Spicy Lamb Barbacoa Tacos

Tender, flavorful lamb, perfect for authentic tacos!

These Spicy Lamb Barbacoa Tacos deliver incredibly tender, flavorful lamb that's perfect for an authentic taco night. The slow cooking process ensures the meat is fall-apart succulent, infused with a rich, smoky, and spicy barbacoa sauce. This recipe is ideal for anyone looking to create a show-stopping meal with minimal hands-on effort, making it a fantastic choice for family dinners or entertaining guests.

Ingredients

• 3 lbs boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 2-inch chunks
• 4 dried guajillo chiles, stems and seeds removed
• 2 dried ancho chiles, stems and seeds removed
• 1 large white onion, roughly chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp adobo sauce (from a can of chipotles in adobo)
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cup beef broth
• Salt to taste
• Corn tortillas, for serving
• Diced white onion, for topping
• Fresh cilantro, chopped, for topping
• Lime wedges, for serving

Instructions

1. Rehydrate chiles: Soak guajillo and ancho chiles in hot water for 20 minutes until softened. Drain.
2. Blend barbacoa paste: Combine rehydrated chiles, onion, garlic, vinegar, adobo sauce, cumin, oregano, cloves, black pepper, and cayenne (if using) with 1/4 cup broth until smooth.
3. Sear lamb: Season lamb with salt. Brown lamb chunks in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat on all sides. Remove lamb.
4. Cook aromatics: Add the blended paste to the Dutch oven, cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
5. Combine and simmer: Return lamb to the pot. Add remaining beef broth and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, then cover.
6. Slow cook: Transfer to a preheated oven at 325°F (160°C) and cook for 3-3.5 hours, or until lamb is fork-tender.
7. Shred and serve: Remove bay leaves. Shred lamb directly in the pot, mixing with the juices. Serve on warm corn tortillas with diced onion, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.

Nutrition

Full nutrition for this recipe lives in the Forkful app: calories, protein, carbs, and fat per serving, calculated automatically from the ingredient list. Save the recipe to see it.