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    Home » Recipes » Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa

    Published on March 25, 2018 - Updated on January 13, 2023 by Chef Rodney - 5 Comments - This post may contain affiliate links.

    94 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    This recipe is an excellent copycat recipe for Chipotle's Barbacoa Beef. Super easy to make in your Instant Pot. This is super Flavorful Meat!
     
    barbacoa taco

    I probably said it a million times, I love Mexican food. I also LOVE my Instant Pot so I just had to try this Instant Pot Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa.

    browned chuck roast in instant pot
    Browned Chuck Roast in Pressure Cooker

    It probably comes from living in Southern California where authentic Mexican food can be found on almost every street corner. Most of the time I either have Pork Carnitas or Chicken based dishes.

    fresh limes

    That means I’ve been missing out on this delicious dish called Barbacoa Beef. I don’t think this dish originated in Mexico but is readily available at many local Mexican restaurants.

    barbacoa sauce on beef
    Barbacoa Sauce on Beef

    I just couldn't resist looking up where Barbacoa Beef comes from and more specifically how it made its way to the US. You can read more about Barbacoa Beef by reading this article about Barbacoa.

    shredded barbacoa beef
    Shredded Barbacoa Beef

    This dish is so versatile that you can have it in tacos, burritos or even over a bed of rice! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did. This is most definitely a keeper!

    Instant Pot Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa

    Barbacoa Beef is almost always served with diced onions and cilantro, but I also added a little bit of my Garlic Lime Crema for the ultimate tasty taco experience.

    Instant Pot Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa

    💭 Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

    The Instant Pot is a combination pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer with a few other capabilities. With an Instant Pot, you can make some recipes in minutes compared to hours the traditional way. While not always the case, it's a very handy appliance if you are always on the run.

    The Instant Pot comes with several safety features. If you happen to encounter an error message on the display of your IP, I suggest you visit Instant Pot's Official Customer Care Center.

    If you frequently use your Instant Pot Pressure Cooker, you've probably experienced a "smelly" lid. Here's a simple way to get rid of the smell. Fill the Instant Pot with 2 Cups of White Vinegar. Seal the lid. Use the steam setting for 2 minutes. Remove the rubber ring from the lid and let dry completely before using it.

    For more great recipes you can make in your Pressure Cooker check out this collection of Instant Pot Recipes.

    Instant pot
    Instant Pot

    ⭐ Copycat Rating

    Since the goal of a Copycat Recipe is for it to taste exactly like the original, it's only natural to rate this recipe against the original. This Copycat recipe rates a solid 10 out of 10 in my opinion.

    barbacoa taco with crema and cheese

    🐄 How to Handle Raw Beef

    Thaw raw ground beef on a plate on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator, to avoid dripping onto other foods.
    Keep raw and ready-to-eat meats separate.
    Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw ground beef. Wash cutting boards, bowls, and utensils used to prepare raw ground beef with hot soapy water and rinse well.
    Use separate plates to carry raw ground beef patties to the cooking area and cooked patties to the serving area.
    Use a Thermometer to ensure Ground Beef Reaches the Safely Cooked Internal Temperature of 160°F.

    Instant Pot Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa

    For more delicious recipes like this one, I suggest you check these recipes out:

    • Slow Cooker Beef Enchiladas
    • Slow Cooker Roast Beef Sandwiches
    • BBQ Beef Sandwiches

    📋 What Ingredients do I need

    You will need the following ingredients to make this Copycat Barbacoa recipe from Chipotle in your Pressure Cooker (see recipe card for quantities): Boneless Chuck Roast, Canola Oil, Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce, White Onion, Garlic Cloves, Beef Bouillon, Apple Cider Vinegar, Lime Juice, Ground Cumin, Dried Oregano, Chili Powder, Sea Salt and Ground Cloves.

    🥣 How to Make Instant Pot Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa

    In a large blender, add chipotle peppers with adobo sauce, chopped white onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt, and cloves. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
    In your Instant Pot, heat oil using the saute function. Add meat in small batches and cook until browned.
    When all the meat is browned, add the sauce from the blender. Add the beef broth.
    Cook on high pressure for 50 minutes. Release pressure using the quick pressure release method.
    Remove meat from Instant Pot and shred.

    chipotle beef barbacoa

    Instant Pot Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa

    This recipe is an excellent copycat recipe for Chipotle's Barbacoa Beef. Super easy to make in your Instant Pot. This is super Flavorful Meat!
    4.91 from 10 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 50 mins
    Total Time 1 hr
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Servings 10
    Calories 597 kcal

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker
    • Food Processor

    Ingredients
     

    • 6 lbs Boneless Chuck Roast
    • 2 tablespoon Canola Oil
    • 6 oz Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce
    • 1 White Onion
    • 10 Garlic Cloves
    • 1 Cup Beef Broth
    • ⅔ Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
    • ½ Cup Fresh Lime Juice
    • 2 tablespoon Ground Cumin
    • 2 tablespoon Dried Oregano
    • 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
    • 1 tablespoon Sea Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Ground Cloves
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • In a large blender, add chipotle peppers with adobo sauce, chopped white onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt and cloves. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
    • In your Instant Pot, heat oil using the saute function. Add meat in small batches and cook until browned.
    • When all the meat is browned, add the sauce from the blender. Add the beef broth.
    • Cook on high pressure for 50 minutes. Release pressure using the quick pressure release method.
    • Remove meat from Instant Pot and shred.

    Notes

    While I elected to make this recipe in my Instant Pot, you can easily adapt this recipe for your slow cooker by cooking it on high for about 6 hours or until the meat is tender. You can also use the remaining juices to make a sauce by boiling the sauce with some cornstarch until it thickens.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 597kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 54gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 187mgSodium: 1038mgPotassium: 1019mgFiber: 6gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 310IUVitamin C: 5.4mgCalcium: 88mgIron: 7.1mg

    Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.

    Tried this Recipe?Leave a Comment below and share a picture on Instagram and tag @hot_rods_recipes and hashtag #hotrodsrecipes!

    More Instant Pot Recipes

    • Easy Instant Pot Beef Meatballs
    • Instant Pot Mexican Rice
    • Instant Pot Apricot Chicken
    • Instant Pot Homemade Vanilla Extract
    hot rods recipes

    Reader Interactions

    5 Comments

    1. Gloria

      January 09, 2022 at 9:11 am

      I’m making this tonight but just prepped the sauce. 2 comments: 1. Please adjust the recipe to add approximately how many limes you need. I totally missed the 1/2 cup, luckily I had some bottled lime juice to supplement. 2. I think you have a typo on the last ingredient. 1/2 t garlic clove which I guessed was ground clove but it took me a minute or two. I’m excited to see how this turns out. Hope to post later! 5 star based in the taste of the sauce.

      Reply
      • Chef Rodney

        January 09, 2022 at 9:46 am

        Thanks for the suggestion on the lime juice. One lime will yield about 2 tablespoons of juice so this recipe will need about 4 limes. Typo fixed! I hope you enjoy this recipe.

        Reply
    2. Wendy

      August 14, 2022 at 1:59 pm

      Hi Chef Rodney!!
      I’m planning a grad party for my daughter. She loves Chipotle so I was hoping to save some money and prepare the barbacoa myself. Do you think this would freeze well if made ahead of time and then reheated? It will only be frozen for a few days as my party is next weekend.

      Reply
      • Chef Rodney

        August 15, 2022 at 8:11 am

        Once cooked I would wrap it well in something like aluminum foil and place it inside an airtight bag. I would unthaw to room temperature and heat up in a skillet. Microwave is an option I just don't care to use my microwave. 🙂

        Reply
        • Wendy

          August 16, 2022 at 4:07 am

          Thank you!
          I’ll let you know how it comes out when I’m done!

          Reply

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