Place on a grill:
5 garlic cloves
½ onion
1 chile de Arbol
2 guajillo peppers
How to Make Barbaco de Res Step by Step
Toast these ingredients well, taking care that the chilies do not burn. They toast fast so remove them before the onion and garlic.
Put all the toasted ingredients in the blender together with 1 tsp of oregano ½ tsp of cumin, 1 tbsp of salt, 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 prepared it without marinating and it is 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 authentic Mexican barbacoa homemade by yourself! Awesome!
What to do with the beef broth
As I told you some people serve the barbacoa with some broth. In Chihuahua, we heat it dry and we have the broth apart. What I did was to add a bunch of cilantro, add another 5 cups of water, half a spoon of salt, half onion, and put it in the soup cooking option. There 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 yo 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, chambarete is the option. Chambarete: if you are looking for a low-fat and healthier-fit barbecue.
- 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.
- 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 the meat very well with the recipe that I share with you and preferably leave it to marinate from the night before. If you do not have time you 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.
How to steam barbacoa Mexican Beef
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
Season the meat and leave it to marinate overnight. To cook beef barbacoa in the oven, place the meat in an ovenproof dish and cover it very well with aluminum foil so that the steam does not escape. Bake at 360 degrees for 40 minutes. Check and if it is missing a little more, put it back for another 20 minutes.
Barbacoa Tacos Recipe
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 TornaBoda (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.
Toppings for Mexican Barbacoa Tacos
- Mexican Beef barbacoa, goat or lamb barbacoa.
- Finely chopped cilantro
- Onion chopped into small squares
- Salsa Roja
- Avocado (optional)
- Pico de gallo (optional)
- lime
- Corn or flour tortillas
Place the tortillas on the griddle and start heating the tortilla on both sides without getting toasted. To heat 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. Here I share some delicious hot sauce recipes that go perfectly with barbacoa tacos
Arriba Chihuahua! See you next time you are hungry.
Laura
This is the perfect Barbacoa tacos Mexican Salsa
Made out of chile de árbol this delicious sauce pairs great with barbacoa. Click for recipe
This salsa de aguacate is about to become your fave taco salsa!
Made with jalapeno, cilantro avocado. This is a super easy salsa recipe that goes great with Barbacoa Tacos! recipe here
Marinated Arrachera Recipe
My dad’s secret recipe for marinating flank steak!
See recipe
Authentic Mexican Guacamole
The perfect companion for your tacos! A delicious 100% Mexican guacamole
See recipe
Grilled Suffed Poblanos
Your next carne asada does not have to be only steak, arrachera, and guacamole! these grilled stuffed poblanos are about to become your next huge success at the grill
See recipe
Ingredients
- 5 garlic cloves
- ½ onion
- 1 chile de arbol
- 2 guajillo pepper
- Chambarete or chuck roast
- 1 spoon of oregano
- ½ spoon of cumin
- 1 spoon of salt
- 3 bay leavyes
- 6 whole black pepper
- 4 pounds Chuck roast or Pot roast chuck roast.
Instructions
- Toast these ingredients well, taking care that the chilies do not burn. They toast fast so remove them before the onion and garlic.
- Put all the toasted ingredients in the blender together with 1 tsp of oregano ½ tsp of cumin, 1 tbsp of salt 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 prepared it without marinating and it is 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 defry the beef.
- Do you want to take your barbacoa tacos to another level of flavor (and cholesterol) ? Drop some oil in the pan and defry the shredded beef. There you have the most amazing and authentic mexican barbacoa homemade by yourself! Awesome!
Laura creates content in Spanish and English for a community of over 3 million followers and has been recognized as one of the most influential Latinas in the US, Latinos 40 under 40 in Chicago.
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Yelly says
Hi Laura, this is a dumb question but can we use a slow cooker in lieu of an insta pot? It is all I have unfortunately.
Laura Muller says
Of course! cook in the slow cooker in low for 8 to 9 hours or until the beef is tender
Janeen says
Dear Laura,
I’m writing this comment as I’d hate for the first comment that you see be so negative! As this is such a delicious, easy to prepare (and authentic!) recipe, I wanted to let you know how much your recipes are appreciated. You are wonderful, your recipes are delicious, and while I don’t have access to some of the chillies you use, my husband and I enjoy making this recipe often. Thank you so much <3
Laura Muller says
You have no idea how much I appreciate your comment. English is not my first language and it really takes a great effort to try to express myself in English and be able to transmit these recipes.
Overall I see this blog as a way to reunite cultures and share some of the recipes that have made me happy, and that bring memories from my family and loved ones. I am happy to read that you enjoy cooking these recipes.
Habe a very bessed 2023
Kerry B says
I would like to state that people of all races and ethnicities can cook other cultures’ food, sometimes even better. For you to “call out” non- Mexicans for (in your opinion) not cooking authentic dishes is classless. Cook with love and not calling people out that are making Latin dishes saying they can’t cook it correctly. Some of the best Latin/Mexican dishes I have ever tasted were prepared by “non-Mexicans”.
Lastly, following my own advice, I will refrain from any negative comments regarding your “authentic” recipe.
Laura Muller says
Hi Kerry,
I think you misunderstood my message. The USA has the pizzas that most of the world eats even when the original is Italian! so there is always a great advantage to being able to learn and create when cultures and countries come together. Especially in the culinary world!
Ann Brook says
Hi Laura,
Can this recipe be made in a crockpot? If so, how long and at what heat setting.
Thanks,
Ann
Laura Muller says
Yes, 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. Hope you love it!
Darren says
This was my first venture with traditional Mexican cuisine. I absolutely love it, but never tried cooking it myself other than chill con carne. I didn’t have the correct chilies on hand, but just used what I had. I used a London broil for the meat and it turned out amazing! Thank you so much for sharing! Looking forward to my next attempt!
Laura Muller says
So glad to read you! have you tried my Mexican Chili recipe? is to die for! made with guajillo https://www.lasrecetasdelaura.com/mexican-chili-recipe-with-secret-guajillo-sauce/
elsa says
Smells great but I used too much cumin. Ingredient list says a tsp and instructions say 1/2. Glad I like cumin. Also didn’t take seeds out of guajillo so hope it’s not spicy
Laura Muller says
Thank you I will make the correction, it is 1/2 teaspoon. Glad you liked it!
Cordie Gehring says
mexicana car service
robert creech sr says
wow just WOW!!!!!!! i made this and followed your instructions just awesome
i admit i did omit some of the spices (my wife is very sensitive to extreme spices) i used just the chile Arbol and 1 poblano and served them up as street tacos my wife couldn’t get enough i did make a chimichurri sauce to serve them with and i used cheek meat keep up the great recipes
Laura Muller says
So glad to read your comment! Do you already follow me on Instagram and YouTube? I have new recipes every week. All traditional Mexican Food is cooked in a Healthier way. You can find me as Mexican Food By Laura
amparo yabar says
What a generous person you are Laura, sharing such an amazing and super easy recipe. I prepared it for my New Year’s Eve 2022 dinner. I wil certainlt look like a pro when I serve the barbacoa tacos and also the consome as a small 1st dish. Thank you again!
Laura Muller says
I am so glad to read you. Hope your family enjoyed the barbacoa recipe. Blessings
Laura Muller says
Un placer, bendiciones.
amparo yabar says
Gracias e igualmente…fue tal exito la barbacoa y el consome que ando en el 2do batch! Te imaginas? comparti con 2 amigas de Taiwan y con mi hija y 2 vecinas del El Salvador. Quedaron tan felices que vamos a la 2nda vuelta!
Diana says
I am so glad I came across your recipe! I can’t wait to try it!
Juan g says
This is not athentic barbacoa recipe it takes orange juice lots of orange juice
Laura Muller says
Hi Juan, this an authentic Mexican barbacoa as we make it in the north of Mexico. What calls for a lot of orange juice are usually recipes from the south of Mexico especially Yucatan. Cochinita pibil or carnitas from Michoacan use a lot of orange juice. I never hear of barbacoa with orange juice. Could you share your barbacoa recipe?
Matt says
At what point do you add the six whole black peppers? Do you toast those too? Or just put them in the blender after the other ingredients are done toasting? I made this recipe once before and it was delicious, but I can’t remember what I did about the whole black peppers, and I’m not seeing it specifically in the recipe.
Thanks!
Laura Muller says
Just add them when you are going to cook it
Jamie says
Great recipe! One thing wasn’t clear, do you take the seeds out of the peppers? Most recipes do this so I did, but not sure if I was correct.
Laura Muller says
You do! I am glad you liked it!
Diana says
Es mi receta favorita desde que la descubrí, simplemente deliciosa!!!
Laura Muller says
Me hiciste el día!! muchas gracias por venir a comentar u tener la confianza de cocinar mis recetas. Te mando muchas bendiciones y un abrazo con mucho cariño.
jaime says
I cannot wait to do it & savor it thanks i´ll let you know how it turned out, thanks
Laura Muller says
Send me a photo at my IG!! @LasRecetasdeLaura hope you and your family enjoy it! reach to me if you have any questions
Janice says
How many pounds of meat is this recipe for?
Laura Muller says
2 pounds
Elissa Darling says
Your recipe states that it’s for four pounds but you’ve replied to fans as 2 pounds. I have the meat sitting and marinating overnight right now …panicking because your recipe that you put online is not matching to what you’re saying to this reply.
Laura Muller says
The marinade is more than enough for 4 pounds, I will turn out great! I can’t find the comment you are talking about. Please let me know how it turned out.
Soua Christiansen says
Thank you for sharing your family recipe. We are a mixed race family from Midwest America and love authentic Mexican food!
Laura Muller says
I am so glad to read you! We live in Chicago and this is a legacy for our kids. Step by again for more recipes! Tons of blessings