Birria Mexican Beef Stew

This Birria de Res, aka Beef Birria, is so rich and flavorful, all thanks to your patience, as you cook it for hours in a broth of famous Mexican chili peppers, tomatoes, onion, garlic and a few seasonings… Then, all you are doing is ladling this stew or consommé into a big serving bowl loaded with classic Mexican toppings like cilantro, onions, radishes, creamy avocado, and a good spritz of lime. Take a bite with a rolled up warm corn tortilla, or along with that yummy Mexican rice and you, my friend, are eating real authentic Mexican Birria, served just the way it is in so many Mexican households or restaurants. Oh, and please, don’t just stop there. The real magic happens when you turn this Birria into the next level food experience… Quesabirria tacos!! (Our next post… stay tuned) For now, lets just talk about Birria, the base of Birria Tacos. This Birria is a meal in itself for those cozy stew nights. Stews are such a comfort food in so many cultures, and this Birria is no exception. Sure it takes time, but the end result is so special and exceptional. You can make it the old traditional way, which is of course on stovetop, but this can be made in your crockpot on lazy days, as well as in an instant pot for a little faster cooking time. Make a huge pot of this Mexican stew, as this is freezer friendly and you will be set for unlimited tacos or even burritos and quesadillas with this shredded meat.

What is Birria?

Birria (pronounced “bir-ree-uh”) is a Mexican Stew, believed to have originated in the state of Jalisco, although hundreds of variations can be found all over Mexico. Birria is traditionally made with either goat or sheep’s meat, and it’s a treat cooked for special occasions like weddings, baptisms and holidays. With its amazing addictive flavors, Birria and consume dunking Birria tacos went beyond the local food carts and restaurants and crossed all over the country, to food trucks and restaurants in Arizona and California. Thanks to the Instagram and Pinterest worthy Birria taco dunking craze, people are getting inspired to try this Birria meat in various creative forms like Birria ramen, Birria pho and Birria pizza. But it all this started with this simple stew. Outside of Mexico, Birria de res (beef Birria) is becoming popular due to the easier accessibility of beef in grocery stores, resulting in the same great flavors and texture. Whichever meat you choose to make your Birria, it will always be melt in your mouth chunks cooked in a savory and spicy rich broth of chilis and tomatoes. Now you can serve this broth or consommé as a stew, or chop the meat and load it in tacos and finish them off by dunking in consommé as a dipping sauce. We are giving you stove top, Crock Pot and Instant Pot methods to cook this Birria. Though some of the methods could be a little faster than others, it would still require a few hours to prep and cook this authentic Mexican stew. Most of the ingredients are readily available in your pantry, except special Mexican chilis, so plan ahead for this feast.

Birria Ingredients

Meat – Though in Jalisco Birria is traditionally made with goat or sheep meat, today I am cooking it with beef, as it’s readily available here in the states and is equally finger licking delicious. I am using a thick marbled cut of chuck roast (our first choice of beef cut when it comes to stews and curries). You can also use other beef cuts like beef shank, short ribs, or a combination of all. I also have a complete post for Short Rib Birria. Dried Chili Peppers – Chili peppers are the most integral part of this Mexican stew. Mexican cuisine emphasizes using different types of chilis, according to their preference to spice level. A combination of 2-3 dried chilis would work fantastic for this Birria recipe. I recommend dried ancho chilis (mild with a sweet and fruity flavor), along with dried guajillo chilis (medium heat with earthy notes), and dried árbol chilis (hot and spicy). According to your heat tolerance, you can adjust the árbol chilis, or for a milder version, omit them all together. You can easily find these chilis in the Latin section of your grocery store, or can order online. Seasonings and Spices – These vary from household to household, but the most common are oregano, ground cinnamon, ground cumin, coriander powder, thyme, ground clove powder, salt and pepper. Aromatics – Garlic and ginger. Veggies – Onions, plump Roma tomatoes (or any other ripe juicy fresh tomatoes), tomato paste. Vinegar – I am using apple cider vinegar, but in a pinch you can use any available. Beef Stock Toppings – Cilantro, lime wedges, sliced jalapeños, diced avocados, red or pickled onions.

How to Make Birria (Stove-top, Crock Pot and Instant Pot)

All these methods would have similar prepping steps. Here they are.

1. Dry toast and rehydrate the chilis: First, I take the chilis and snip off their stems. Then, I carefully slice them open along the side to remove the seeds. Next, I toss them into a hot pan to dry toast for about 1 to 2 minutes. I keep a close eye on them while they’re toasting. Burning can make them taste bitter, and I definitely don’t want that in my stew. Once they’re nice and fragrant, I transfer them to a bowl. After that, I pour in a cup of hot water and let them soak for 20 minutes. This step really rehydrates and soften the chilies to blend it smoothly into Birria sauce.
2. Sauté the veggies: I heat up some oil and toss in the onion, garlic, and tomato. I cook them until they get nice and soft. Once they’re ready, I scoop them into my blender to mix them up.
3. Make the Birria sauce: In the blender, I combine the softened veggies with the rehydrated chilis, spices, herbs, ginger, vinegar, tomato paste, and beef stock. Then, I blend everything until it’s super smooth.
4. Prepare and sear the meat: I cut the chuck roast into big chunks, then I sprinkle them generously with salt and pepper. I always like to sear the meat before putting it in the stew, as it adds tons of flavors. I heat the oil in the stew pot and brown the meat on all sides.
5. Cook Birria: Then I combine the meat with the Birria sauce, along with the rest of the beef stock and cook it until tender in the:

Stovetop Birria: This is my preferred method. I cover the pot and let everything simmer away on low heat for about 4 to 6 hours, or until the meat becomes wonderfully tender. During this time, I make sure to give the stew a gentle stir every 20 minutes or so. This helps prevent the meat from sticking to the bottom of the pot and ensures it cooks evenly. Instant Pot Birria: If I’m in a hurry, I seal the lid, and pressure cook on high for 45 minutes, followed by a natural pressure release. Crock-Pot Birria: I cover and slow cook on low for 9 hours, or until the meat is completely tender.

6. Shred the meat: Once the stew is done cooking, I take the beef out and either cut it into bite-sized pieces or shred it, depending on how I want it. Then, I give the stew a taste to see if it needs any extra seasoning, like a bit more salt or pepper.

Some Variations

Use different meat: Try making it the traditional way using goat, lamb or sheep. The flavors and textures would be different. Play with spices and seasonings: Sometimes I add different spices and herbs like smoked paprika, allspice or marjoram for different flavor profile. Adjust the spice level by adding more or less árbol chilis according to your heat preference. Some days I use canned tomatoes or fire roasted tomatoes instead of fresh tomatoes for a little different taste profile. For a thinner consommé, I strain the Birria sauce after blending.

Serving Suggestions

I serve Birria in a lot of ways. Some traditional and conventional, and some very creative…

1. Serve it as stew: This is the simplest method. I just ladle it in a bowl with lots of beef chunks and generous amounts of consommé. Then I top it with my favorite toppings like chopped cilantro, diced onions, avocado and lime wedges. You can pair Birria with warm corn tortillas to dip in it, or have a side of Mexican rice, which goes beautifully as a side to Birria.
2. All of your other Mexican favorites: I use this Birria shredded meat for so many tasty Mexican dishes! It’s perfect for making burritos, quesadillas, tostadas, enchiladas, taquitos, taco bowls, taco salads, and more.
3. How about Birria ramen? Just add extra broth, noodles, veggies and toppings of your choice, along with delicious Birria meat. How cool… Check out our comprehensive Birria Ramen Recipe for all the tips and techniques.
4. But the award goes to Birria tacos (my most favorite): Known as Quesabirria tacos, or red tacos, they’re a very popular way to use Birria. They are crispy fried tacos with generous amounts of shredded Birria meat along with cheese. You dunk them in Birria consommé and they are the ultimate taco experience. I will tell you all about it in our very next post. Until then, start gathering all the ingredients… 🙂

Beef Birria, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!

More great Mexican soups and stews!Barbacoa PorkCaldo de ResChile VerdeAlbondigas SoupPozole RojoChile ColoradoCarne AdovadaSopa de Fideo