What is Beef at Chipotle? A Guide to Their Slow-Cooked, Flavorful Meat

Chipotle is known for their delicious, Mexican-inspired burritos, bowls, tacos, and more. One of the most popular proteins at Chipotle is their incredibly flavorful barbacoa beef. But what exactly is this shredded beef that Chipotle fans can’t get enough of? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the succulent barbacoa at Chipotle.

An Overview of Beef at Chipotle

The beef served at Chipotle comes in the form of barbacoa, a classic Mexican dish of slow-cooked meat. Specifically, Chipotle’s barbacoa is made from beef shoulder that has been braised until melt-in-your-mouth tender and full of rich, complex flavors.

Here are some key facts about Chipotle’s barbacoa beef:

• It is always “responsibly raised” without antibiotics or added hormones

• Cuts like beef shoulder and chuck roast are used for their ideal fat-to-lean ratio.

• Simple seasonings like salt, oregano, and chili peppers are used.

• Cooking techniques like sous vide and braising make it incredibly tender.

• The beef is shredded by hand for serving.

Let’s take a deeper look into how Chipotle makes their famous barbacoa so delicious and craveable.

Responsibly Raised Beef

Chipotle has strict standards for sourcing meat humanely. Their website states:

“We’re committed to serving meat that comes from animals raised with care. Meaning animals that are raised without the use of non-therapeutic antibiotics or added hormones.”

Specifically, all their beef cattle are:

• Raised without antibiotics or added hormones

• Fed a vegetarian diet

• Allowed to roam in pastures or deeply bedded barns

• Treated humanely from birth through processing

This focus on ethically raised beef ensures top quality and flavor in every bite.

The Perfect Cut

When braising meat for hours, the cut is crucial for ideal texture. For their barbacoa, Chipotle mainly uses beef shoulder, also called chuck roast. This cut has the right amount of fat marbling to keep the meat moist and tender. Other good braising cuts are brisket, short ribs, and shank.

A Two-Step Cooking Process

Chipotle uses a special two-step process to transform the beef into fork-tender barbacoa:

Sous Vide: First, the meat is sealed and cooked sous vide to an exact temperature. This tenderizes the meat and seals in moisture.

Braising: Next, the beef cooks low and slow in a small amount of liquid for up to 10 hours until fall-apart tender.

Simple, Bold Seasoning

Chipotle seasons their beef with a simple blend of dried chilies, garlic, Mexican oregano, cumin, and bay leaves. This builds incredible depth of flavor.

The barbacoa has notes of:

• Savory, beefy flavor
• Smokiness from dried peppers
• Subtle sweetness
• Tangy garlic and citrus
• Earthy oregano
• Mild heat

This balanced, complex flavor profile is what makes it so craveable.

Fork-Tender Texture

Thanks to the long cooking times, the barbacoa beef is incredibly tender. It shreds apart easily, making it perfect for burritos, bowls, tacos, and more. You get moist, juicy shreds of beef in every bite.

Nutrition

A 4-ounce serving of barbacoa contains:

• 200 calories
• 24g protein
• 8g fat
• 0g carbs

It’s a high-protein, low-carb choice with healthy fats to keep you satisfied. The barbacoa fits nicely into a balanced Chipotle meal.

How to Order Barbacoa at Chipotle

You have lots of options for enjoying luscious barbacoa beef at Chipotle:

• Burrito bowl – Customize with rice, beans, salsas, veggies, and more.

• Burrito – Stuffed with classic fillings like rice, cheese, and sour cream.

• Tacos – Three soft flour or crunchy corn tortillas.

• Salad – Load up a salad bowl with barbacoa, beans, salsa, and fresh toppings.

• Quesadilla – Melty cheese quesadilla filled with tender barbacoa.

Any Chipotle menu item is elevated by adding their insanely tender and flavorful barbacoa beef.

Why Fans Love Chipotle’s Barbacoa

It’s easy to see why barbacoa has earned its reputation as a Chipotle fan favorite:

• Ethically raised beef
• Full-flavored cuts like chuck roast
• Complex yet simple seasoning
• Insane tenderness from braising
• Bold, craveable smoky flavor

Their dedication to quality and tradition shines through in each tasty bite of this Mexican classic.

So next time you’re at Chipotle, go ahead and add a scoop or two of their amazing barbacoa beef. Your tastebuds will thank you!