Description
Birria Tacos are crispy, juicy Mexican tacos filled with slow-cooked shredded beef, dipped in a chile-spiced broth, and served with consommé for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 lbs beef chuck roast or short ribs
- 5–6 guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded
- 2–3 ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 1 large white onion
- 5–6 garlic cloves
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4–5 whole cloves
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Salt to taste
- 20 corn tortillas
- Oil for frying
- Fresh cilantro (for garnish)
- Diced white onion (for garnish)
- Lime wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Remove seeds and stems from guajillo and ancho chiles, then toast lightly in a dry pan until fragrant.
- Soak toasted chiles in hot water for 15–20 minutes.
- In a blender, combine rehydrated chiles, chipotle peppers, onion, garlic, vinegar, black peppercorns, oregano, cumin, and cloves. Blend until smooth.
- Cut beef into chunks and season with salt.
- Sear beef in a large pot until browned on all sides.
- Pour the blended sauce over the meat, add bay leaves and cinnamon stick, and cover with water or beef broth.
- Simmer covered on low heat for 3–4 hours, or until the meat is fork-tender.
- Remove meat, shred it, and return it to the pot with the consommé.
- Dip corn tortillas in the top oily layer of the consommé.
- Fill each tortilla with shredded meat, fold, and cook on a hot skillet with oil until crispy on both sides.
- Serve hot with a side of consommé, garnished with fresh cilantro, diced onion, and lime wedges.
Notes
- Swap chipotle for more guajillo if you prefer milder heat.
- Add cheese to make quesabirria tacos.
- Use lamb or goat for a traditional version.
- Use a slow cooker or Instant Pot for easier prep.
- Pickled red onions make a great topping.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 3–4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 60mg