• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Media and Advertising
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

No. 2 Pencil

Cook, Bake & Create

  • Recipe Index
    • Single Serving
    • One-Pot Meals
    • Slow Cooker
    • Cookies
    • Dessert
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
    • Drink
  • Instant Pot
  • Slow Cooker
  • Easy Dinner Recipes

Instant Pot Barbacoa Recipe

May 17, 2020 by Melissa 12 Comments

Instant Pot Barbacoa Recipe – tender fall apart beef loaded with traditional mexican spices and finished with fresh cilantro and lime juice. If you like Chipotle Barbacoa, you are going to love this recipe!

Instant Pot Barbacoa

Instant Pot Barbacoa

This Instant Pot version of my Slow Cooker Barbacoa recipe is just as flavorful and tender as the original and is done in a fraction of the time. A good quality chuck roast, seared on both sides and seasoned with a blend of traditional mexican spices. Once the barbacoa is finished cooking, top with fresh lime juice and cilantro to enhance and brighten the flavors. The acid from the lime juice and the freshness of the cilantro cuts through the richness of the meat and is absolutely delicious together.

Seasoned chuck roast in Instant Pot

How to Make Instant Pot Barbacoa

  • Start with a good quality chuck roast. For best results, let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before searing to take the chill off the beef.
  • In a 6 QT Instant Pot, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil on Sauté mode. Sear chuck roast on both sides.
  • Remove seared roast and rub all over with seasoning mixture.
  • Deglaze Instant Pot with 1 cup of low-sodium beef broth.
  • Add seasoned and seared chuck roast back to Instant Pot and set to High Pressure for 1:30 hours (90 minutes on older Instant Pot models)
  • Let Instant Pot Natural Pressure Release, this will ensure that the meat is tender.
  • Use two forks to shred meat and top with fresh lime juice and freshly chopped cilantro.
Cooked Barbacoa Beef in Instant Pot

Recipe Tips

  • I’ve noticed that my newer 6QT Instant Pot does a better job at searing than my original model from a few years ago. If you aren’t impressed with the searing on your Instant Pot, you can also sear this in a large skillet on the stove-top. Then transfer to Instant Pot.
  • The Instant Pot does a great job of tenderizing the meat, but it doesn’t melt the fat away as well as a low and slow method. If you have a roast with excess fat, try trimming some of it off before searing, or choose a chuck roast that has more even marbling of fat throughout. Alternatively, you can just remove any excess fat after cooking, but before serving.
  • Great as a main dish, on tacos, tostadas or burritos.
Barbacoa Beef served with avocados, fresh limes, salsa and tortillas.
5 from 12 votes
Print
Instant Pot Barbacoa
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 30 mins
Natural Pressure Release
20 mins
Total Time
2 hrs
 

Tender fall apart beef loaded with traditional mexican spices and finished with fresh cilantro and lime juice.

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Barbacoa, Barbacoa Recipe, Instant Pot Barbacoa
Servings: 6
Calories: 376 kcal
Author: Melissa
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2.5 pound chuck roast
  • 1 cup beef broth low sodium
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 lime
  • cilantro chopped for garnish
Instructions
  1. For best results, let chuck roast sit a room temperature for at least 30 minutes before searing.

  2. Set Instant Pot to Sauté function and make sure you hit adjust until the more light is lit. That indicates it is heating at the highest setting. Heat vegtable oil until hot, then sear chuck roast on both sides.

  3. While chuck roast is searing, combine salt, pepper, and seasonings in a small bowl. Remove roast from Instant Pot and season chuck roast all over.

  4. Deglaze Instant Pot with beef broth, then return roast to Instant Pot and set to cook at High Pressure for 1:30 hours (display will read 90 minutes for older model Instant Pots). Once Instant Pot has finished cooking, let barbacoa Natural Pressure Release. Once the pin drops, remove lid and shred barbacoa. Squeeze juice from fresh lime over meat and sprinkle with fresh cilantro.

Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Barbacoa
Amount Per Serving
Calories 376 Calories from Fat 216
% Daily Value*
Fat 24g37%
Saturated Fat 12g75%
Cholesterol 130mg43%
Sodium 1100mg48%
Potassium 706mg20%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 37g74%
Vitamin A 584IU12%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 46mg5%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

5 Easy Dinner Ideas for Busy Weeknights

My five FAVORITE recipes for busy families!

  • Quick to make
  • Light on your budget
  • Easy to clean-up
  • and...most important...absolutely DELICIOUS


Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Filed Under: Beef, Dinner, Instant Pot, Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker, Mexican

Previous Post: « Single Serving Chocolate Chip Cookies
Next Post: Lemondoodles – Brown Butter Lemon Snickerdoodles »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anna

    May 18, 2020 at 10:21 am

    5 stars
    We had this for dinner today and it was a huge hit! Another Instant Pot winner dinner!

    Reply
  2. Natalie

    May 18, 2020 at 10:58 am

    5 stars
    Tender, juicy, & so flavorful! This is great for so many dishes!

    Reply
  3. Cyd

    May 18, 2020 at 11:20 am

    5 stars
    My husband and two teenage boys went crazy over this! Such an awesome way to make barbacoa in the Instant Pot.

    Reply
  4. K

    January 25, 2021 at 8:58 am

    5 stars
    This recipe is ahhhhmazing! Even better day 2 if it lasts that long!

    Reply
  5. Katie

    February 17, 2021 at 11:57 am

    5 stars
    This looks so amazing! Can’t wait to try this one.

    Reply
  6. Lily

    February 17, 2021 at 12:16 pm

    5 stars
    This was incredible, tender and juicy, this made for the best taco night 🤤

    Reply
  7. Jennifer

    February 17, 2021 at 1:42 pm

    5 stars
    My husband and I LOVE this recipe! So versatile and simply delicious!!

    Reply
  8. Sarah Hernandez

    April 3, 2021 at 2:52 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve made this for my husband’s Salvadoran family and everyone loves it. My husband say it’s just like what his aunt makes and is very reminiscent for him. I’ve made it for other friends and family, and shared the recipe with others and I’ve never heard anyone say they don’t love it! I make it for you almost every month!

    Reply
  9. Lauren

    July 23, 2021 at 6:54 am

    5 stars
    This is one of the best instant pot recipes I have ever made. Highly recommend to any and everyone!

    Reply
  10. Betsy

    February 23, 2022 at 7:38 pm

    5 stars
    So juicy & tender it just falls apart! Love all the flavor! This is absolutely incredible! All my tacos need to be barbacoa now! YUM!!!

    Reply
  11. Gina Ceraso

    February 24, 2022 at 3:58 am

    5 stars
    Wow, the texture is just perfect! My husband went crazy for this!

    Reply
  12. Erin

    February 24, 2022 at 4:18 am

    5 stars
    We just had this for lunch! It was so flavorful and I loved how easy it is! Will make again.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

Welcome to No. 2 Pencil where you will find original recipes, fresh craft ideas, and easy home decor ideas.

Read More

5 Easy Dinner Ideas for Busy Weeknights

My MOST POPULAR dinner recipes for busy nights.

Get them free . . . just sign-up below!

Archives

© Copyright 2018 Number 2 Pencil · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Log in