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Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa for Tacos

Close-up of tender, shredded Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa coated in rich, dark red sauce, served in a white bowl.
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Make tender, flavorful beef barbacoa quickly using your Instant Pot. This recipe yields perfect shredded beef ideal for tacos.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 lb beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 2-inch chunks
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, quartered
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice, fresh
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced (plus 1 teaspoon adobo sauce)
  • 1 bay leaf

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef chunks dry and season lightly with salt and pepper.
  2. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add olive oil. When hot, brown the beef in batches until seared on all sides. Remove beef and set aside.
  3. Add the onion and garlic to the pot and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
  4. Pour in the beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  5. Return the beef to the pot. Add the apple cider vinegar, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, minced chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, and bay leaf. Stir gently to combine.
  6. Secure the lid and set the valve to Sealing. Select Manual/Pressure Cook (High Pressure) for 60 minutes.
  7. When the cooking cycle finishes, allow a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for at least 15 minutes before carefully moving the valve to Venting to release any remaining pressure.
  8. Remove the beef from the pot and place it on a cutting board. Discard the bay leaf. Shred the beef using two forks.
  9. Return the shredded beef to the remaining liquid in the Instant Pot. Stir well to coat the meat thoroughly. If the sauce is too thin, set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode and let it simmer uncovered for 5-10 minutes until the sauce reduces slightly.
  10. Serve the barbacoa hot on warm tortillas with your favorite toppings for tacos.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, you can briefly broil the shredded meat after tossing it in the sauce to get slightly crispy edges.
  • If you prefer a spicier barbacoa, add an extra chipotle pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the liquid.
  • Use corn or flour tortillas for serving. Toppings like diced white onion, cilantro, and lime wedges complement the rich flavor well.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonfulsnap.com/instant-pot-beef-barbacoa-for-tacos/