Birria Tacos Chili Beef (Printer-Friendly)

Tender beef tacos with chili sauce, crisp tortillas and fresh toppings—perfect for bold, spicy flavors.

# What You’ll Need to Cook:

→ For the Birria

01 - 3 dried ancho peppers
02 - 3 dried guajillo peppers
03 - 2 dried chiles de arbol
04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
05 - 1 medium onion, chopped
06 - 2 fresh tomatoes, chopped
07 - 1/2 cup fire-roasted tomatoes
08 - 4 garlic cloves, peeled
09 - 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
13 - 1 teaspoon sea salt
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
15 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
16 - 4 cups beef stock, divided
17 - 3 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into chunks

→ For the Birria Tacos

18 - 12 corn tortillas
19 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
20 - 1/2 cup chopped red onion
21 - 1 sliced jalapeno or serrano pepper
22 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
23 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
24 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
25 - 1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese

# Steps to Prepare:

01 - Heat a large pan over medium heat and dry toast the dried peppers for 1–2 minutes per side until slightly darkened.
02 - Transfer toasted peppers to a bowl and cover with hot water. Let soak for 20 minutes until softened.
03 - In the same pan, heat olive oil and sauté onion and fresh tomatoes for 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 more minute.
04 - Add sautéed vegetables and softened peppers to a food processor. Add oregano, cinnamon, cumin, ginger, salt, pepper, vinegar, and 1 cup beef stock. Blend until smooth.
05 - Place beef chunks in a bowl. Pour the blended sauce over and rub in well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
06 - Transfer marinated beef, roasted tomatoes, and remaining 3 cups beef stock into a Dutch oven. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 3 hours until fork tender.
07 - Remove cooked beef and shred using two forks. Reserve the cooking liquid (consome) for dipping and coating tortillas.
08 - Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Dip tortillas into the consome, then place into skillet.
09 - Add shredded beef and cheese to one side of each tortilla. Fold and fry 2–3 minutes per side until crispy.
10 - Garnish tacos with onion, sliced peppers, cilantro, chili flakes, and lime juice. Serve with warm consome for dipping.

# Extra Cooking Tips:

01 - Lamb or goat meat can be substituted for a more traditional variation of birria.
02 - Slow cooker method: Cook marinated meat and ingredients on high for 5–6 hours until fork tender.
03 - Short ribs, brisket, or beef shank also make excellent meat choices.
04 - Quesabirria variation includes extra melted cheese during the frying stage for extra richness.