Birria Tacos (with Step by Step Video)

March 24, 2025

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If you happen to haven’t tried Birria Tacos but, get able to LIVE! These slow-braised, flavorful beef birria tacos are served with a wealthy consommé for dipping, making them among the finest tacos you’ll ever have. Whether or not you’re making them for Taco Tuesdays or a special day, this birria recipe is a must-try.

What Are Birria Tacos?

Birria Tacos are primarily based off of Birria, a Mexican stew that’s slow-cooked in a flavorful savory and barely spicy sauce. Whilst you can get pleasure from this recipe simply as a stew, I wish to take it to the following degree and switch it into crispy tacos by frying corn tortillas in a pan with Oaxaca cheese and the birria beef.

Prime it with some white onion and recent cilantro, then dip away within the cooking leftover consomé it braised. Actually heaven in a crispy tortilla.

Elements Wanted For Birria Tacos

There’s a motive this recipe is tremendous in style proper now….it’s a scrumptious, decadent taco that’s flavor-city. Constructing that taste takes time and the suitable Birria Tacos components, however it’s SO price it. These scrumptious tacos don’t disappoint. Right here’s what you’ll want:

Dried guajillo chiles – These add smoky taste and gentle warmth. Ancho chiles can be utilized in its place.
Chiles de Arbol (non-obligatory) – For individuals who like additional warmth, these will spice issues up.
Olive oil – used for searing the meat and including additional taste.
Beef chuck roast & brief ribs – A mixture of these cuts makes the birria meat tender and flavorful.
White onion – Provides depth to the broth and makes a fantastic topping.
Garlic cloves – Important for that wealthy, savory taste.
Jalapeño peppers – Provides a gentle kick.
Smoked paprika, Mexican oregano, cumin, cinnamon, floor clove – These spices carry out the most effective within the beef.
Beef inventory – The bottom of the flavorful broth.
White distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar – Helps tenderize the meat and pull out collagen and vitamins from the bones.
Fireplace-roasted tomatoes – Provides richness and depth to the adobo sauce.
Bay leaves – Infuse the birria stew with additional taste.
Corn tortillas – The easiest way to get pleasure from these crispy tacos.
Oaxaca cheese – Melty cheese makes these quesabirria tacos irresistible.
Contemporary cilantro, diced white onion, lime wedges – For serving and including recent taste.

Variations

Wish to swap issues up? Listed below are a couple of nice choices:

Use goat meat if you could find it, that is the standard birria meat to make use of.
Attempt flour tortillas in the event you want softer taco shells.
Make it in a sluggish cooker as a substitute of a giant Dutch oven.
Use an Immediate Pot for a quicker cooking methodology with excessive strain. Right here’s my Immediate Pot Birria Tacos recipe.
Add chipotle peppers for additional smoky taste.
Use common oregano in the event you can’t discover Mexican oregano.
Add floor clove to the sauce for an absolute taste delight.

What Peppers to Use for Beef Birria

Dried Guajillo Peppers – these are sweeter peppers and are added for taste and never spice. You will discover it in a Mexican grocery retailer or on-line. If you happen to can’t discover Guajillo peppers, attempt dried ancho chiles. However be warned that ancho chiles do have a bit extra warmth than the Guajillos.
Dried Chiles de Arbol – chili peppers are added for taste, however primarily for warmth. Just a little goes a great distance! These dried Mexican peppers are about 6 instances spicier than jalapeños. I marked these as non-obligatory on the Birria Tacos recipe card.
Jalapeños – I really like the flavour of cooked jalapeño, plus it provides a bit warmth to the general beef Birria Tacos. I take away the ribs and seeds for the least quantity of warmth.

Tips on how to Make Birria Tacos

Sluggish and regular wins the race…or, on this case enjoys the most effective Birria Tacos. For full recipe particulars, together with ingredient measurements see the printable recipe card on the finish of this submit. Right here’s tips on how to make home made beef Birria Tacos from scratch:

1. Toast & Reconstitute Dried Chile Peppers

Reduce open dried guajillo chiles and chiles de Arbol (if utilizing; see notes above) utilizing scissors and take away seeds and dried stems. Add to a dry skillet and toast over medium warmth for 3-4 minutes, cautious to not burn.

A pan with chili peppers soaking in water sits on a gas stove, ready to transform into the rich, flavorful base for authentic Birria Tacos.

Professional Tip: Dried Chiles de Arbol are very spicy peppers- they run round 15,000-30,000 Scoville Items. That is six instances hotter than jalapenos or chipotle peppers. I marked them as non-obligatory. however be happy to make this as spicy as you’d like.

As soon as they begin changing into aromatic, add water to cowl and convey water to a boil. As soon as water has boiled, flip off fully and let the chiles sit for 15-20 minutes. Discard water and reserve reconstituted chiles. This water may be bitter, so I want to discard it.

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

2. Brown the Birria Tacos Meat

In a big dutch oven pot, warmth olive oil over medium excessive warmth. Pat all items of meat dry with paper towels and sprinkle all sides with salt and black pepper. Brown meat in batches, searing a couple of items at a time as to not crowd the pan. Place browned meat onto a plate and proceed browning till all meat has been seared.

3. Make the Sauce

Reduce 3/4 of the white onion into giant chunks. Finely cube the remaining 1/4 onion and reserve for serving. Crush the garlic cloves. De-seed the jalapeño peppers and chop roughly.

In the identical scorching pot, cut back warmth to medium and add in onion, jalapeño and garlic. Sprinkle with salt and prepare dinner for two minutes to brown barely and get a bit colour. Add in a cinnamon stick, smoked paprika, oregano and cumin. Stir and prepare dinner for an additional minute. Deglaze pan with beef inventory and vinegar. Take away from warmth.

cooking onions, garlic and jalapenos in pot

Spoon pot contents right into a blender or a meals processor. Add in reconstituted peppers and a can of fireside roasted tomatoes. Mix till easy. Style sauce and add salt if vital.

birria sauce ingredients for braising birria

4. Braise Birria

Add browned meat again to the dutch oven and pour sauce overtop. Add bay leaves. Bake in preheated oven, lined for 3-3.75 hours or till meat could be very tender.

5. Shred the Birria for Tacos

Take away meat from braising liquid and shred utilizing two forks. Take away any bones (if utilizing bone-in meat), extra fats and gristle and discard. Take away bay leaves and discard. The shredded meat needs to be moist, however be happy so as to add in a bit additional cooking liquid.

Spoon off extra fats from the highest of the cooking liquid and reserve for frying tacos. Add additional beef inventory to skinny out sauce, if desired. Set the shredded meat apart and maintain heat.

6. Make Birria Tacos

Place 8″ nonstick skillet over medium warmth. Brush each side of the corn tortilla with reserved fats. Make the tortilla hotter by inserting it on a scorching skillet. Prime tortilla with 3-4 tablespoons of shredded Oaxaca cheese and heat shredded birria.

When you get melty cheese and when the tortilla is beginning to get crispy, fold right into a taco and take away from the pan. Proceed to pan-fry tacos. The home smells superb at this level!

7. Serve Birria Tacos with Consommé (Cooking Beef Broth)

Prime birria tacos with reserved white onion and cilantro. Ladle heat beef broth right into a bowl as a dipping sauce and serve tacos on the aspect with lime wedges. I discover that these tacos by themselves are nice, however are a lot extra scrumptious with the recent hit of the onion, cilantro and the squeeze of recent lime juice. The acid and freshness actually goes a great distance.

What Cheese to Use for Birria Tacos

I’d advocate utilizing a very good Mexican melting cheese like Oaxaca or Queso Asadero. Mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese is a superb substitute, however actually you should utilize what you’ve gotten. So long as it melts and is gentle in taste, it ought to do the trick in these tacos.

Storage + Make Forward Instructions

The great thing about this Birria Taco recipe is you’ll be able to simply make the Birria (chuck roast or different stew portion) of this recipe days prematurely after which fry up the tacos as you’d like. Freshly made birria may be saved in an hermetic container and within the fridge for 3-4 days.

Can You Freeze Birria?

Sure, you’ll be able to freeze birria. Birria freezes VERY effectively so long as it’s saved appropriately. Since it is a such a labor of affection, I at all times make additional in order that I can freeze and have some able to go once I need it. Enable birria to chill finishing to room temperature earlier than storing in a freezer secure hermetic container. For the very best quality, it’s typically beneficial to eat it inside 2-3 months.

Tips on how to Reheat Birra Tacos

When you’ve got leftover birria meat, reheat the meat and eat on the range or within the microwave, after which fry the Birria Tacos based on the recipe card beneath. When you’ve got already assembled the birria queso tacos, you’ll be able to reheat the entire taco in a skillet on the range over medium low warmth, flipping to warmth each side. Alternatively, you’ll be able to reheat in an air fryer. The microwave is an alternative choice, however take into account that they gained’t be crispy.

Are you able to make this in an Immediate Pot?

Sure! Brown the meat utilizing the sauté perform, then strain prepare dinner on excessive strain for 60 minutes with a pure strain launch. Try my Birria Tacos Immediate Pot Recipe for full particulars.

What to Serve with Birria Tacos

Listed below are a few of my favourite Mexican Sides. Whilst you can refill fully simply on these tacos, having a scrumptious selection is nice!

Extra Taco Recipes to Attempt!

These home made birria tacos are a fantastic recipe to attempt subsequent time you’re craving genuine Mexican meals. Whether or not it’s your first time making them otherwise you’re a professional, they’re at all times a crowd-pleaser! The printable recipe card is beneath. Have a fantastic day, buddies!

If you happen to make this recipe, I’d actually recognize it in the event you would give it a star ranking and depart your evaluate within the feedback! When you’ve got an image of your completed dish, submit it on Instagram utilizing the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

Birria Tacos Recipe

These Birria Tacos are a sluggish braised beef that’s cooked then shredded and fried in corn tortillas with cheese. These flavors will blow your thoughts!

Directions

toast & reconstitute dried chiles-

Reduce open dried guajillo chiles and chiles de Arbol (if utilizing; see notes beneath) utilizing scissors and take away seeds and dried stems. Add to a dry skillet and toast over medium warmth for 3-4 minutes.
As soon as they begin changing into aromatic, add water to cowl and convey water to a boil. As soon as water has boiled, flip off fully and let the chiles sit for 15-20 minutes. Discard water and reserve reconstituted chiles.
Preheat the oven to 350° F.

brown the meat-

In a big dutch oven pot, warmth olive oil over medium excessive warmth. Pat all items of meat dry with paper towels and sprinkle all sides with salt and pepper.
Brown meat in batches, searing a couple of items at a time as to not crowd the pan. Place browned meat onto a plate and proceed browning till all meat has been seared.

make the sauce-

Reduce 3/4 of the white onion into giant chunks. Finely cube the remaining 1/4 onion and reserve for serving. Crush the garlic. De-seed the jalapeno peppers and chop roughly.
In the identical scorching pot, cut back warmth to medium and add in onion, jalapeno and garlic. Sprinkle with salt and prepare dinner for two minutes to brown barely and get a bit colour.
Add in cinnamon, floor clove, smoked paprika, oregano and cumin. Stir and prepare dinner for an additional minute.
Add beef inventory to the pot and scrape backside with a wood spoon to deglaze the pan. Add the apple vinegar. Take away from warmth.
Spoon pot contents right into a blender. Add in reconstituted peppers and may of fireside roasted tomatoes. Mix till easy. Style sauce and season with salt if wanted.

shred the birria for tacos-

Take away meat from braising liquid and shred utilizing two forks. Take away bones (if utilizing bone-in meat), extra fats, and gristle and discard. Meat needs to be moist, however be happy so as to add in a bit additional cooking liquid.
Spoon off extra fats from the highest of the cooking liquid and reserve for frying tacos. Take away and discard bay leaves. Add additional beef inventory to skinny out the consommé, if desired. Put aside and maintain heat.

make birria tacos-

Place a 8″ nonstick skillet over medium warmth. Brush each side of the corn tortilla with reserved fats. Place the tortilla onto a scorching skillet. Prime tortilla with 3-4 tablespoons of shredded oaxaca cheese and heat shredded birria.
As soon as cheese has melted fully and tortilla is beginning to get crispy, fold right into a taco and take away from the pan. Proceed frying tacos.

serve birria tacos with consommé-

Notes

Dried Chiles de Arbol are very spicy peppers- they run round 15,000-30,000 Scoville Items. That is six instances hotter than jalapeños or chipotle peppers. I marked them as non-obligatory.

Diet