Slow-Cooked Beef Barbacoa with Chipotle and Oregano

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-26 · Updated 2026-04-26

Tender slow-cooked beef flavored with smoky chipotle peppers, fresh oregano, and zesty lime, perfect for tacos or burritos. This Mexican-inspired Cinco de Mayo recipe, ready in about 260 minutes, pairs beef chuck roast, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, beef broth for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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
• 2 peppers minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 medium diced white onion
• 4 minced garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped for garnish fresh cilantro

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season 2 lbs beef chuck roast with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Sear the beef on all sides until browned, about 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer to slow cooker.
2. Step 2: In the same skillet, sauté 1 diced medium white onion and 4 minced garlic cloves for 3 minutes until softened and fragrant. Add 2 minced chipotle peppers in adobo, 1 tbsp dried oregano, 1 tsp ground cumin, and 1/4 tsp ground cloves, stirring for 1 minute to bloom the spices.
3. Step 3: Pour 1 cup beef broth into the skillet, scraping the browned bits from the bottom, then transfer the mixture to the slow cooker over the beef.
4. Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours until the beef is fork-tender and shreds easily.
5. Step 5: Remove beef from slow cooker and shred with two forks. Return shredded beef to the juices, stir in 3 tbsp fresh lime juice, and mix well.
6. Step 6: Garnish with 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro before serving in warm tortillas or over rice.