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Birria Tacos

These Birria Tacos have an incredible depth of flavor made with a combination of two meats slowly cooked in an incredible chili-spiced sauce. With my easy recipe, you'll master the art of making beef birria! Although you'll need some time to make these, they're pretty simple to do, plus you'll have lots of leftovers to enjoy throughout the week.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 12
Calories: 602 kcal
Course: Lunch , Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

  • 2 pound beef chuck roast boneless, cut into big 2-inch cubes
  • 2 pound beef short rib about 4 pieces
  • 2 tablespoons coarse salt
  • 6 ancho chiles dried
  • 6 guajillo chiles dried
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 6 bay leaves
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic sliced
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 8 cups water
  • salt to taste
For Tacos
  • 24 smal corn tortillas or flour tortillas
  • 4 cups Oaxaca cheese shredded, or mozzarella cheese
  • 1 large red onion chopped
  • 6 radishes sliced
  • 2 limes cut in wedges
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro chopped

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Prep The Beef. Place the chuck roast and short ribs on a baking sheet and generously season it with salt all around. Transfer the baking sheet to the refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes.
  2. Prep The Peppers. Add the ancho and guajillo chillies to a pot with boiling water. Cover with lid and let them soak for about 5 minutes until they begin to soften. Transfer the chillies to a cutting board and carefully remove the seeds and stems. Set aside. I recommend using gloves.
  3. Toast The Spices. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the cinnamon stick, black peppercorns, and cloves. Toast for about 2 minutes or until aromatic. Transfer them to a spice grinder or blender including the bay leaves and blend into a fine powder.
  4. Sear The Beef. In a large Dutch oven heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chilled meat to the Dutch oven and sear on all sides until golden brown, working in batches. Transfer the meat to a plate and set aside.
  5. Cook Onion And Garlic. In the same Dutch oven add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes or until onion softens. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until aromatic.
  6. Add Remaining Ingredients And Cook. To the Dutch oven, add the tomato paste, the ground spices, oregano, lemon juice and chiles. Add the meat back to the pot, pour in the water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Taste for salt and adjust as necessary.
  7. Prep The Oven. Preheat the oven to 300°F.
  8. Blend The Chiles. Carefully remove the chiles from the pot using tongs and place them in a blender with a couple cups of the broth from the Dutch oven. Blend until smooth. Pour this pepper mixture back into the Dutch oven and stir well.
  9. Cook Beef In The Oven. Cover the Dutch oven and transfer it to the preheated oven. Cook for 2 to 3 hours or until the meat shreds easily with 2 forks.
  10. Shred The Beef. Transfer the meat from the Dutch oven using tongs to a large bowl. Reserve the broth (this is called consommé). Shred the beef using 2 forks. Set aside. Strain the consommé through a sieve.
  11. Fry Tacos. Heat about 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet. Dip a tortilla into the consommé then place it in the skillet. Top with some shredded Oaxaca cheese, and shredded beef. Fold the taco in half then flip it over to cook until the cheese melts, another 1 to 2 minutes.
  12. Serve And Enjoy. Serve tacos with leftover consommé topped with some red onion, cilantro and a wedge of lime.

Notes

  • Leftover beef birria is perfect for not only tacos, but on burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, etc.
  • The cooking time can vary on many different factors such as your oven, which cut of beef you used or what pot you used. Dutch ovens cook faster because they can retain heat better, but if you don’t have one, make sure to use an oven safe pot with a lid.
  • While making tacos, keep them warm in a preheated oven at 200°F on a baking sheet. As you make them, add them to your baking sheet in the oven.
  • Bring the birria and consommé to room temperature before storing it in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight then reheat over medium heat until warmed through. If the beef birria seems dry, add some of the consommé to it.

Nutrition Information

Serving 2tacos Calories 602kcal (30%) Carbohydrates 22g (7%) Protein 45g (90%) Fat 38g (58%) Saturated Fat 23g (115%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 7g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 113mg (38%) Sodium 2018mg (84%) Potassium 903mg (26%) Fiber 7g (28%) Sugar 9g (18%) Vitamin A 5291IU (106%) Vitamin C 13mg (14%) Calcium 100mg (10%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 602

% Daily Value*

Serving 2tacos
Calories 602kcal 30%
Carbohydrates 22g 7%
Protein 45g 90%
Fat 38g 58%
Saturated Fat 23g 115%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 7g 35%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 113mg 38%
Sodium 2018mg 84%
Potassium 903mg 19%
Fiber 7g 28%
Sugar 9g 18%
Vitamin A 5291IU 106%
Vitamin C 13mg 14%
Calcium 100mg 10%
Iron 4mg 22%

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