Instant Pot Barbacoa Recipes

INSTANT POT BARBACOA BEEF

Steps:

• Brown Chuck Roast Steak: Heat up Instant Pot using "Sauté More" function, then wait until it says "HOT". Pat dry the chuck roast steak, then season one side generously with salt and black pepper. Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil in the inner pot, and ensure to coat the oil over the whole bottom of the pot. Place the seasoned side of chuck steak in Instant Pot. Generously season the other side with salt and black pepper. Brown one side for 5 minutes, then flip beef to brown the other side for another 5 minutes. Remove the browned chuck steak, and set aside.
• Saute Onion and Garlic: Add minced onions in Instant Pot, and saute for 3 minutes. Add in minced garlic, 1½ tsp (3g) ground cumin, ¼ tsp (0.4g) ground cloves, 2 bay leaves, and 2 tsp (1.3g) dried oregano, then saute for another minute.
• Deglaze Instant Pot: Pour in 1 cup (250ml) unsalted chicken stock, then deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom. Give it a quick mix.
• Pressure Cook Barbacoa Beef: Add 1 tbsp (15ml) regular soy sauce, 1 tbsp (15ml) fish sauce (optional), 2 tbsp (30ml) apple cider vinegar, and 2 - 3 chipotles with 2 tbsp adobo sauces in Instant Pot, then give it a quick mix. *Spicy Tip: Adjust the amount of chipotles based on your spicy preference.*Pro Tip: Use the wooden spoon to smash the chipotles a bit. Place chuck roast in the cooking liquid. With Venting Knob in Venting Position, close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position. Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 45 minutes, then 15 minutes Natural Release. Remove the lid carefully.
• Season & Thicken Barbacoa Sauce: Place chuck roast steak in a large mixing bowl and shred the meat with 2 forks. *Pro Tip: While you're shredding the meat, bring the barbacoa sauce mixture to a simmer with the "Saute More" function. Allow the sauce to reduce while you are shredding the beef. *Pro Tip: You can blend the sauce with an immersion blender for a smoother sauce with some extra body. Add the shredded beef in Instant Pot. Taste and adjust the seasoning by adding more salt (roughly 1 - 2 pinches of salt).
• Garnish & Serve: Place the Beef Barbacoa on warm corn tortillas with a spoonful of salsa. Finish it with a squeeze of lime. Enjoy~

ULTIMATE INSTANT POT BEEF BARBACOA

Steps:

• Add all chipotle sauce ingredients to a food processor or blender, and process until smooth. Set aside.
• Trim visible large sections of fat from roast, then cut roast into 6-8 large pieces. Season beef with 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper.
• Add vegetable oil to Instant Pot and select "Saute". When hot, add beef and cook for a minute or so on each side, until browned. Depending on the size of your beef, you may need to do this in batches.
• Remove browned beef to a plate and add onion. Saute for 2-3 minutes, until soft.
• Add in 1 cup beef broth and scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to remove any browned bits. Add in tomato paste, green chiles and bay leaves.
• Press "Cancel - or Keep Warm/Cancel". Return browned beef to the pot and pour pureed chipotle sauce over the top. Top with both halves of the lime.
• Close lid securely and make sure the valve is set to "sealing". Select "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" and adjust the +/- button until it reads 60 minutes.
• When finished cooking, carefully turn the valve to "venting" for a quick pressure release. When the steam has all escaped, and the pin has dropped, remove the lid and discard bay leaves.
• Remove beef pieces to a large bowl and shred, discarding any purely fat parts.
• Toss shredded beef with as much of the cooking liquid as you'd like.
• In a small bowl, stir together 2 Tbsp cornstarch with 3 Tbsp water until smooth. Pour this mixture into the pot with the sauce and select "saute".
• Cook for several minutes, stirring often, until thickened to your tastes.
• Toss shredded beef with as much of the thickened sauce as you'd like.
• Line a baking sheet with foil, and preheat broiler to high, adjusting oven rack to the upper third position.
• Spread shredded beef into an even layer, then broil several minutes. Stir. Continue broiling and stirring until crisped and charred to your liking.

INSTANT POT BARBACOA BEEF

Steps:

• Combine beer, garlic, chipotles, onion, green chiles, lime juice, vinegar, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and cloves in a blender or food processor. Purée for 30 seconds, or until completely smooth. Set aside.
• Press the "Sauté" setting on the Instant Pot. Add oil. Then once it is heated and shimmering, add the roast and sear - turning every 45-60 seconds or so - until the roast is browned on all sides. Press "Cancel" to turn off the heat.
• Add the bay leaves and pureed sauce, and briefly toss everything until the roast is evenly coated in the sauce. Close lid securely and set vent to "Sealing".
• Press "Manual", then press "Pressure" until the light on "High Pressure" lights up, then adjust the +/- buttons until time reads 60 minutes. Cook. Then very carefully, turn the vent to "Venting" for quick release, and wait until all of the steam has released and the valve has dropped.
• Remove the lid, and discard the bay leaves.
• Using two forks, shred the beef into bite-sized pieces. Give the beef one more good toss in all of those juices so that it can soak them up.
• Serve warm, or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

INSTANT POT® BRISKET BARBACOA WITH POBLANO PEPPERS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Season both sides of the brisket with salt and pepper.
• Combine red onion, chipotle peppers, cilantro, orange juice, lime juice, adobo sauce, garlic, cumin, oregano, and cinnamon in a blender. Blend until chipotle sauce is smooth.
• Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. When display shows Hot, add 2 tablespoons avocado oil. Using tongs, place a brisket half into the pot and sear, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer meat to a plate and set aside. Repeat with remaining brisket half.
• Add 1/4 cup beef broth to Instant Pot® and deglaze using a wooden spoon to scrape up any brown bits. Select Cancel to turn it off. Return brisket pieces to the pot. Pour chipotle sauce mixture over the brisket. Pour remaining beef broth on top and add bay leaves. Place lid on the Instant Pot® and set valve to Sealing. Select Meat/Stew setting on and set timer for 1 hour.
• Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, 20 to 30 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid.
• Remove meat to a platter and shred the meat with 2 forks. Remove bay leaves from Instant Pot®. Remove 2 cups of liquid from the pot and set aside; discard remaining liquid. Add reserved liquid to the pot and return shredded meat. Leave on Warm setting until ready to serve.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining avocado oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add poblano peppers and white onion and saute until tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Serve meat with poblano peppers and onion on top.

INSTANT POT BEEF BARBACOA TACOS

Steps:

• Whisk together the vinegar, lime juice, garlic, chipotle, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, and cloves in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Press Sauté and use the Sauté or Adjust button to select the highest temperature ("More"). Place the vegetable oil in the inner pot. Wait until the display reads "Hot," about 5 minutes, then add the beef. Cook with the lid off, turning the beef every 2 minutes, until the beef is browned on most sides, about 8 minutes.
• Add the vinegar sauce and the chicken broth (be careful-steam may whoosh up!), and then the bay leaves. Stir to combine.
• Close and lock the lid. Set the valve to Sealing. Press Cancel, then press Manual or Pressure Cook and use the Pressure or Pressure Level button to select High Pressure. Use the - or + button to set the time to 30 minutes.
• When the cooking cycle ends, press Cancel. Allow the appliance to cool and release pressure naturally, about 20 minutes. (The pressure is released when the small metal float valve next to the pressure-release valve sinks back into the lid and the lid is no longer locked.)
• Remove the lid. Discard the bay leaves. Use tongs or a large spoon to remove the beef from the inner pot and place it on a cutting board. Shred the beef using two forks: Use one fork to pull off a chunk and then use two forks to shred that piece, holding down the meat with one fork and pulling at it with the other. Repeat with the remaining beef.
• Serve the beef hot, piled into corn tortillas and topped with salsa and a sprinkling of Cotija cheese, if desired.