Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Chipotle's Barbacoa Beef Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What cut of beef is Chipotle's barbacoa? ›

Round and round we go When it comes to beef, it's not just the quality that matters - it's the cut, too. Our Barbacoa mainly comes from the shoulder, because those cuts have enough fat to keep the meat moist during our long braising method, making the end result seriously juicy and tender.

The barbacoa at Chipotle is made with beef.

The end result of the long, slow cooking process is flavorful, juicy meat that is savory and spicy, with a tender texture that is easily shreddable. Barbacoa practically melts in your mouth!

It's a mixture of garlic, onion, lime juice, apple cider vinegar (I looove the tang it gives this – it really cuts the richness of the beef!), chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and a littttle bit of ground cloves.

Their key flavor differences come from the type of meat they're made with, and the spices and seasonings Chipotle uses to jazz them up. Both types offer slowly braised and shredded meat, but carnitas are made from pork and a bit sweeter while barbacoa is made from beef and is spicier.

If you're looking for a healthy balance of fat, protein, and carbs, your best meat options would be plain grilled chicken, steak, or barbacoa. Between those options, they include no more than 7 grams (g) of fat, at least 21g of protein, and no more than 2g of carbs.

In the US, people typically make barbacoa with chuck roast, brisket and beef cheeks. However, any cut of beef that has a lot of connective tissue and takes a long time to cook until tender works well.

WHAT IS CARNE ASADA? This tender steak is hand-seasoned with our signature blend of spices, finished with fresh lime juice and cilantro, hand-sliced before serving, and grilled fresh every day in small batches. Our steak has high standards—in how it's raised, prepared, and served.

PROTEIN. When choosing a protein source you have the option to choose from meats or tofu. the chicken, steak, barbacoa, and carnitas pack between 170-190 calories and 24-32 grams of protein. Chicken and steak rank similar in the amount of nutrients and have the highest amount of protein.

Serve barbacoa beef with salad and your choice of side (yellow rice, tortillas, black beans, Mexican street corn, etc). Enjoy! If meal prepping, divide beef and rice evenly between six meal prep containers. Store salad separately.

Why is barbacoa healthy? ›

In addition to its delicious flavor, barbacoa is also a great source of nutrients. The slow cooking process helps to retain the meat's natural juices, which makes it moist and flavorful. The spices used to season the meat also have health benefits, such as helping to reduce inflammation and improve digestion.

Etymology. The Taíno term barbacoa means “framework of sticks” and it was applied to a wide range of wooden structures, including a raised wooden grill for roasting and smoking foods In Mexico, the term barbacoa was applied to the pit or earth oven used by the local indigenous people for cooking food.

Steak: According to Chipotle's customer service, the “beef” in their steak could be any number of cuts including part of the loin, ball tip, round steak, flat iron steak, top butt, clod, or knuckle.

There isn't a huge range of calories in this category—the lowest are steak and sofritas (both with 150 calories) and the highest is carnitas (210 calories). We say go ahead and order your favorite; however, keep an eye on the sodium content, which is pretty high in these ingredients.

Steak: According to Chipotle's customer service, the “beef” in their steak could be any number of cuts including part of the loin, ball tip, round steak, flat iron steak, top butt, clod, or knuckle.

In the U.S., barbacoa is often prepared with parts from the heads of cattle, such as the cheeks. In northern Mexico, it is also sometimes made from beef head, but more often it is prepared from goat meat (cabrito).

Best beef for Beef Barbacoa: Beef cheeks

The Tex-Mex version tends to use beef cheeks. This cut yields pulled beef that is outrageously tender but also remains succulent and juicy, thanks to the fine fat marbling and ample connective tissue that breaks down with slow cooking into rich, lip-sticking gelatin.

To make our Carnitas, we season the pork with an aromatic spice blend, then braise and shred it by hand. The result? Meat that's fall-apart-in-your-burrito tender.