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Birria (Slow Cooker)
4.9 from 120 votes

Birria (Slow Cooker)

Birria is a slow-cooked beef stew made with chuck roast simmered in a richly spiced sauce crafted from soaked guajillo, ancho, and arbol chilies, plus roasted tomatoes, onion, and garlic. The complex sauce melds warm spices and tangy vinegar, resulting in tender, flavorful beef enhanced by a robust chili blend and aromatic seasonings.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
8 hrs 15 mins
Total Time
8 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 514 kcal
Course: Main Course, Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

Beef Birria (Birria de Rez)
  • 4 pounds beef chuck roast cut into 3-inch chunks
Birria Sauce
  • 10 guajillo chiles
  • 5 ancho chilies
  • 3 arbol chilies
  • 2 Roma tomato
  • 1 white onion quartered
  • 6 garlic unpeeled, cloves
  • 2 cups beef broth low-sodium
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper ground
  • 1 teaspoon cumin ground
  • 1 teaspoon oregano dried, Mexican
  • ½ teaspoon cloves ground
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 3 bay leaf
  • onion chopped, optional, lime wedges for serving
  • cilantro
  • lime

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Deseed the chilies. Slice the stems off the chilies and shake out the seeds. Then, give them a quick rinse to remove any dust or dirt from the outside.
  2. Simmer the chilies. In a medium pot, add the guajillo chilies, ancho chilies, arbol chilies. Cover completely with water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 15 minutes, until the chilies have softened.
  3. Roast the veggies. While the chilies are simmering, add the tomatoes, onion, and garlic cloves to a quarter sheet pan. Broil them for 4 to 6 minutes, until lightly charred.
  4. Make the sauce. Transfer the chilies and 1 cup of the remaining water to a high-powered blender. Remove the garlic from it's peel and add it to the blender along with the tomatoes, onion, broth, vinegar, salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger. Blend on high for 1 to 2 minutes, until completely smooth.
  5. Slow cook the birria. Place the beef chunks in the slow cooker. Pour the birria sauce on top, and add the bay leaves. Use tongs to gently mix it all together. then cover. Cook on low for 8 to 9 hours, or on high for 4 to 5 hours. The beef should be tender and fall apart easily when shredded with a fork. If it doesn't shred easily, cook it a bit longer.
  6. Shred the meat. Discard the bay leaves. Remove the beef to a cutting board and use two forks to shred it.
  7. Combine the meat and sauce. Place the shredded beef back in the slow cooker, give it a stir, and let it absorb the liquid (aka consommé).
  8. Serve. Serve the birria straight from the slow cooker for a variety of meals (see ideas above) or transfer to bowls with the consommé for a traditional birria stew. Garnish with chopped onion, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.

Notes

  • Searing beef before slow cooking intensifies flavor when using a Dutch oven instead of slow cooker.
  • Substitute marjoram if Mexican oregano is unavailable.
  • Reduce or omit arbol chilies for less heat, as they contribute significant spiciness.
  • Mexican cinnamon sticks can replace ground cinnamon with a 4-inch piece.
  • Store cooked birria in an airtight container after cooling; keep refrigerated for 4 to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
  • Thaw frozen birria in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

Nutrition Information

Calories 514kcal (26%) Carbohydrates 22g (7%) Protein 48g (96%) Fat 28g (43%) Saturated Fat 12g (60%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g (18%) Monounsaturated Fat 13g (65%) Trans Fat 2g (100%) Cholesterol 156mg (52%) Sodium 902mg (38%) Potassium 1454mg (31%) Fiber 8g (32%) Sugar 12g (24%) Vitamin A 7174IU (143%) Vitamin C 12mg (13%) Calcium 70mg (7%) Iron 7mg (39%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 514

% Daily Value*

Calories 514kcal 26%
Carbohydrates 22g 7%
Protein 48g 96%
Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 12g 60%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 13g 65%
Trans Fat 2g 100%
Cholesterol 156mg 52%
Sodium 902mg 38%
Potassium 1454mg 31%
Fiber 8g 32%
Sugar 12g 24%
Vitamin A 7174IU 143%
Vitamin C 12mg 13%
Calcium 70mg 7%
Iron 7mg 39%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.