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Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa for Tacos

Close-up of rich, saucy shredded Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa piled on a white plate.
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Make tender, flavorful beef barbacoa quickly using your Instant Pot. This recipe uses chuck roast for easy shredding, perfect for tacos or burrito bowls.

Ingredients

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

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef chunks dry with paper towels. Season the beef generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Set your Instant Pot to the Sauté function. Add the olive oil. When hot, sear the beef chunks in batches until browned on all sides. Remove the beef and set aside.
  3. Add the quartered onion and minced garlic to the pot. Sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the beef broth and apple cider vinegar, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.
  5. Return the seared beef to the pot.
  6. In a small bowl, mix together the chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, minced chipotle pepper, and adobo sauce. Sprinkle this spice mixture evenly over the beef.
  7. Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and set the vent to Sealing.
  8. Select the Manual or Pressure Cook setting and set the time for 60 minutes on High Pressure.
  9. When the cooking time is complete, allow a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, carefully switch the valve to Venting to release any remaining pressure.
  10. Remove the beef chunks and place them in a large bowl. Use two forks to shred the meat.
  11. Skim any excess fat from the liquid remaining in the Instant Pot liner. Pour about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid over the shredded beef and toss to coat. Add more liquid if needed for desired moisture.
  12. Serve hot in tortillas with your favorite toppings.

Notes

  • For a smokier flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika with the other spices.
  • If you prefer a thicker sauce, use the Sauté function after shredding the meat to reduce the remaining liquid slightly before mixing it back in.
  • This meat freezes well for future meals.

Nutrition

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