Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef (Chipotle Copycat)
These Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef Burrito Bowls are just like the kind you get at Chipotle! By using a natural pressure release, the beef stays tender, flavourful and delicious!
What is the meat in Chipotle Barbacoa?
Authentic Mexican barbacoa beef is made from either the head of a cow or sometimes, chunks of goat meat are used. In the United States., some Mexican restaurants make barbacoa using beef cheeks rather than using the entire head of the cow. Neither Chipotle's barbacoa or this Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef recipe use any part of a cow's head.
Instead, Chipotle makes their barbacoa beef using a beef shoulder, and our recipe calls for stewing beef, which usually comes from cuts of beef chuck or round.
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Can you freeze barbacoa beef?
Fortunately, this spicy shredded beef freezes beautifully, making it the perfect choice for meal prep dinners like a beef burrito bowl!
Actually, there are a lot of ways to use barbacoa beef. Of course, you can use it to make traditional Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. For something a little different, use barbacoa beef to make loaded baked potatoes, a pot of soup, or add some of the beef to an omelet.
Is a burrito bowl healthy?
When making any type of burrito bowl, it can be easy to go overboard with ingredients that are high in calories and fat. For healthier Instant Pot barbacoa beef burrito bowls, consider making some of these easy ingredient swaps:
- Choose leaner cuts of beef, like beef sirloin. For the best flavor of barbacoa beef, use a cut that has at least some fat. If you make it with a beef shoulder, trim away some of the excess fat.
- Use cheeses that are lower in fat.
- Swap out full-fat sour cream for a healthier choice. Light or non-fat sour cream or even yogurt will make the dish healthier.
- Make some cauliflower rice to use in the barbacoa beef bowls. Making them with cauliflower rice instead of traditional rice will lower the calories and carbs in your burrito bowl.
Do you eat burrito bowls cold?
When you get Chipotle barbacoa beef burrito bowls, items like the beef and rice are hot while toppings like lettuce, cheese, and pico de gallo, are cold. So, how do you serve meal prep burrito bowls the same way? No worries, it's easy!
If you want to be able to pack barbacoa beef burrito bowls for meal prep lunches, just place the beef and rice into a small, microwaveable container. Place that container inside of your meal prep container. When you're ready to eat, you just need to microwave the beef and rice for about 2 minutes, then add it into the container with your cold ingredients. Toss to combine and you'll be ready to eat!
Other Mexican meal prep recipes to try:
- Meal Prep Individual Taco Pizza
- Crockpot Chicken Tacos with Pineapple Salsa
- The Best Carne Asada Fries (Loaded Fries)
Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan to use the Instant Pot barbacoa beef in lunches for the week.
I get all my free-range chicken and grass-fed beef from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef (Chipotle Copycat)
Ingredients
For barbacoa
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 lbs stewing beef
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 chipotle pepper, minced
- 2 tbsp adobo sauce (from the can of chipotles)
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp paprika
- 3/4 cup beef broth
- 1/2 tsp each salt & pepper
For bowls
- Store-bought fresh salsa or pico de gallo
- Guacamole
- Lettuce
- Cheese
- sour cream
- cilantro
Rice
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup dry rice
- 1 tsp butter
Instructions
- Add all ingredients for barbacoa to Instant Pot in order that they are listed. Place lid on Instant Pot and make sure valve is set to seal.
- Press the pressure cook button and set to high, then cook for 2 minutes. Instant Pot will take about 10-20 minutes to come to pressure then pressure cook the 2 minutes.
- Do a natural pressure release, then open lid when pressure gauge has dropped and lid opens easily (should take about 20 minutes).
- Meanwhile, make rice in a rice cooker and assemble ingredients for bowls.
- When pressure has released, shred beef and then serve with rice and other desired toppings. Enjoy!
Linda says
There is no way the beef will properly cook in 2 minutes at high pressure. Stew beef will take at least 30, probably 40 minutes. Has this recipe been tested?
Taylor Stinson says
Hi Linda – I’ve made and tested this recipe a couple of times now. I can assure you that it does cook within the 2 minutes on high pressure. The beef is cut up into 1-inch chunks and the Instant Pot will take 10-20 minutes to come to pressure, as well as 20 minutes to naturally release pressure, and all during that time the beef is cooking.
Michelle says
Ah- I was wondering how it cooks so fast; didn’t see to chunk it up on recipe. I’m going to try this tonight!! Thank you ☺
Lin says
Hi looking forward to trying this – looks fab! Just wondering if using beef cheeks should I adjust the cooking time?
Taylor Stinson says
Hey Lin! I would assume beef cheeks would work here, I’m not sure about adjusting the cooking time. The beef will end up cooking for 30-40 minutes between the preheat time, pressure cook time and natural pressure release time so I assume it should be fine but you can always adjust to 5 minutes pressure cook time if you’re unsure! It will also depend on whether the meat is cut into chunks (it cooks faster this way so adjust accordingly for a large piece of meat not cut up)
Manju says
Hello, how would you prepare the Cauliflower rice as a substitute? Thank you!
Taylor Stinson says
Hey Manju – you may have to google cauliflower rice recipes. As far as I’m aware you can just buy it already riced up in a bag and then saute for 5-10 minutes.
Jen says
2 minutes on high pressure wasn’t enough to shred the meat. I cooked it for another 2 minutes and it was perfect. Next time I’ll do 4 min with 20 NR. Substituted cilantro riced cauliflower for the rice and added black beans on top the riced cauliflower. We will make this again.
Taylor Stinson says
I’m sorry you didn’t feel 2 minutes was enough Jen but glad another 2 minutes did it for you. Wondering if we have different sized Instant Pots. Glad you liked it!
Julie says
what size IP was this done in? I have an 8 quart–trying it out for the first time tonight. Wondering if I should set it for 2 or 4 minutes?
Taylor Stinson says
I cooked it in a 6-qrt! You should be fine for the 2 minutes in an 8-qrt but could try 4 minutes in case!
Mike says
Does your calorie count at the end of the recipe include the bowls all put together (rice, cheese, sourcream) or is that just the barbacoa? Thanks!
Taylor Stinson says
Yes it does, toppings and rice included 🙂
Elizabeth says
I made this today and it is Amazing!!!
Even my super picky daughter loved it..
Next time I’m doubling this!!
Thank you so much for creating this!!
Taylor Stinson says
So happy you enjoyed Elizabeth!! 🙂
Tamara says
Made the same recipe in the instant pot before and it was amazing. I actually substituted with venison. Wondering if you would be able to use this recipe in the Crock-Pot?
Taylor Stinson says
Hey Tamara – I’m sure you could! Try cooking it on low for 8 hours, that should work 🙂
Shelly says
Yum, Yum, Yum!!! I was browsing Pinterest for Instant Pot recipes and came across this. Rushed out to the store for the ingredients, threw them in the pot, and am now rubbing my ridiculously full tummy!! I set it for 2 minutes, but let it sit for longer than 20 minutes afterwards (got busy). The meat was perfect. I do wish I had been ready with everything else at the 20 minute mark as the temperature would have been a touch hotter. In terms of spicy, I might add a second chipotle chile next time. We are a family that likes our nose running and our eyes watering. 🙂
Thank you for a fab recipe!!
Taylor Stinson says
So happy you enjoyed Shelly!!! This one is one of my faves…letting the meat sit would have let it become more tender. Next time you can always do a natural pressure release so you still get the benefit of letting the meat sit but it remains hot. In any case, so happy you liked it 🙂
Karen says
Has anyone made this with chicken breast? I will make with beef but just wanted to see if changing the meat would be another way of making this. Thanks
Taylor Stinson says
Chicken would taste great with this recipe too! Timing shouldn’t change either 🙂