Barbacoa Beef Recipe Freezer Meal

Gluten Free

Barbacoa Beef recipe

Have you ever enjoyed the chipotle barbacoa beef! Its amazing! This barbacoa beef recipe brings this delicious dinner to your household any night of the week.

As a freezer meal this tasty barbacoa beef recipe is designed to be prepped in 10 minutes or less.

Traditional authentic barbacoa recipes use a varity of different types of meat (even cow tongue…) But don’t worry chipotle and this recipe call for more common meat cuts like beef chuck or brisket.

My favorite meat to use is a beef chuck, the meat cooks in the slow cooker all day and gets so tender. It shredded easily and your mouth will water as you set the table. (I have usually eaten quite a bit before everyone sits dowqn to the table…)

Enjoy this wonderful family dinner! Make it a fun interactive meal by serving the whole family with all the ingredients for tacos or burrito bowls in the center of the table. Then laugh talk and eat together and enjoy food made with love like it was always intended.

Why you will love this barbacoa beef recipe. 

  • 10 Minutes to Prep
  • Super Easy
  • Extremely Tasty
  • Healthy (Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Preservative Free)
  • Family Friendl
Barbacoa Beef Recipe | Beef Freezer Meals | Ground Beef Freezer Meals | Authentic Barbacoa Recipe | Chipotle Barbacoa Recipe | Spicy Beef Barbacoa Recipe | Easy Barbacoa Recipe | Barbacoa Seasoning

Are beef freezer meals healthy?

Yes! Any recipe can be made healthy as long as you are using real ingredients. Purchase a higher quality beef and be sure to use natural organic products to enjoy a clean Barbacoa beef recipe. Be sure to also use dietary approved toppings and tortillas if you make tacos with the beef. 
 

Ingredients you will need for this barbacoa beef freezer meals. 

  • beef brisket (or chuck roast)
  • bay leaves
  • onion
  • broth of preference (I use chicken broth)
  • diced green chilies
  • chiles in adobo sauce (optional)
  • adobo sauce (optional)
  • garlic powder
  • apple cider vinegar
  • fresh lime juice
  • dried oregano
  • ground cumin
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • ground cloves
  • chili powder

Is this a spicy beef barbacoa recipe?

The adobo chiles and adobo sauce is optional. So if you want a barbacoa inspired recipe without the spice level then omit the adobo ingredients. My kids LOVE this recipe without the adobo chiles or sauce!
 
But if you’re looking for a delicious kick then add in your adobo sauce and chiles and enjoy this Barbacoa beef freezer meals. 
 
The chipotle Barbacoa recipe contains more heat and spice than this recipe without the adobo sauce and chiles. 
 

How to make the barbacoa sauce?

SUPER EASY! In the past sauces have intimidated me. But this one is as simple as throwing all the barbacoa seasoning and sauce ingredients together in a food processor or high speed blender and blending until smooth. 
 
This sauce is inspired by an authentic Barbacoa recipe. Though an authentic Barbacoa recipe will contain a-lot of heat and more chiles. However my kids aren’t a huge fan of spice (still in the toddler phase) so I wanted to make a Barbacoa inspired recipe the whole family would love. 

How to make this barbacoa beef freezer meals recipe in the slow cooker?

Just throw everything into a slow cooker and let it cook for you. No mess, no fuss and a delicious home-cooked dinner!
 
This is a super easy Barbacoa recipe that will take you 5-10 minutes to make. Its so nice to throw this recipe from the freezer or fridge right into the slow cooker and move on with your day. 
 
 

 

What kind of meat can I use?

I love to make this recipe with beef brisket or chuck roast. But you could also use the seasoning and sauce to make this a ground beef freezer meals. If you have ground beef and want a ground beef freezer meals this is the perfect solution.
 
Tacos, burritos and burrito bowls are delicious with this barbacoa ground beef freezer meals or regular beef. 
 

What to serve with this barbacoa beef recipe?

Serve with some cauliflower or basmati rice (you can also use whatever kind of rice fits your diet). I also love to serve with chips and salsa or guacamole. 
 
If you want some thing fun and different you could also cook up some mexican street corn. 
 

How to store this healthy barbacoa beef recipe?

After cooking store in fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
 

Do I need a slow cooker for this recipe?

You can use a slow cooker or crock pot for this recipe. It is designed to be fast and easy so you do not have to take the time to cook all night.
 

Can I use an instant pot instead?

Of course! If you are tight on time or a last minute cook then throw everything in the instant post and adjust cook time. For slow cooker to instant pot conversion times click here to get a simple instant pot cheat sheet. You will never have to guess or research an instant pot cook time again!
 

*See FAQ’s and specific tips following recipe below. (so you don’t have to scroll for a million years to find the food 😉 ).

How do you make this Barbacoa Beef Recipe? 👇 

Barbacoa Beef

Enjoy an easy barbacoa beef freezer meal with the whole family. Tasty barbacoa recipe prepped in 10 minutes for cooking or as a freezer meal.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time9 hours
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 8
Author: Hannah Stewart

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker or Crockpot

Ingredients

  • 3 lb Beef Brisket or Chuck Roast
  • 2 bay leaves

Barbacoa Sauce (Blend Together):

  • 1/2 large onion chopped
  • 1/2 cup broth of preference I use chicken broth
  • 4.5 oz can diced green chilies
  • 2 chipotle chilies in adobo sauce
  • 3 tbsp adobo sauce
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp lime juice juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tbsp drired oregano
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tbsp chili powder

Instructions

  • Add barbacoa sauce ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. (You may have to scrap sides once or twice).
  • Add beef, bay leaves and barbacoa sauce into the slow cooker.
  • Cook on low 9-10 hours.
  • Shred beef and stir back into sauce in slow cooker.
  • Serve in tortillas or over rice with favorite taco toppings! Enjoy!

Freezer Directions:

  • Label Freezer bag with recipe name, cooking from frozen directions and expiration date (todays date plus three months).
  • Add barbacoa sauce ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. (You may have to scrap sides once or twice).
  • Add all ingredients to labeled gallon freezer bag.
  • Store in freezer for up to three months.

Cooking from Frozen Directions:

  • Thaw overnight in fridge or in the morning in some warm water (meal may not be 100% thawed but that is ok).
  • Add freezer bag contents into slow cooker.
  • Cook on low 9-10 hours.
  • Shred beef and stir back into sauce in slow cooker.
  • Serve in tortillas or over rice with favorite taco toppings! Enjoy!

Notes

  • May top with favorite taco toppings! (cheese, guacamole, salsa, etc…)
  • Make it pretty: Garnish with fresh cilantro and a lime wedge.
     

if you liked this recipe give it a share!

Tag @My_FamilyDinner or #MyFamilyDinner

How freezer meals will change your life.

Makes homecooking Easy

Only spend one hour in the kitchen for a whole week of dinners. Day of, throw your freezer meal in the slow cooker or instant pot and enjoy dinner!

feel confident

Knowing you have a fool proof systen for something that is easy and works gives you confidence in the kitchen. So wether you're a seasoned chef or occational home cook the method of freezer cooking will work for you!

Eat Healthier

Because you're prepping the freezer meals with fresh foods you're eating healthier. Anytime you cook at home instead of eating out you get the benefits of healthier food.

Enjoy less stress

Have you ever felt the pressure of forgetting about dinner, or having to cook at the end of a long day?! No more, just grab something out of the freezer and you're good to go.

Frequently asked questions

No problem! Just throw the freezer meal in your slow cooker and you’re all set. If it doesn’t fit thaw it for a few minutes in warm water. (You may need to add an extra 30 minutes cook time if completely frozen when cooking).

Authentic barbacoa is meat (sheep, goat or beef) steam cooked underground until tender and juicy. Basically a slow cooker underground. 

So this recipe comes out so perfect when you cook it low and slow at home while you go about your day. 

The chipotle barbacoa recipe is said to main come from the beef shoulder. There is a-lot of fat in beef shoulder which keeps the meat tender and juicy during the long cook time. 

It is extremely tender and moist beef. Barbacoa beef is slow cooked in a delicious sauce at whichever heat level you prefer. The barbacoa flavoring is different than a normal taco seasoning you are used to. Enjoy this barbacoa seasoning inspired dish. 

Absolutely. You may have to play around with cook times. If you’re interested in an instant pot cheat sheet for cook times click here!

Barbacoa is bold and has a depth of flavor compared to carnitas. The beef is not overpowered by the sauce but rather enhanced. Carnitas is traditionally made with pork and has a spice free flavor. 

“The word “barbecue” comes from the Caribbean word “barbacoa.” Originally, a barbacoa wasn’t a way of cooking food, but the name of a wooden structure used by Taino Indians to smoke their food. … Spanish explorers took the word barbacoa back to Spain, where it appeared in print for the first time in 1526.” – Wikipedia

 

Serve with some cauliflower or basmati rice (you can also use whatever kind of rice fits your diet). I also love to serve with chips and salsa or guacamole. 
 
If you want some thing fun and different you could also cook up some mexican street corn. 

Don't forget to pin this recipe and save it for later! 👇

Barbacoa Beef Recipe | Beef Freezer Meals | Ground Beef Freezer Meals | Authentic Barbacoa Recipe | Chipotle Barbacoa Recipe | Spicy Beef Barbacoa Recipe | Easy Barbacoa Recipe | Barbacoa Seasoning

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