Instant Pot Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa Beef (Keto, Low Carb)

This Instant Pot Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa beef tastes just like the traditional and it’s even better knowing it’s keto and low carb! Slow cooker method is also provided below!

What is Barbacoa Beef ?

Barbacoa beef is a traditional Mexican dish made from cow, goat or lamb and typically slow cooked with various spices, especially adobo chilis!

It has become quite popular if you’ve frequented a Chipotle restaurant and tried it. My homemade recipe is just as flavorful and delicious and made quicker in the Instant Pot, but just as tender and moist!

How to Make Barbacoa in the Instant Pot

The Instant Pot is one of the best ways to get that slow cooked and tender meat you’re looking for in less than half the time it would typically take if slow cooked.

Pressure cooking today in the Instant pot is also a whole lot easier than the way I learned from my grandmother and mother using the old fashioned pressure cookers that jiggled and hissed the entire time they cooked!

You’re also less likely to have an explosion with the new Instant Pots as what could have happened back in the day. As long as you follow the instructions in the recipe below, you will have a fool proof and fail proof tender succulent beef that you can enjoy in tortillas, or make a bowl with cauliflower rice!

Directions

Add the oil to the instant pot and press “saute” setting. Once heated, add the roast and brown on each side. While it’s browning, make the sauce.

Add all remaining ingredients into a blender and blend on high until smooth. Once the meat is browned, pour sauce over it. Cover the instant pot and pressure cook on high for 60 minutes.

Allow to naturally release by turning off the pot. Leave alone and wait until the float valve has gone down which could take up to 30 minutes. Once depressurized, remove cover and shred meat with two forks.

Serve with my “For Real” Tortillas from my new cookbook, Naturally Keto or add it to a bowl with cauliflower rice and additional toppings like cheese, sour cream, avocado, salsa.

Low Carb Instant Pot Recipes

I love using my instant pot for various recipes when i really don’t have the time to prep a meal in my slow cooker in the morning. Here are some other Instant Pot recipes you might like:

“For Real” Paleo Keto Tortillas

Finally, a real tortilla thatโ€™s soft and pliable and wonโ€™t break apart when you fill it, and itโ€™s not eggy tasting, either. I canโ€™t tell you how many attempts it took to perfect these. It was at least fifteenโ€”no kidding!

And not only are they like Real Tortillas, they are also DAIRY FREE and NUT FREE! The flavor is out of this world, not bland at all! This recipe is in my cookbook, Naturally Keto. 

Naturally Keto Cookbook

Inside my keto cookbook you will find:

  • Over 125+ low carb, ketogenic, high fat recipes
  • 50 plus Dairy Free Recipes and many with Dairy Free-Options
  • 75 Egg-Free Recipes
  • Over 115 that are nut free!
  • A beautiful photograph for EVERY SINGLE RECIPE!
  • Nutritional information for every recipe
  • Step-By-Step Instructions
  • Recipes labeled Dairy free, Nut Free, Stove Top, 30 minutes or less
  • Storage and prepping instructions
  • A beginner’s guide to keto
  • Tips on dealing with a reluctant spouse
  • Fool proof recipes for entertaining a non-keto crowd
  • How to swap ingredients for allergies
  • 4 week meal plans (including a dairy free week)!

Whether youโ€™re just trying to remove sugar from your life, or just learning to eat low carb or even if youโ€™ve been doing keto for a long time, Naturally Keto will bring you recipes that satisfy and inspire you, that even the novice cook can make with nothing too complicated or fancy or hard to find ingredients. This book provides you keto friendly family meals that everyone will love, even the picky ones.

How to Make Barbacoa in Slow Cooker

If you don’t have an Instant Pot you can still make this tender barbacoa in your slow cooker.

Directions

Add the oil to a large skillet on the stove over medium high heat. Once heated, add the roast and brown on each side. While it’s browning, make the sauce.

Add all remaining ingredients into a blender and blend on high until smooth. Once the meat is browned place it into your slow cooker. Pour sauce over it. Cover and cook on high for 4-6 or until tender and you are able to shred easily with a fork or low for 8-10 hours.

Keto Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef

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5 from 2 votes

Instant Pot Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa Beef (Keto, Low Carb)

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Servings: 8 servings @ 4 ounces
Calories: 249kcal
Author: Brenda Bennett/SugarFreeMom

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add the oil to the instant pot and press "saute" setting. Once heated, add the roast and brown on each side. While it's browning, make the sauce.
  • Add all remaining ingredients into a blender and blend on high until smooth. Once the meat is browned, pour sauce over it. Cover the instant pot and pressure cook on high for 60 minutes.
  • Allow to naturally release by turning off the pot. Leave alone and wait until the float valve has gone down which could take up to 30 minutes. Once depressurized, remove cover and shred meat with two forks.
  • Serve with my "For Real" Tortillas from my new cookbook, Naturally Keto or add it to a bowl with cauliflower rice and additional toppings like cheese, sour cream, avocado, salsa.
  • If you don't have an Instant Pot you can make this in the slow cooker. Instructions are above within the post.

Notes

Net Carbs: 1g
This recipe was first published in Sept. 2019.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving @ 1/2 cup | Calories: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 706mg | Potassium: 401mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 118IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @sugarfreemom and tag #sugarfreemom, I’d love to see your dish!
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About Brenda

Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.

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16 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! Stumbled upon sugarfree mom this past weekend and have made 3 of the recipes. All were outstanding! Tomorrow is her chicken chili and we canโ€™t wait!

  2. Hi!

    May I ask if it is possible to use a dutch oven to cook your Instant Pot Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa Beef (Keto, Low Carb)? And how long should I cook in Dutch oven?

    Thanks
    Evonne

    1. A Dutch oven is similar to a slow cooker so I would imagine low heat maybe 325 degrees F for 4-6 hours then check if its fork tender.

  3. First re ipe I tried in my new InstaPot. Heck kinda bought the instant pot to try the recipe. Do not regret. Served with the suggested tortillas, lettuce and avocados. Cheese and sour cream would do well for those choosing dairy.

  4. Brenda, Your recipes always work! My husband and daughter need to be gluten free, and I need to be “keto,” so I rely on your blog for wonderful recipes. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve made the Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse. It’s amazing. First time, I didn’t think it would work. But, it did, and it always does! Now I’m going to make this Barbacoa beef, but I don’t have an Instant Pot. I’m going to try it in a slow cooker, and hope for the best. Thank you for your tireless pursuit of wonderful, healthy recipes, and your generosity in sharing them with the world. Bless you and your family, Cass

    1. How did the Barbacoa Beef turn out using the crock pot? I donโ€™t have an Instant Pot either. Thanks!

  5. I made this tonight for my husband and myself. It was packed with rich flavors and delicious. Best of all it was easy and I did serve with organic riced cauliflower from Costco and a can of organic black beans from Trader Joes. I will make it again. I used a boneless lamb roast cut in chunks, it worked out just fine. Thanks again for a really great recipe. I have the instant pot mini , it worked very well..

5 from 2 votes

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