Birria Tacos – RecipeTin Eats

September 5, 2025

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Birria Tacos – or Quesabirria – are the legendary crispy crimson tacos filled with tacky shredded beef, served with a wealthy consommé for dunking. This was a beast of a recipe to crack, so I’m thrilled we received there. I’m obsessed – large flavour delivered with each single chew!

A message to Birria connoisseurs!

We’ve eaten and made lots of Birria Tacos, and that is our concept of the proper Birria Tacos! Right here’s what makes them stand out (in our humble opinion):

We toss the shredded beef in sauce earlier than stuffing for additional flavour – I can’t consider each recipe doesn’t do that.
We offer you chilli measures in weight and cups so your sauce has sufficient flavour – how a lot is “4 anchos” actually?! They differ wildly in dimension!
Our birrias are crispier due to the best way we prepare dinner them (you’ll perceive once you see)
Our consommé shouldn’t be skinny and watery. A deliberate selection, as a result of it clings higher to the Birria Tacos. Which suggests extra flavour in each chew!

In the event you give ours a go, we’d like to know what you assume!

~ Nagi & Goh (tech bro and RecipeTin’s world meals knowledgeable!)

Birra tacos

What’s that you simply say? You haven’t had Birria Tacos earlier than? Then let me introduce you to them. That is what they seem like on the skin:

That is what they seem like on the within:

And that is the way you eat them:

Have I received your consideration? 😂

About Birria Tacos – in phrases!

Although not as enjoyable as exhibiting you photos, right here’s a little bit of background. Birria Tacos are a initially a Mexican taco made with slow-cooked meat (goat or beef) soaked a wealthy chilli broth and stuffed into tortillas.

Quesabirria or “cheese birria” is a contemporary twist with cheese added to the taco, which is then crisped within the chilli-stained oil, and served with flavour-packed braising liquid (the consommé) alongside for dipping.

Usually simply referred to as “birria tacos” too, they grew to become a sizzling craze a couple of years in the past. We’ve lengthy since had a aim of making a model with actual punch, as a result of so many we’ve tried are disappointedly bland. It took a couple of years, however we lastly received there – and right here it’s!!

Substances in Birria Tacos

In the event you don’t use dried Mexican chillies, it’s not Birria. I’m not saying it received’t be good, it’s simply not Birria! The dried chillies are the primary flavouring, and likewise present the signature crimson color staining the tacos.

So in the event you can’t get those we use, slightly than substituting with different chillies (land of the unknown!), I’d advocate you make my Mexican Shredded Beef as an alternative which makes use of on a regular basis grocery retailer substances. Assemble/crisp the tacos like Birria. See FAQ for steps!

1. The chillies

We use a mixture of three kinds of Mexican chillies, for his or her totally different qualities and the complexity they create when mixed: Anchos for his or her candy, raisin-y flavour; guajillo for his or her fruity tartness and earthiness; chile de arbol for his or her warmth.

The place to purchase – Fellow Sydneysiders can discover dried Mexican chillies at Mexican/Latin or well-stocked worldwide grocers like Prime Ryde Growers (my native). You too can purchase them on-line at Fireworks meals (Australia), else readers can discover chillies on Amazon: guajillo (AU|UK|US); ancho (AU|UK|US); chiles de arbol (AU|UK|US).

🌶️ Spiciness: Birria is just a little on the spicier facet! Positively not blow-your-head-off however an excellent hum. In the event you want much less spicy, scale back or omit the chile de arbol which is chargeable for a lot of the warmth.

⚠️USE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CHILLIES⚠️

The most typical flaw with Birria recipes is that they name for chillies by quantity like “2 dried Anchos”, but their dimension and density can differ wildly. Two massive ones can weigh double two small ones, which suggests bland-Birria in the event you use too little or overpowering-Birria in the event you overdo it (or presumably inedibly-spicy-Birria with too many Chile de Árbol). At all times measure by weight for accuracy, or chop and measure in cups in the event you don’t have scales. I’ve given each choices.

2. BIRRIA ADOBO PASTE

The bottom of the flavour of this entire dish is a Adobo which refers to sauces and marinades in Mexican cooking normally made with dried chillis. Along with the dried chillies listed above, right here’s what it’s essential make this Adobo for Birria Tacos:

Garlic and onion – Sure, 5 cloves of garlic looks as if so much! However the lengthy simmering course of turns them candy and mellow. The onion in the meantime offers the sauce extra thickness and physique, and a few wetness to create the paste. Use 1/2 a big onion or 1 small onion.
Recent tomato – This additionally supplies wetness to make the paste, and I believe it’s good to make use of a contemporary tomato slightly than canned, in amongst all the large flavour explosions! Tomato additionally provides a little bit of crimson color to the sauce.
Cumin – We’ve had many birria tacos which are fairly heavy on the cumin. We love this fashion in its personal proper, however needed a much less cumin-forward flavour for our recipe. 1 tsp is the candy spot – just a little spice hum with out being dominating.
Oregano – A basic Mexican flavouring for braised meats and rubs.

3. greatest beef for birria + braising liquid

You want a stewing minimize of beef for Birria Tacos that may be gradual cooked till tender sufficient to shred. Chuck is my first selection, adopted by quick rib. Cheeks and shanks would additionally work.

Beef – Use chuck (my most well-liked) or quick rib. Brief rib is richer and fattier, however as soon as shredded and sauced, chuck is simply pretty much as good, plus cheaper and simpler to seek out.

Go for giant items of chuck and minimize into tennis-ball dimension items in the event you can, slightly than pre-cut skinny steaks, for juicier outcomes.

Different good cuts: cheek or shank/osso bucco. Gravy beef and brisket are leaner however workable. Keep away from lean steak/roast cuts like tenderloin, sirloin, prime rib, rib eye (scotch fillet).
Beef inventory – Use low sodium beef inventory (broth), an excellent one in the event you can although that is nonetheless glorious with mass produced manufacturers like Campbells. Selfmade beef inventory is in fact one of the best when you’ve got it (you’ll want so as to add additional seasoning to the consommé on the finish).

I don’t advocate utilizing powdered beef inventory for this recipe, which tastes extra synthetic than liquid inventory.
Herbs and spices (cloves, cinnamon and bay leaves) – These heat spices are key flavourings for birria together with the chillies. Utilizing a cinnamon stick slightly than powdered actually makes a distinction right here. It infuses with delicate flavour with out overwhelming. I additionally use a loads of cloves as a result of they pair so splendidly with the meat (they sink so that you received’t chew into them).
Apple cider vinegar – A splash of acidity helps brighten issues a contact. Substitute with white or crimson wine vinegar, or common white vinegar. Keep away from rice vinegar, sherry vinegar or balsamic vinegar as they’ve distinctive flavours that aren’t appropriate right here.

4. TO ASSEMBLE BIRRIA TACOS

Tortillas – I want corn tortillas as they’ve nice flavour and crisp up higher. However you need to use flour tortillas too, they usually do crisp up as effectively. Corn tortillas are fairly stiff when chilly. In order that they must be warmed to be pliable sufficient for folding with out breaking, which we do within the pan as we pan-fry them that basic “Birria crimson” color!

Measurement – Those I take advantage of are 14.5cm / 6″ huge. Be at liberty to make use of bigger or smaller. You can even make quesadilla dimension ones!
Cheese – You desire a good melting cheese with stretch and flavour. Our choose is Colby and Monterey Jack, however provolone or tasty cheese work too. Oaxaca is conventional however we are able to’t get it the place we’re. Mozzarella is a typical selection in recipes however a bit bland – we want one thing saltier and extra flavourful. That stated, I’d fortunately use any melting cheese!
Diced white onion – A basic taco addition with a contemporary chew and crunch. White onions are milder and higher uncooked than yellow/brown. In the event you want, soak in water to mellow the chew, swap for crimson or inexperienced onions, or skip fully.
Chopped coriander/cilantro – Somewhat sprinkle for contained in the tacos for a success of freshness! In the event you’re a kind of coriander haters, you may skip this, or substitute with chives in the event you nonetheless need little inexperienced specks inside.
Lime wedges – Current on any good plate of tacos to chop via all of the fatty richness! Just a bit squeeze on the taco earlier than or after dunking.
Salsa (ie. Mexican chilli sauce) – Completely optionally available, as these tacos already pack loads of flavour! However in the event you love some contemporary and spicy zing, a salsa doesn’t go astray in any respect.

make Birria Tacos

Blitz the paste, sear beef then gradual prepare dinner 2.5 hours till shreddable. Stuff in tortillas and pan fry till crispy!

1. Put together the chillies

Dried chillies are powerful so we have to soak to melt earlier than blitzing into an Adobo paste.

Deseed the chillies by reducing them in half lengthways and tapping/scraping out the seeds. Additionally trim off and discard powerful stems. We take away the seeds as a result of they’re spicy and likewise as a result of we don’t need gritty bits in our braise. (A number of random seeds left is okay, simply eliminate 98% of them).
Reduce chillies into 1 – 1.5cm / 1/2″ items.

Soften the chillies by simmering in boiling water for 10 minutes. The flesh will develop into pasty and the pores and skin needs to be pliable, not powerful and wrinkly as they had been when dried.
Drain the chillies via a sieve, being certain to reserve 1/2 cup of the simmering water.

Press out extra water from chillies (no have to squeeze out by hand, simply do that within the sieve).
Reserved water – We’re going to use 1/2 cup for the Adobo paste (subsequent steps).

2. birria adobo paste

Simply add every little thing and blitz!

Blitz – Put the chillies, reserved 1/2 cup of water and all of the remaining adobo paste substances in a jug massive sufficient to suit the pinnacle of a stick blender. Blitz till clean – it takes about 20 to 30 seconds, shifting the pinnacle round. It received’t develop into utterly liquified however make it as clean as you may. It needs to be like a chilli paste.

Different blitzing strategies – Mini meals processor, NutriBullet or blender. To assist it blitz, use a few of the beef inventory listed within the substances if wanted, however solely the minimal quantity wanted to make it puree. Then add the remainder of the meat inventory into the braising liquid as per the recipe.

3. gradual prepare dinner beef

Don’t be tempted to scale back the oil within the recipe. It makes use of greater than typical in order that there’s sufficient of the red-stained oil floating on the floor on the finish to fry the tortillas with for the signature Birria fashion end!

Sear beef – Warmth the oil in a big heavy based mostly pot over excessive warmth then sear half the meat aggressively to brown it effectively on all sides, about 5 minutes. Take away and brown the remaining beef.
Cook dinner off adobo paste – Add the paste to the identical oil and stir for two minutes (decrease warmth if it’s spitting furiously).

Gradual prepare dinner 2.5 hours – Add the inventory, vinegar, bay leaves, spices and salt. Give it a stir then add the meat. Carry it to a simmer, cowl with a lid and decrease the warmth so it’s simmering very gently. Gradual prepare dinner for two.5 hours till the meat is well shreddable. (Observe: Beef quick ribs will take between 3 – 3.5 hours).

Throughout this stage the braising liquid develops stacks of flavour. This scrumptious liquid turns into our Birria Consommé during which the tacos are dipped. In the meantime, the oil and rendered beef fats float to the floor and will get stained the signature crimson color. We separate and use this oil to pan fry the tacos.
Shred and season – Take away the meat from the Birria Consommé right into a shallow pan and shred effectively utilizing forks. Sprinkle with salt and toss.

Sauce it! Pour 1 cup of the Birria Consommé right into a clear, massive non-stick pan large enough to additionally use to crisp the tacos later. Warmth over medium-high and simmer the Consommé for about 30 seconds. Now add all the meat in and toss till it sucks up all of the liquid pooled within the base of the pan. We wish the meat moist however not moist (this compromises taco crispiness). Put the meat again within the shredding pan, scraping all of the juices out of the non-stick pan.

💡Observe: This isn’t a step we’ve seen in lots of different Birria recipes. However truthfully, we discovered the meat is slightly bland in the event you don’t soak it in some braising liquid. We have now loads of that flavourful Consommé – why skip a chance free of charge additional flavour?? We’ve taken cues from Pork Carnitas (the fry-off-in-braising liquid step catapults it into ah-mazing territory!). Additionally Papi’s Birria Tacos, our native favorite and the one really nice Birria taco joint we all know of right here in Sydney, do the identical.

Scoop off Birria Oil – Skim off the crimson oil that has risen to the highest of the Birria Consommé (we’ll name this the “Birria Oil”) and put it in a small bowl or container. I scoop off as a lot as I also can so the consommé shouldn’t be overly oily. You want no less than 6 tablespoons of Birria Oil to have sufficient to crisp the tacos. In case you are quick, add vegetable oil into the consommé and provides it an excellent stir. The oil will tackle crimson color by mixing with the liquid. Now go away for 10 minutes to let the oil rise to the floor, after which skim.

CRISPY / GREASY NOTE: Many recipes will let you know to dunk tortillas straight into the consommé, counting on the crimson oil that rises to the floor. The issue is that you simply’re not simply coating the tortilla with oil – you’re additionally dragging in a few of the water-based liquid so the taco received’t crisp up as effectively. Additionally, I discover this makes the tacos excessively greasy. I want to scoop the oil off and use a managed quantity per taco.

4. make crispy, tacky birria tacos!

OK! It’s time to make our crispy Birria tacos!!

Make tortillas crimson (and mushy!) – Put 1 teaspoon of the Birria Oil in a non-stick pan over medium warmth (I take advantage of the identical pan I used to toss the meat). Then place a tortilla in and use it to “wipe” the skillet to mop up all of the crimson oil so the underside of the tortilla is roofed with crimson. The warmth may also soften the corn tortillas so it’s pliable and received’t break when folded. When the tortilla is mushy (solely about 10 seconds), take away onto a reducing board, red-side down.

There’s no have to flip the tortillas, we solely put the crimson oil on one facet – the skin. I do flip within the video solely to indicate you the crimson facet. 🙂

Repeat twice extra, including just a little extra oil every time, so you’ve 3 tortillas in whole. We’re going to make 3 Birria Tacos at a time.

Stuff – Engaged on the reducing board, high one facet of every tortilla with cheese, then beef, then sprinkle with onion and coriander.
Crisp it! Fold over like a quesadilla then pan-fry on medium-high warmth (or medium, in case your range is robust) till crisp and the cheese is melted – about 90 seconds on either side. You received’t want so as to add any extra oil, the oil on the floor of the tortilla needs to be sufficient.

Spoon some Birria Consommé right into a dipping bowl for every particular person.
Serve the crispy Birria Tacos alongside the Consommé with some lime wedges and Mexican chilli sauce (salsa) if desired. If you wish to add a garnish, sprinkle with just a little white onion and/or coriander leaves. Lastly, serve!

Sensible issues: Cooking and serving sizzling

One of many issues I grappled with Birria Tacos was the practicality of creating tons in a single go, and serving sizzling. No person needs to be the slave within the kitchen pan frying tacos one after the other and sliding them sizzling and crispy onto the plates!

What I do is to heat 3 tortillas at a time within the crimson oil, then assemble as many as I want (ie. stuff and fold). Then pan-fry 3 at a time (you may get 2 pans going if you wish to do extra), and maintain cooked tacos heat within the oven.

For large crowd cooking, a BBQ with sizzling plates is greatest so you may prepare dinner tons in a single go! Arrange a Birria Station 😄.

And lastly, there’s the flour tortilla-assembling technique. Right here you assemble utilizing flour tortillas which you’ll be able to fold with out heating (ie. no crimson oil), then pan fry after within the crimson oil. That is additionally helpful for large batch cooking. This technique wants extra oil than the “skillet wiping” technique we use, in order an insurance coverage coverage I’d add some additional oil into the braising liquid so I get extra Birria Oil out on the finish.

Time to get messy!

That is the way to eat Birria Tacos: Seize one, and admire that beefy, tacky goodness and the fantastic red-stained crispy shell. Now over to the Consommé … Dunk and chew, dunk and chew … (interspersed with lime and sauce squeezes)…. you get the image!

Yeah, they’re greasy and it will get messy – that’s half the enjoyable!! Drippy, slurpy, napkin-stainingly messy, that is meals so good it’s going to invade your goals for days to return till you go and make it!!

Get pleasure from! – Nagi x

** An enormous because of my brother Goh who did the heavy lifting for the event of this recipe. It was an enormous one, a whale we’ve been chasing for years to nail down. It wasn’t till an ideal Birria taco truck lastly opened in Sydney that we had been impressed as soon as once more to select this up and get it throughout the end line. Taco lovers around the globe thanks, Goh! That is one to be happy with. 🙂 (Examine Goh’s meals credentials right here!)