Eating birria tacos lets you experience perfection. The combination of tender meat and savoury broth is unforgettable.
But if you’ve only had them at a restaurant, you may be asking yourself, How to make birria tacos at home. Never fear, foodbeu is here to walk you through each part of this delicious recipe.
And if you’re curious about how to make quesa birria tacos, I also have you covered. They’re the superior version, with melted cheese mixed in for the perfect gooey bite.
Why You Should Make Birria Tacos at Home
The following guide addresses the fundamental question of why you should make birria tacos at home when they exist widely at taco trucks and Mexican restaurants.
The answer is simple: with homemade birria, you control the flavour and quality. The birria tacos recipe made at home gives you:
- Adjust the seasoning to taste.
- Manage the ingredients, including the quality of meat and spices.
- Make this unique, home edition of birria tacos that’s just as delicious (or better!) than you’d find in a restaurant.
How Long Does It Take to Make Birria Tacos?
How long does it take to make birria tacos?
Although it may sound like making birria will take forever, it’s totally worth it. Most of the time is spent simmering the meat to tenderize it and build flavour. Here’s the breakdown:
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cooking Time: 2.5 to 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 to 3.5 hours
But don’t be put off by the time it takes to make. The end result is a batch of flavorful, juicy, and delicious birria tacos!
Birria Tacos Recipe Ingredients
I’m going to go over the Birria ingredients you will need to make this deliciousness. You’ll need:
Tortillas: You’ll use corn tortillas for the tacos. If you’re preparing quesa birria tacos, then add cheese to melt during this part.
Meat: Traditionally, birria is made with goat meat, but beef (ideal: chuck roast or short ribs) is a common substitute. It will still yield a tender, juicy result.
Dried chillies: Real Mexican taste and identity are achieved by using guajillo, ancho and pasilla dried chillies.
Tomatoes, onions, and garlic: Fresh ingredients serve as the base of the sauce, adding layers of flavor with each bite.
Spices: Cumin, cloves, thyme, and oregano are essential for that classic birria seasoning.
Bay leaves, cinnamon, and vinegar: They balance the flavours and add richness.
Step-By-Step Guide: How to Make Birria Tacos
So, here we have our birria ingredients, and the fun part — the birria tacos!
Birria Tacos Recipe Ingredients
I’m going to go over the Birria ingredients you will need to make this deliciousness. You’ll need:
- Meat: Traditionally, birria is made with goat meat, but beef (ideal: chuck roast or short ribs) is a common substitute. It will still yield a tender, juicy result.
- Dried chillies: Real Mexican taste and identity are achieved by using guajillo, ancho and pasilla dried chillies.
- Tomatoes, onions, and garlic: Fresh ingredients serve as the base of the sauce, adding layers of flavor with each bite.
- Spices: Cumin, cloves, thyme, and oregano are essential for that classic birria seasoning.
- Bay leaves, cinnamon, and vinegar: They balance the flavours and add richness.
- Tortillas: You’ll use corn tortillas for the tacos. If you’re preparing quesa birria tacos, then add cheese to melt during this part.
Making of Birria Tacos
Step 1: Prepare the Meat
First, chop up your beef or goat meat into big chunks. It also gives it a good way to cook more evenly and to absorb the marinade flavours. Then salt and pepper the meat.
Step 2: Toast and Soak the Dried Chillies
Toast the dried chillies shortly over medium heat until you smell their aroma (1-2 minutes). Once you’re done, discard the seeds and stems, and soak the chiles in warm water for around 15 minutes to rehydrate them.
Balance the spice with something sweet! Serve with Mexican desserts like mango con chile or tres leches cake.
Step 3: Make the Sauce
Now, the moment your chillies are soft, blend them in a food processor with the tomatoes, the onions, the garlic and a little soaking liquid. Season with the spices from the birria: cumin, thyme, cloves, oregano and cinnamon. Throw in thick, aromatic sauce in your cauldron.
Step 4: Cook the Meat
Start by putting the meat in a large pot and adding the sauce according to your preference. Pour water until the meat is completely submerged. Now put the pot on the stove and make sure it simmers. After simmering for 2 to 3 hours, the meat will be tender enough to shred.
Step 5: Shred the Meat
When the meat is cooked through and tender, remove it from the pot. Using two forks, shred it, and be sure to discard any bones if you used bone-in cuts.
Put the shredded meat back in the pot, and let it soak up all that flavorful broth.
Step 6: Preparing the Tacos
Now you can put together the birria tacos. Start by warming your tortillas on a skillet or a griddle. Each of your tortillas should be dipped into the broth for a few seconds and then filled with the shredded birria meat.
In the case that you are making quesa birria tacos, add some cheese to the tortilla before filling it with meat, then cook it until the cheese is melted and the taco is crispy.
Step 7: Serve with consommé
For the best experience, serve your birria tacos with a side of the consommé, the broth in which you cooked the meat. It’s perfect for dipping!
“Birria tacos prove that patience in the kitchen leads to pure joy at the table.”
Follow all 7 steps, and you won’t ask anyone about how to make birria tacos?
How to Make Quesa Birria Tacos
If you’d like to make your birria tacos even better, make a quesa birria taco. The process is quite similar, except you’ll insert cheese into the tortillas before packing them with the shredded meat. Your cheese will melt, oozing out into a cheesy, savoury masterpiece as your taco cooks.
Pro Tip: Use Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella for the best melt. For added flavour, mix a small amount of the consommé into the cheese before mixing in the meat.
3 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Birria Tacos
Although Birria tacos recipes can be easy to do, there are a few common missteps to steer clear of:
- Not cooking the meat long enough: Meat must be cooked long enough to break down and absorb flavours. Don’t rush it.
- Skipping the broth dip: The broth is full of flavour and adds a lot to the tacos. Whatever you do, don’t skip the step of dipping the tortillas in it!
- Failure to adjust the seasoning: If the flavour is off, adjust the seasoning. Sometimes adding more salt takes the flavour where it needs to go.
These Birria Tacos Are Worth the Effort
Now, you don’t have to say, How to make birria tacos at home?
I could go on and on about how these birria tacos are so much tastier than any taco shop or restaurant. These are fresh, rich, and packed with flavor—a fusion you are going to love. But you commence preparing them; it takes you a little while, but in the end, the taste is well worth it.
It doesn’t matter if you’re using classic birria tacos recipes or making the cheesy quesa birria tacos—you’re going to have a meal that is flavour- and texture- and satisfaction-filled.
Making birria tacos at home is not as difficult as you may think. Follow this step-by-step guide, and you will impress family and friends with this delicious dish. Another bonus is that you can customize the birria seasoning to your preferences, making your best version of birria tacos.
Give it a try tonight and tell us how it goes! Tell us how you made your birria tacos and any special twists you made. So let’s make your next taco night exceptional! For more recipes, visit foodbeu now.
