Easy Beef Barbacoa
Beef barbacoa is one of the most flavorful, tender types of meat you can find. Traditional Mexican barbacoa comes from cachete (cheek meat), a juicier cut that is perfect for breakfast tacos. With just three simple ingredients, you can make your barbacoa in an oven or slow cooker to enjoy an authentic Tex-Mex breakfast.
Equipment
- Slow cooker optional
- Slow cooker liners optional
- Meat claws optional
- Dutch oven optional
Ingredients
- 3 pounds beef cheek (cachete)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (1 small clove per pound of meat)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups water
Instructions
Option 1: Oven baking method
- Preheat the oven to 350º F (177º C).
- Place the beef in an oven-safe dish like a casserole dish or Dutch oven.
- Sprinkle the salt and minced garlic over the beef. Add the water, and cover the dish with foil or a lid, sealing all edges well.
- Bake in the oven for 2 hours. Then, flip the pieces of meat and add more hot water if the meat is drying out. Continue cooking another 1.5-2 hours. (Reduce the cooking time for smaller pieces.) The beef should reach an internal temperature of 205-210º F (96-98º C) when done.
Option 2: Slow cooker method
- Place a liner in the slow cooker (recommended).
- Add the beef to the slow cooker, cutting pieces as necessary to fit.
- Sprinkle salt and minced garlic on top. Then add the water.
- Set the slow cooker to Low heat for 8 hours.
Serving barbacoa
- Remove the barbacoa pieces from the dish, trimming any large pieces of fat.
- Shred the meat with tongs or meat claws.
- Serve in flour or corn tortillas with pico de gallo or your favorite salsa. Garnish with cilantro, onion, radishes, or fresh pepper slices as desired.
Notes
Storing Barbacoa
Barbacoa will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-5 days, and you can freeze it for up to 6 months.Reheating Barbacoa
To defrost the meat, place it in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat it in the microwave at medium heat for 1.5-2 minutes, adding a bit of water to prevent the meat from drying out. You can also reheat it in the oven at 250º F for 15 minutes in a dish covered with foil, stirring occasionally. Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
