Slow-Cooked Ancho Chile Beef Barbacoa

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-04 · Updated 2026-05-04

Tender beef barbacoa simmered slowly in a rich, smoky ancho chile sauce, perfect for tacos or burrito bowls. This Mexican-inspired Cinco de Mayo recipe, ready in about 505 minutes, pairs beef chuck roast, dried ancho chiles, beef broth for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs beef chuck roast
• 3 dried ancho chiles
• 1 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1 medium, quartered white onion
• 4, peeled garlic cloves
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 bay leaf

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Toast 3 dried ancho chiles in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes until fragrant but not burnt, then soak them in 1 1/2 cups hot beef broth for 15 minutes until softened.
2. Step 2: While chiles soak, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear 2 lbs beef chuck roast on all sides until browned, about 3 minutes per side, then transfer to slow cooker.
3. Step 3: Blend soaked ancho chiles with 1/2 cup soaking liquid, 1 medium quartered white onion, 4 peeled garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp dried oregano, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper until smooth.
4. Step 4: Pour the chile sauce over the beef in the slow cooker, add 1 bay leaf, cover, and cook on low for 8 hours until beef is tender and shreds easily.
5. Step 5: Remove bay leaf, shred beef with two forks, and stir to coat with sauce before serving.