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Birria Beef Tacos

Birria Beef Tacos

Authentic Mexican birria tacos with tender braised beef, crispy cheese-dipped tortillas, and rich consomé for dipping.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: High Protein Recipes
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 585

Ingredients
  

  • 3 lbs beef chuck roast cut into large chunks
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 4 dried guajillo chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 2 dried ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 1 medium white onion quartered
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 12 corn tortillas
  • 2 cups Oaxaca cheese shredded
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • 1 medium white onion diced for serving
  • 2 limes cut into wedges

Method
 

  1. Toast the guajillo and ancho chiles in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes until fragrant. Transfer to a bowl, cover with hot water, and soak for 15 minutes until softened.
  2. Drain the chiles and add to a blender with quartered onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and 1 cup of beef broth. Blend until completely smooth.
  3. Place beef chunks in a large pot or Dutch oven. Pour the chile sauce over the beef, add remaining 3 cups of beef broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2.5-3 hours until beef is tender and shreds easily.
  4. Remove beef from the pot and shred with two forks. Strain the consomé through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding solids. Reserve consomé for dipping and return some to the shredded beef to keep it moist.
  5. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Dip each tortilla briefly in the top layer of consomé to coat with the red oil, then place on the hot skillet.
  6. Immediately add shredded cheese to one half of the tortilla, top with birria beef, fold in half, and press down. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side until golden and crispy.
  7. Serve tacos hot with bowls of warm consomé for dipping, garnished with diced onion, cilantro, and lime wedges.

Nutrition

Calories: 585kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 48gFat: 28gSodium: 890mgFiber: 5g

Notes

For deeper flavor, braise the beef overnight in the refrigerator and reheat before assembling. The consomé can be made ahead and refrigerated; skim off excess fat from the top before reheating. Use a mix of mozzarella and Monterey Jack if Oaxaca cheese is unavailable.

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