You know that moment when you bite into a perfectly golden, crispy sandwich then you dunk into a warm, bold sauce that ties everything together? That’s what this Beef Barbacoa Grilled Cheese Sandwich is all about.
Made with tender slow cooker beef barbacoa layered between golden, buttery sourdough bread, then dipped into the savory juices from the barbacoa, this Tex-Mex comfort food delivers bold flavor in every bite!
I created this barbacoa grilled cheese as a way to use up leftover from my Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa Recipe. If you’ve made it before, you know it’s rick, flavorful, juicy and packed with warm spices like cumin, paprika and garlic. So what better way to take your leftovers to the next level then by transforming them into a crispy, melty, flavor-loaded sandwich.
Think of this as your Tex-Mex grilled cheese upgrade. It’s perfect for quick lunches, easy weeknight dinners even game day.
Why you’ll love this Barbacoa Melt
✓ Combines two comfort food classics; grilled cheese and slow cooked beef
✓ Great use for leftover barbacoa or any slow cooked meat
✓ Quick to assemble, just layer it up and grill
✓ Easy on-the-go sandwich
Ingredients
- Leftover beef barbacoa – shredded, plus about 1 cup of the broth for dipping
- Sourdough or thick sandwich bread of choice – you can always use a burger bun
- Butter for toasting – a must for that crispy golden bread
- Shredded cheese – I used cheddar cheese but you can opt for pepper jack or Mexican blend cheese (melty + flavorful).
- Cilantro – no barbacoa sandwich is complete without fresh cilantro. If you are not a fan of cilantro try parsley, basil or oregano.
- Optional: pickled jalapeños, caramelized onions, or chipotle mayo.
Other slow cooked meat recipes that you can turn into irresistible grilled sandwiches
While this Barbacoa Grilled Cheese is a showstopper on its own, you can use the magic of this sandwich with other tender, slow-cooked beef in a cheesy melt like this. Try it with my Slow Cooked Oven Roasted Beef Brisket, Red Wine Braised Beef, Slow Cooker Pot Roast, or even Slow Cooker Beef Stew.
Just shred the meat and layer it with your favorite cheese for a next-level grilled sandwich. It’s the ultimate way to turn leftovers into something exciting, comforting, and totally crave-worthy.
Barbacoa Grilled Cheese Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup beef barbacoa
- 1 cup broth from beef barbacoa
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese
- 2 tbsp butter
- fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Pre-heat your skillet or griddle. You don't need to add any oil.
- Butter sourdough slices generously. You can use mayo instead for extra crispy and golden toast.
- Place the buttered side of one sourdough slice down onto the hot skillet. Add a generous layer of shredded cheese, followed by a hearty scoop of beef barbacoa. Top with a bit more cheese (for maximum melt), a handful of fresh cilantro, then finish with the second slice of bread, buttered side up.
- Grill until golden, then flip the sandwich to grill the other side. About 3-4 minutes each side.
- Slice and enjoy it warm, dipped in the savory barbacoa juices.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Serving suggestions
I highly recommend making enough barbacoa beef for meal prepping. It freezes beautifully and gives you dinner options for days. We love making tacos, adding to bowls, salad, sandwiches and soups.
As a busy Mom who knows the value of both flavor and practicality, I love recipes that can stretch across multiple meals. This beef grilled cheese sandwich is one my family goes crazy for. My stepson even said, “This is better than any grilled cheese I’ve ever had!” So trust me when I say, you’ll want to keep this recipe in hand.
