This Beef Birria recipe is bursting with flavor from guajillo chiles, garlic, onions, fire-roasted tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, ground cloves, and cinnamon. Eat it with minced onion and chopped cilantro as a stew or in pan-fried tacos with queso quesadilla cheese.
Course stew/soup
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword beef birria, beef birria recipe, beef birria tacos, birria beef, birria de res, how to make beef birria, Mexican beef birria, quesabirria tacos, what is beef birria, what is birria beef
Prep Time 30 minutesminutes
Cook Time 3 hourshours
Servings 8servings
Calories 462kcal
Author Beth Pierce
Ingredients
Beef Birria
3-4lbsbeef chuck roast
1 ½lbsshort ribs
6-8guajillo chiles stems and seeds removed
6clovesgarlic peeled
114.5-ounce canfire-roasted tomatoes
1teaspoonchili powder
1teaspoonground cumin
1teaspoondried oregano
1teaspoonsmoked paprika
1teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
¼teaspoonground cloves
Birria Stew
1tablespoonolive oil
1medium yellow onion chopped
6cupslow sodium beef broth
1cinnamon stick
2bay leaves
Chopped onionsyellow or red
Chopped fresh cilantro
Birria Tacos
Vegetable oil
White or yellow corn tortillas
Queso quesadilla cheese or a Mexican blend cheese
Instructions
Bring a large pot of water to boil, then turn the heat off. Add the dried guajillo chiles and cover with a lid. Soak them for about 15-20 minutes or until they are soft. Drain in a colander. Cut off the stem and slit the pepper open with a sharp knife or kitchen scissors. Remove the seeds and veins.
Meanwhile, cut your chuck roast into large cubes, trimming away large portions of fat. Add the chuck roast and short ribs to a large Dutch oven or large pot.
In a food processor, add the softened peppers, garlic, fire-roasted tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and ground cloves. Pulse until blended into a smooth paste. Add the marinade to the pot with the beef and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours up to overnight.
Remove the beef from the refrigerator. Add a little olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until soft. Add the cooked onions, chicken broth, cinnamon stick, and bay leaves to the pot with the beef. Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 3-4 hours or until the meat is fall-apart tender.
Remove the bay leaves and serve the stew in a bowl with chopped onion (either white or red), chopped fresh cilantro, and fresh lime wedges.
To make Birria Tacos add a layer of cheese and a layer of beef Birria to each corn tortilla. Use tongs to drain most of the broth from the beef before adding. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place 2-3 tacos open-faced in the skillet and cook until golden brown on the bottom. Fold it over, covering the beef and cheese, and flip, cooking for about 1 minute or until everything is golden brown and the cheese is melted. For best results, serve promptly.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop over low heat.
To freeze the beef, first fully cool it. Spoon the meat into zipper freezer bags or a sturdy freezer container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop over low heat.