Description
Authentic Birria Tacos are a traditional Mexican dish featuring tender, slow-cooked beef infused with a rich, smoky chili sauce. Served on warm corn tortillas and garnished with fresh cilantro and lime, these flavorful tacos are perfect for a festive family meal or special occasion.
Ingredients
Meat and Broth
- 2 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into chunks
- 4 cups beef broth
Chili Sauce
- 2 dried guajillo chiles, seeds removed
- 2 dried ancho chiles, seeds removed
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 onion, quartered
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground cloves
Toppings and Serving
- 12 small corn tortillas
- Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
- Lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the chili broth: In a pot over medium heat, toast the dried guajillo and ancho chiles until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes, careful not to burn them. Add the garlic cloves, quartered onion, and beef broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 20 minutes to develop flavors.
- Blend the sauce: Transfer the toasted chiles, garlic, onion, and broth to a blender. Blend until smooth to form a rich chili sauce. Season the sauce by adding apple cider vinegar, ground cumin, dried oregano, and ground cloves. Blend again briefly to combine evenly.
- Cook the beef: Place the beef chuck chunks into a slow cooker. Pour the prepared chili sauce over the beef, ensuring it is well coated. Cook on low for 6 hours, or until the beef is very tender and easily shredded with a fork.
- Prepare the tortillas: Once the beef is cooked, heat the corn tortillas on a griddle or skillet over medium heat until warm and pliable, about 1-2 minutes per side.
- Assemble the tacos: Shred the tender beef and fill each warm tortilla generously with the meat. Garnish the tacos with chopped fresh cilantro and squeeze lime wedges over the top. Serve immediately with the cooking broth on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Removing seeds from the dried chiles reduces bitterness and excess heat, balancing the flavor of the sauce.
- Using a slow cooker allows the beef to become tender without constant monitoring.
- For extra flavor, toast the cumin and oregano briefly before adding to the sauce.
- Corn tortillas are traditional and add authentic taste and texture to birria tacos.
- Leftover birria meat can be refrigerated and reheated with some broth to keep it moist.
