Go Back
+ servings

Beef Birria Tacos

Crispy, beefy, cheesy fried tacos with broth for dipping
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

For the birria:

  • 4 cups beef stock
  • 3-4 lbs chuck roast
  • 1-2 lbs boneless short ribs
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 head of garlic cloves separated and skin removed
  • 1 carrot chopped
  • 5 bay leaves
  • 8 dried Mexican chili peppers I used a mix of guajillo, ancho, and new mexico but you can just use guajillo or any mix you like
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 2 tsp salt adjust to taste
  • black pepper to taste

For the tacos:

  • corn tortillas
  • shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella or Monterey jack
  • chopped onion
  • chopped cilantro
  • oil or beef fat from broth for frying tacos

Instructions
 

Make the birria:

  • Add a small amount of oil to a large oven safe dutch oven. Fry the onion, garlic and carrot over medium heat for a a few minutes. Add the chiles and stir around for a minute or two. Add the beef broth and allow to simmer for a couple minutes to soften the chiles.
  • Add contents of pan to blender and blend until smooth (be careful, if the broth is hot it will spray out. Place a towel over the top of the blender to be safe).
  • Wipe out the dutch oven and add a tbsp of oil. Cut the chuck into a few chunks and brown the short ribs and chuck over high heat until nicely seared.
  • Add the blended broth, along with the rest of the spices and seasonings. Bring to a boil and transfer to a 300 degree oven.
  • Cook for about 3 hours until the meat is extremely tender and can be easily shredded. Once the meat is done, remove pan from the oven and cool slightly.
  • Remove the meat and shred it, drizzling a little broth on it as needed to keep it moist. Add the chopped raw onion and cilantro to the meat.
  • Pour the broth into a fat separator. Pour off the broth into a pot and reserve the fat for frying.
  • Put a little of the fat or oil in a frying pan and spread it around. Add a couple of corn tortillas and top with some shredded cheese. Add the meat mixture to half of the tortilla and fold over to make a taco.
  • Fry one side of the taco until brown and crispy and then flip and fry the other side. Keep warm on a sheet tray in a 200 degree oven while frying the rest of the tacos.
  • Serve the tacos with small bowls of broth with onion and cilantro added and dunk the tacos in the broth before eating.
Keyword Beef, Main Dish
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!