What is Barbacoa Beef at Chipotle?

Barbacoa beef is one of the most popular protein choices at Chipotle Mexican Grill. But what exactly is barbacoa and how is Chipotle’s version made? Here’s a comprehensive look at what barbacoa beef is and how it becomes the tasty meat you know and love at Chipotle.

What is Barbacoa?

Barbacoa is a form of slow-cooked meat that originated in the Caribbean but became popular in Mexico. The word “barbacoa” comes from the Caribbean Taino word for cooking meat over hot coals on a wooden frame.

Traditionally, barbacoa was made by digging a hole in the ground, placing a whole goat or sheep (later cows were used) in the hole, and covering it with maguey leaves. Hot coals were placed on top and the meat was slow-cooked for hours resulting in very tender, flavorful meat.

Modern versions are often made by braising meat in a pot with liquid for hours until tender and shreddable. Spices and chili peppers are used to give great flavor. Common meats used are beef, lamb, and goat. The term barbacoa now applies to any slow-cooked, shredded meat dish.

What Cut of Beef is Used for Barbacoa?

Chipotle uses shoulder clod for their barbacoa beef The shoulder clod comes from the chuck section of the cow. It’s sometimes referred to as a boneless chuck roast

The shoulder clod contains a good amount of fat marbling which helps keep the meat moist and flavorful during the long cooking process It’s also a fairly inexpensive cut. This helps Chipotle balance cost while still delivering tasty beef barbacoa

How is Chipotle’s Barbacoa Beef Made?

Chipotle goes through an extensive process to turn regular shoulder clod into meltingly tender barbacoa beef:

• The beef shoulder clod is first sous vide cooked. Sous vide involves vacuum sealing meat in a bag then cooking it to an exact temperature in a precision water bath. This helps tenderize the meat and lock in moisture.

• Next, the beef is marinated overnight in a chipotle pepper adobo sauce. Adobo sauce contains chipotle peppers (smoked jalapeños), tomatoes, garlic, vinegar and spices. This gives great flavor and some heat.

• The marinated beef then goes into a braise. It’s cooked low and slow in a mild sauce containing tomatillos, garlic, bay leaves, oregano, cumin, and cloves.

• After hours of braising, the beef is so tender it shreds apart easily with two forks. It’s shredded by hand before serving.

• The barbacoa beef is kept warm and moist for serving by placing it inCambros. Cambros are commercial grade thermal containers used to hold hot or cold foods at proper temperatures.

What Does Chipotle’s Barbacoa Beef Taste Like?

Chipotle’s barbacoa beef is well-seasoned with aromatic spices and infused with flavors from the adobo and braising liquid. Customers describe it as:

• Very juicy, moist and tender
• Shredds apart easily
• Rich, deep savory flavor
• Nice blend of spices like cumin, oregano, garlic
• Subtle smokiness
• Mild heat from the adobo sauce

The braising and shredding gives the beef a melt-in-your-mouth almost fall apart texture. And the spices, chipotle adobo, and braising create complex layers of savory, earthy flavors with a hint of smoke and heat. It’s easy to see why barbacoa beef is a fan favorite protein choice at Chipotle.

How Can You Use Barbacoa Beef at Chipotle?

One of the great things about barbacoa beef is that it’s extremely versatile:

• Burritos – Barbacoa makes a perfect burrito filling. Pair it with beans, rice, salsa, guacamole, lettuce, cheese or any of your favorite burrito fillings. The tender shredded beef with great flavor is wrapped up in a fresh tortilla for an amazing burrito experience.

• Bowls – You can build delicious bowls with the shreds of spiced, braised barbacoa beef. It goes well with cilantro-lime rice, black beans, salsa, lettuce, cheese and other bowl toppings.

• Tacos – Soft corn or flour tortillas are stuffed with barbacoa beef, onions, cilantro and a squeeze of lime for amazing street taco flavors. Crunchy taco shells can also be filled for more texture.

• Quesadillas – Cheese quesadillas get an upgrade when filled with the rich shredded barbacoa.

• Salads – Barbacoa makes a hearty addition to any salad. Toss it on along with beans, cheese, salsa and guacamole for a filling and nutritious salad.

So no matter if you want a burrito, bowl, tacos or something else, barbacoa beef is a versatile protein option that will upgrade any Chipotle order.

Nutrition Facts for Chipotle Barbacoa

A typical 4 ounce serving of Chipotle barbacoa beef contains:

• 170 calories
• 7g fat
• 24g protein
• 2g carbohydrates
• 1g fiber
• 530mg sodium

So it’s a high protein, low carb option. The sodium content is higher than some other protein choices like chicken or steak. But overall the nutrition profile of barbacoa beef is decent.

Just keep in mind that sodium, calories and other nutrition stats add up quickly once you add on toppings, dressing, chips, etc. Load up on veggies and go easy on heavy toppings like cheese and sour cream to keep your meal balanced.

Is Barbacoa Beef at Chipotle Healthy?

While not the absolute healthiest menu option, barbacoa beef is a reasonably nutritious choice at Chipotle. It’s high in protein, low in carbs, and contains a decent balance of fats. The shredding method also exposes more surface area, allowing for better absorption of the spices, flavors and juices.

Some tips for making your barbacoa order healthier:

• Ask for a single portion. The standard serving is double meat so a single will save calories, fat and sodium.

• Load up on veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and salsa.

• Go easy on the cheese, sour cream and guacamole or skip altogether.

• Choose brown rice over white for more fiber and nutrients.

• Get a salad instead of a massive burrito if you’re watching portions.

• Avoid chips, soda and other extras that add calories.

Following those guidelines creates a pretty balanced meal featuring lean protein, veggies, complex carbs, and healthy fats. So while not the healthiest of the healthy, barbacoa beef can be a sensible option.

How Does Barbacoa Differ from Carnitas at Chipotle?

Carnitas and barbacoa are two of the most popular proteins at Chipotle. So what’s the difference between them?

The main differences are:

• Meat – Barbacoa is beef while carnitas is pork

• Cooking method – Barbacoa is braised while carnitas is slow-cooked then crisped

• Flavor – Barbacoa has a richer, spicier, bolder flavor compared to the milder seasoning of carnitas

• Texture – Barbacoa beef shreds apart while carnitas forms larger tender chunks with crispy bits

• Barbacoa = spicy, shredded beef
• Carnitas = mildly seasoned, chunky and crispy pork

They make for delicious but very different tacos, burritos and bowls based on your preferences for meat, spice-level and texture.

Is the Barbacoa at Chipotle Authentic?

Chipotle’s barbacoa is not completely authentic to traditional Mexican barbacoa. Traditional barbacoa features whole lamb or goat cooked slowly over an open fire in a pit oven. Chipotle uses beef shoulder instead of lamb. And their braising method with sous vide is definitely modern technique rather than traditional.

However, they do follow the philosophy of slow cooking for tenderness. Their blend of spices and adobo marinade gives traditional Mexican flavors. And they stay true to shredding and serving the meat in tacos/burritos.

So while Chipotle’s barbacoa takes some liberties, it keeps enough authentic components to produce Mexican barbacoa that customers love while allowing the operation to work within a large fast-casual chain.

Can You Make Barbacoa at Home?

Absolutely! Making tasty barbacoa at home is totally doable. Here are some tips:

• Choose a beef chuck roast or shoulder roast. Lamb can work too for a more authentic version.

• Create a marinade/braising liquid with smoky dried chiles, garlic, cumin, oregano, cloves, cinnamon and vinegar or lime juice. Tomato paste or broth adds body.

• Brown the meat then braise/cook on low heat for 2-4 hours until fall apart tender.

• Take the meat out and shred with forks.

• Return the shredded meat to the braising liquid to soak up flavors.

• Serve wrapped in warm corn tortillas and topped with onions and cilantro.

With the right cut of meat and chili-spiced braising liquid, you can absolutely achieve delicious homemade barbacoa. Get creative with different dried peppers, spices and cooking vessels like a slow cooker or dutch oven.