Get ready to take an authentic barbacoa recipe that usually takes 1-2 days to prep and cook and make it right in your townhome in just under 1 hour! This Mexican barbacoa recipe is a delicious meal made with 6 simple ingredients and is paired up with a homemade red adobo sauce to make a classic red beef barbacoa- all in your Instant Pot!
For today's recipe, I am going to show you how to make an authentic barbacoa recipe using just a few simple ingredients.
This red Mexican barbacoa recipe is inspired by a dish that's a favorite in the State of Veracruz and its neighboring states. There are many other recipes all over Mexico that is prepared in a similar way to this red beef barbacoa, but every region makes it their own by adding their unique blend of spices, herbs, and peppers.
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If you have never had red beef barbacoa before, you are going to be very delighted with this Mexican dish.
To give you something to reference to- This Mexican barbacoa is very similar to the Beef Birria, but it includes fewer ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions About Barbacoa
Before I share my Mexican barbacoa recipe, here are a few questions I've been asked about homemade barbacoa.
What is Beef Barbacoa?
Barbacoa is known to be a cooking process in which the meat is cooked inside a pit in the ground for a long period of time.
After a large hole is dug, stones are placed on the bottom, then the pit is lined with maguey leaves. The meat is wrapped in banana or maguey leaves (making sure all the meat is well covered) and placed inside. Firewood is added to the pit, then the whole thing is covered with soil.
This process is done the night before serving the barbacoa.
This process is still used in some parts of Mexico, but in urban areas, the meat is generally cooked in the oven or on the stove.
For this recipe, we are using an Instant Pot to cook the meat, and a skillet to combine the meat with the sauce to make the red barbacoa.
What is Mexican Barbacoa made of?
Barbacoa is usually made with beef or lamb.
I remember one summer when I was living in Tabasco and was invited to a cattle ranch for a barbacoa party, and we arrived the day before to help with the process. A whole cow was cooked in a huge pit dug in the ground, and there was enough meat to feed an entire army!
We seasoned the meat with salt and a lot of herbs from the region. The most common herbs used for barbacoa are a bay leaf, marjoram, and thyme. Fish and poultry can also prepare in this homemade barbacoa pit, but the authentic barbacoa recipe is made using beef (especially the head) or lamb.
What kind of beef can I use in this barbacoa recipe?
I will be using beef cheek from RUMBA Meats for this recipe and beef bones from RUMBA meats, as well. I really like their fresh, high-quality cuts, and the fact that the meat comes in a convenient vacuum-sealed package.
Do I have to use an Instant Pot to make this barbacoa recipe?
No, you don't. You can also use a slow cooker or just a simple stock pot to cook on the stove. Just make sure to adjust the cooking times accordingly.
Instant Pot Mexican Beef Barbacoa Recipe
Here is a list of ingredients you will need:
- Beef cheek or Beef chuck roast*
- Beef bones (optional)
- Onion
- Garlic cloves
- Bay leaf
- Avocado leaves (optional)
Please note: For exact measurements of the ingredients listed above, scroll down to the recipe card located at the bottom of this post!
*Beef chuck or a combination of beef shank and beef chuck will yield more meat after cooking.
How To Make Homemade Red Adobo Sauce
Along with the beef, you will also need to make a quick red adobo sauce to make the red barbacoa.
Here is a list of ingredients you will need:
- Ancho peppers (with seeds and veins removed)
- Guajillo peppers (with seeds and veins removed)
- Morita pepper (with the stem removed)
- Garlic cloves
- Mexican oregano
- Vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper
To make this sauce, here is what you will need to do:
- Lightly toast the peppers for a few seconds on the griddle, then place them in a saucepan with hot water and let them soak for 20-30 minutes until they're very soft.
- Drain the peppers and place them in your blender with the garlic cloves, oregano, and cooking broth (or clean water).
- Process until you have a smooth sauce.
Please note: For exact measurements of the ingredients listed above, scroll down to the recipe card located at the bottom of this post!
How To Make Mexican Barbacoa: Step By Step Tutorial
To make things easier for you, I am going to breakdown the directions to this recipe into sections.
Prep The Meat
- Remove the meat from the package and rinse it. Then, dry it using paper towels. Cut it into two or three pieces, depending on the size of the cooking pot you're using. The parts should be more or less the same size so they can cook evenly.
Add All Of The Ingredients To The Instant Pot
- Place the meat pieces, bones, onion, garlic, bay leaf, and avocado leaves (if using) into the Instant Pot.
Cook The Meat
- Cover with water and cook until the meat is very tender and you can easily shred it. It will take 50 minutes in a pressure cooker, or 45 minutes in an Instant Pot.
- If using a regular stock pot to cook on the stove, the meat will be ready in about two and a half hours.
- If using the slow cooker, it will take 8 hours in the low setting and 6 hours in the high setting.
Make The Red Adobo Sauce
- While the meat is cooking, start prepping and cooking the red adobo sauce (ingredients list and instructions above).
Combine Everything To Make Red Barbacoa
- Remove the cooked meat from the Instant Pot.
- Discard any fat and shred the meat using two forks.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan and pour the sauce in.
- Fry the sauce for a few minutes, then stir in the shredded meat.
- Let it cook for about 5-8 minutes to allow all the flavors to combine.
- Season the stew with salt and pepper.
Enjoy!
Video Tutorial For Mexican Barbacoa Recipe
Watch this video tutorial and follow along to make this Mexican Barbacoa right at home.
Cooking Tips:
- You can also use Beef Hind Shank from Rumba Meats. If you choose this option, buy 2 packages.
- Also, if you use the beef hind shank, then you won't need to buy the bone narrows. Just be sure that any combination of meat that you use includes bones, in order to enhance the flavor of the dish.
- Avocado leaves are available at Latin stores or online. You can skip them and only add the bay leaf. You can also use “Hoja Santa” leaves, which are also sold online.
- The Morita pepper is similar in spiciness to a chipotle pepper, so don't use it if you want a mild flavor.
What To Serve With Red Mexican Barbacoa
When I make this authentic barbacoa recipe, I like to serve it with warm corn or flour tortillas, chopped onions and cilantro, and homemade green salsa!
More Beef Recipes To Enjoy
If you enjoyed this recipe for Mexican barbacoa, take a look at some of these other authentic Mexican recipes:
- Vegetable Beef And Rice Soup
- Ancho Pepper Shredded Beef For Tacos
- Easy Mexican Ground Beef Recipe
- Shredded Beef Quesadillas
- Steak Ranchero
I hope you make this recipe for Mexican beef barbacoa! If this recipe was of any help to you, come back to let me know your experience. Please leave us a comment done below and tell us all about it!
¡Buen provecho!
Mely
📖 Recipe
Mexican red beef barbacoa
Ingredients
- 2.5 Lbs Beef Cheek from Rumba Meats
- 1 Lbs Beef Bones Rumba Meats, optional
- ½ mediun size onion
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 avocado leaves optional, see notes
For the red Adobo Sauce
- 4 Ancho peppers cleaned, with seeds and veins removed
- 2 Guajillo Peppers cleaned, with seeds and veins removed
- 1 Morita pepper with the stem removed
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon of Mexican oregano
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Remove the meat from the package and rinse it, then dry it using paper towels. Cut it into two or three pieces, depending on the size of the cooking pot you're using; the parts should be more or less the same size so they can cook evenly.
- Place the meat pieces, bones, onion, garlic, bay leaf, and avocado leaves (if using) in a large cooking pot. Cover with water and cook until the meat is very tender and you can easily shred it. If using a regular stock pot to cook on the stove, the meat will be ready in about two and half hours. In the slow cooker, it will take 8 hours in the low setting and 6 hours in the high setting. It will take 50 minutes in a pressure cooker, or 40 minutes in an Instant Pot.
- While the meat is cooking, lightly toast the peppers for a few seconds on the griddle, then place them in a saucepan with hot water and let them soak for 20-30 minutes until they're very soft.
- Drain the peppers and place them in your blender with the two garlic cloves, oregano, and 1 cup of the cooking broth (or clean water). Process until you have a smooth sauce.
- Remove the cooked meat from the pot. Discard any fat and shred the meat.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan and pour the sauce in. Fry the sauce for a few minutes, then stir in the shredded meat. Let it cook for about 5-8 minutes to allow all the flavors to combine. Season the stew with salt and pepper.
- Serve with warm corn or flour tortillas, chopped onion and cilantro, and green salsa. You can serve it with raw or cooked green salsa.
Notes
- You can also use Beef Hind Shank from Rumba Meats. If you choose this option, buy 2 packages.
- Also, if you use the beef hind shank, then you won't need to buy the bone narrows. Just be sure that any combination of meat that you use includes bones, in order to enhance the flavor of the dish.
- Avocado leaves are available at Latin stores or online. You can skip them and only add the bay leaf. You can also use “Hoja Santa” leaves, which are also sold online.
- The Morita pepper is similar in spiciness to a Chipotle pepper, so don't use it if you want a mild flavor.
Sana
Hello.. Can you substitute for osso buco Cut? Think you in advance 🙏 kinds regards Sana
Mely Martínez
Hello,
Yes, you can use other cuts of beef.
Rich S
Why is this area in grey on white.
It's almost readable when trying to write.
Since I live in a rural area south of Guadalajara perhaps that's why this is so different and to my taste not very good.
I eat barbacoa lonches from a abarrote where 3 local women cook breakfast and lunch for the workers in the area
and some locals.
They make them with onions, shredded casa de casera and red salsa on top and are excellent.
I prefer it with tomatoes and escabeche de jalapenos on top but the meat is still
the same. Much more flavorful and better tasting than this recipe.
I salvaged it by adding some azúcar mascobado, catsup y mostaza.
From reading your site you obviously know what you're doing in the kitchen
so I don't know where the problem lies.
I'll try several other of your recipes and see what happens.
I've lived here since 2021 and dined in more than 30 countries and find what I eat for my usual meals is comida de casera from half a dozen countries.
My 3 favorites main meals of Mexico (todo con tortillas de mano) are caldo de albóndigas con verduras, caldo de chambarete con verduras and chile rellenos stuffed with Oaxaca or my queso de casera and beef picadillo which I noticed you have in your repertoire.
I think I'll try your version next.
Gracias y fiestas felices.
Rich S
Mely Martínez
Hello Rich,
There are several types of Barbacoa recipes in Mexico, the white barbacoa is the one that has only herbs and spices, and then we have the red type of barbacoa.
Like this recipe inspired in the Barbacoa from Veracruz. Happy Holidays to you too.
Hugh
Thanks Mely. Anytime I want to make authentic Mexican cuisine like pozole, menudo, birria, etc., this is my go to site. Your recipes always tastes the way I expect them to and the ingredients are spot on. I already made so many and have never been disappointed. You’re right that there are always regional variations but it seems like yours captures essence of the dish. Thanks again
Mely Martínez
Hello Hugh,
Thank you for visiting the website and trying the recipes. It is nice to know you like them.
Happy cooking!
Sallie
I was soooo disappointed with the results. I followed the recipe to a T, but it just came out tasting bitter. And it made sooooo much! What could I have done wrong? (Also I posted this comment months ago, and apparently it was deleted?)
Mely Martínez
Hello Sallie,
If you use old peppers and also burn the peppers while toasting them be sure that you will have bitter-tasting results. When you are buying dried peppers, make sure they are still pliable, to be sure they are still usable. The roasting process takes just a few seconds, depending on how hot your griddle is. We have cooked this recipe dozens of times in our family with great results all the time.
Alberto G.
Meli,
When cooking the barbacoa, do I put it in the slow cooker and then add enough water until the meat is entirely under water? I wasn't sure about that step. Let me know, thanks.
Alberto
Mely Martínez
Hello Alberto, Yes, you cook the meat cover it with water.
Tifferella
Can I use beef shank or oxtails instead of Rumba meats?
Mely Martínez
Hello Tifferella,
Yes, you can use what is available in your area.
Marta
My favorite is,Carne en su Jugo, entomatadas and Milanese !
Barbara
My family loves Chicken Veracruse & the beef Enchiladas & frankly most of the spicy recipes. We are addicted to Mexican foods. Thank you ever so much.
Paulita Castillo-Alvarez
OMG love all the recipes from here that I even told my niece who lives in Japan about this website. She has done some of your recipes for her Japanese friends that they love it. For me my whole family loves it also. My 3 three favorite are Pineapple pico de gallo, chicken milanesa and pineapple pie. Plus alot more but those are the top 3.
Debbie Pierson
Only 3 that is really a hard decision since all of the recipes I have tried are wonderful and full of flavor, the chicken tinga is fabulous the habanero tomato salsa is really good if you can take the heat, and the chilaquiles are awesome.
S Nanson
I enjoy your recipes for
Tamale
Red enchilada sauce
Street tacos
Among MANY!
Jasmine
I love all your recipes!! But my top three would be enmoladas, pork carnitas, and chicken stew. Absolutely love your recipes and blog. Take care!
Carolina Sarmiento
Our family loves the Mexican bread pudding, tamale and four tortilla recipes.
Maria Alicia Arroyo
Green enchiladas and the mole enchiladas and chicken tostadas...
Basically all your food is delicious !