Jul 14 2026

Barbacoa Recipe

Time10h 50m
Serves3

Slowly Cooked Shredded Beef Barbacoa, Melted Chihuahua Cheese, Pickled Onions and Cilantro with a side of our Oaxaca Ají Verde Sauce. Served in a Homemade Crispy Corn Tortillas (3pc).

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Ingredients

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Barbacoa

Pickled Onions

Oaxaca Ají Verde Sauce

Tortillas

Garnish

Method

Barbacoa Preparation

  1. 1

    Prepare the Beef

    In a large pot or slow cooker, season the chuck roast with salt and black pepper. Sear the meat on all sides over medium-high heat until browned.

  2. 2

    Add Vegetables and Spices

    Add the chopped onion, crushed garlic cloves, chipotle peppers, cumin, oregano, bay leaves, and beef broth to the pot.

  3. 3

    Cook the Barbacoa

    Cover the pot and cook on low for 8 hours or until the beef is tender and easily shreds with a fork.

  4. 4

    Shred the Beef

    Remove the beef from the pot and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded beef to the pot and stir to combine with the juices.

Pickled Onions Preparation

  1. 5

    Slice the Onion

    Thinly slice the red onion and place it in a bowl.

  2. 6

    Make the Pickling Liquid

    In a small saucepan, combine white vinegar, sugar, and salt; bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.

  3. 7

    Pickle the Onions

    Pour the hot pickling liquid over the sliced onions and let them sit for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Oaxaca Ají Verde Sauce Preparation

  1. 8

    Prepare the Ingredients

    Remove the husks from the tomatillos and rinse them. Chop the jalapeño, and roughly chop the cilantro.

  2. 9

    Blend the Sauce

    In a blender, combine tomatillos, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Blend until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Tortillas Preparation

  1. 10

    Fry the Tortillas

    In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Fry each corn tortilla until crispy, about 1-2 minutes per side.

  2. 11

    Melt the Cheese

    Once the tortillas are crispy, sprinkle Chihuahua cheese on top and allow it to melt slightly before serving.

Assembly

  1. 12

    Prepare to Serve

    On a plate, place 3 crispy tortillas. Fill each with shredded beef barbacoa, top with pickled onions, and garnish with fresh cilantro.

  2. 13

    Serve with Sauce

    Serve the assembled tacos with a side of Oaxaca Ají Verde sauce for drizzling.

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