Birria Tacos
Tender, flavorful birria tacos made with a slow-cooked chuck roast in a rich chile sauce, perfect for busy weeknights and crowd-pleasing gatherings.
Ingredients
For the Birria
- 2 lbs beef chuck roast, well-marbled Substitute brisket for richer flavor.
- 4 pieces dried guajillo chiles, mild and fruity
- 2 pieces dried ancho chiles, mild and smoky
- 1 medium onion, chopped (white or yellow)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups beef broth Use low-sodium if adding extra salt.
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Corn tortillas, warm and lightly charred
- Chopped onions and cilantro for serving
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
Preparation
- Remove stems and seeds from the guajillo and ancho chiles. Tear them into pieces and soak in hot (not boiling) water for 15 minutes until softened. Drain but reserve a splash of soaking liquid if needed.
- In a blender, combine soaked chiles, chopped onion, minced garlic, beef broth, cumin, oregano, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Blend until smooth and silky. If the sauce is very thick, add a little reserved soaking liquid.
- Place the beef chuck roast in the slow cooker. Pour the blended chile sauce over the roast, turning the meat to coat.
Cooking
- Cook on low for 8–10 hours, or on high for 4–5 hours, until the beef is very tender and pulls apart easily with forks.
- Remove the roast to a cutting board or bowl and shred with two forks. Skim excess fat from the surface of the sauce in the slow cooker, then return the shredded beef to the sauce and mix to combine.
Assembly
- Warm corn tortillas in a dry skillet or over an open flame until pliable. For crispier edges, dip tortillas briefly into a little of the cooking liquid in a skillet before frying.
- Fill each tortilla with shredded birria, top with chopped onions and cilantro, and serve with lime wedges on the side.
Notes
If you want more heat, add 1 dried arbol or a small chipotle in adobo. For a gluten-free option, confirm your beef broth and tortillas are labeled gluten-free.