Birria tacos are a traditional Mexican dish that are all the rage right now. After just one bite of these savory tacos you will see why!
What are Birria Tacos?
I first tried birria tacos in Disneyland at the Cocina Cucamonga restaurant in Disney’s California Adventure. The flavors, the tender meat, the dipping sauce blew me away! The meat is so tender and full of flavor. It can be served with any number of toppings, but we recommend adding cilantro, and lime juice. Basicallly, you dip the tacos in the sauce and enjoy. This beef birria tacos recipe will quickly become one of your favorite taco recipes of all time.The best part: this recipe is ready in less than an hour!
Birria Tacos Ingredients
Here is a basic list of the ingredients you will need to make birria tacos. Don’t worry, I’ll dive into each of these ingredients in more detail below.
Birria Cheese Corn Tortillas Garnishes Sauce / Consommé
The Birria Meat
The secret to the perfect Birria meat is to make it fall apart tender. I used this beef birria (birria de res) recipe to make these beef birria tacos. Birria is a type of Mexican stew made with tender chunks of meat. Traditionally it is made with lamb or goat meat but here in the U.S. it is more commonly made with beef. I used a beef chuck roast and seasoned it with salt before braising in a broth sauce infused with a blend or spices for hours until fall-apart tender. Short ribs or any kind of stew meat will work great for this recipe.
What Cheese to Use for Birria Tacos
Use Oaxaca cheese, it is a great melting cheese. If you can’t find that in your grocery store, Mozzarella cheese is a great substitute. Avoid using pre-shredded mozzarella though; it doesn’t melt as well as a block that you shred yourself.
Preparing the Tortillas
Soften the corn tortillas on a griddle or a frying pan just for a few moments until they’re warm and soft. This is an important step, otherwise the tortillas will fall apart when you try to fry them later. Soften first, then dip completely in the sauce.
Garnishes
These tacos are show-stoppers all on their own, but for extra flair, add chopped white onion, cilantro, and fresh lime wedges to the top. I like to squeeze the limes over everything but especially over the dipping sauce.
Quesabirria Dipping Sauce (Birria Consomme)
The sauce is created when you make the birria. It is part of the birria. When you remove the beef from the sauce, what remains is the birria sauce. The sauce is made from dried chiles (chile de arbol, guajillo peppers, ancho chiles, and any other chiles you like. You can use chipotle peppers or chiles in adobo sauce. Use flavors you love!) Spices and seasonings such as garlic, cumin, cinnamon, Mexican oregano, black pepper, onions, and tomatoes are also used.
How to Make Birria Tacos
Follow these simple steps and you’ll have a plate full of tantalizing tacos! Some of the steps take a little bit of time, but trust me, the finished product is worth every minute.
First, make the Birria. Braise the birria in a large Dutch oven, then let the meat cook low and slow in the spice-infused liquid. You can also cook the meat in a slow cooker.Next, separate the birria from the sauce. Once the meat is tender, take the meat out of the sauce and set aside. The sauce is automatically done once the birria is cooked. Makes it so easy!Then, shred the birria – Use a fork to shred the beef. It should fall apart easily. This shredded beef will be your taco filling. Set the sauce aside. Prepare the tortillas by softening them on a griddle for a few minutes, then dipping them in the sauce.Add the meat and cheese to the tortillas, fold in half. Fry the tacos on the griddle, flipping over once the side is golden brown.Garnish with onions, cilantro and lime juice and serve with with the extra dipping sauce in a small bowl for your guests to enjoy.
Quesabirra Tacos vs Birria Tacos
Both titles/labels/names are used interchangeably. If you want to split hairs, quesabirria tacos are folded over and fried on a griddle or pan like a quesadilla. Technically, for a birria taco, the ingredients are served more as a taco. The meat and cheese are put in a softened shell and not fried in a pan. It is served simply like a taco. When you order birria tacos they usually prepare it as a “quesabirria taco”. When you say “birria taco” it is assumed you still want it cooked in that fashion.
Leftovers
Store leftover tacos in the refrigerator. They’re terrific for lunch the next day! The best way to reheat the leftovers is using the air fryer. Air fry at 375 for 8 minutes. No air fryer? Reheat in a pan until over medium heat until cheese melts. Microwaving will make the shells soft and you will lose the crisp shell.
What To Serve with Birria Tacos
Can’t get enough Mexican food? (we can’t!) Try some of our favorite Cinco de Mayo recipes or browse our Mexican recipes category to see ALL of our Mexican-inspired dishes.
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