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Easy Birria Tacos Recipe

Easy Birria Tacos

Tender, slow-cooked beef infused with aromatic spices, served in crispy, cheese-filled tortillas for an authentic Mexican taco experience made simple.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients
  

For the Birria Meat:
  • 2 lbs Beef Chuck Roast cut into 2-inch cubes
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 Onion roughly chopped
  • 4 cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 dried Guajillo Peppers stemmed and seeded
  • 2 dried Ancho Peppers stemmed and seeded
  • 1 can Diced Tomatoes 14.5 oz, undrained
  • 2 Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce plus 1 tbsp adobo sauce
  • 1 tsp Dried Oregano
  • 0.5 tsp Ground Cumin
  • 0.25 tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 4 cups Beef Broth
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
For the Tacos:
  • 12 Corn Tortillas
  • 2 cups Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese or Oaxaca Cheese if available
  • 0.25 cup Chopped Cilantro for garnish
  • 0.25 cup Chopped Onion for garnish
  • Lime wedges for serving
  • Oil for frying

Equipment

  • Large Pot or Dutch Oven
  • Blender
  • Skillet or griddle

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the beef cubes in batches until browned on all sides. Remove beef and set aside.
  2. Add the chopped onion and garlic to the pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the Guajillo and Ancho peppers to the pot and cook for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn them.
  4. Transfer the peppers, onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, chipotle peppers (including adobo sauce), oregano, cumin, and cinnamon to a blender. Blend until smooth.
  5. Pour the blended sauce over the seared beef in the pot. Add the beef broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2-2.5 hours, or until the beef is very tender.
  6. Remove the beef from the pot and shred it with two forks. Return the shredded beef to the sauce.
  7. Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Dip a corn tortilla into the Birria sauce, ensuring it's well coated. Place the tortilla on the hot skillet.
  8. Sprinkle shredded cheese over half of the tortilla. Fold the tortilla in half, pressing down gently. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and the cheese is melted and gooey.
  9. Remove the tacos from the skillet and garnish with chopped cilantro and onion. Serve immediately with lime wedges and the remaining Birria sauce (consommé).

Notes

Adjust spice level with extra chipotle peppers or cayenne. Use bone-in beef for richer flavor. Make birria a day ahead for enhanced flavor. Don't overcrowd skillet when frying tacos. Serve with consommé for dipping, Mexican rice, and refried beans.