Tacos de Barbacoa con Crema de Chipotle (Beef Barbacoa Tacos)
Soft, shredded barbacoa beef in warm corn tortillas, finished with a cool, smoky chipotle and lime crema.
Made with Chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade) and Lime crema (Mexican soured cream sauce) and Barbacoa beef. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.48 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Stir your ready made chipotle adobo sauce (see the base recipe) into your ready made lime crema (see the base recipe) until pale orange and smooth.
- 2
Reheat your ready made barbacoa beef (see the base recipe) in a pan with a splash of its cooking juices for 5 minutes, until steaming hot all the way through.
5 min - 3
Warm the corn tortillas in a dry frying pan for 30 seconds on each side until soft and flecked with brown. Wrap in a clean tea towel to keep warm.
1 min - 4
Mix the chopped onion with the coriander and a squeeze of lime.
- 5
Pile the barbacoa into the tortillas. Top with the onion mixture, radishes and a spoonful of the chipotle crema.
- 6
Serve with lime wedges and extra chipotle crema on the side.
Tips
- Double up the tortillas, as street taco stands do, to stop the juicy filling breaking through.
- Keep the crema cold and the beef hot for the best contrast.
- The barbacoa already has some chipotle in it, so taste the crema first and adjust the heat to suit.
Storing and freezing
Keep leftover beef in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for 3 months. The chipotle crema keeps for 3 days. Assemble tacos fresh.
Questions
Can I use shop bought tortillas?
Yes. Check the label for 100% corn flour for a gluten free taco. Warm them well so they bend without cracking.
Can I serve this with beans?
Yes. Refried beans or black beans on the side make it a full meal.
Can I use lamb or pork instead?
Slow cooked shredded lamb or pork shoulder works well with the same crema.
More made with chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade)
Caldo Tlalpeno (Smoky Chicken and Chickpea Soup)
GFDFEFChicharron en Salsa de Chipotle (Pork Crackling in Chipotle Sauce)
GFEFNFCostillitas Glaseadas con Chipotle y Piloncillo (Chipotle Glazed Pork Ribs)
GFDFEFHamburguesas de Frijol con Chipotle y Guacamole (Mexican Bean Burgers)
DFEFNFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.