Quesabirria Tacos Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Quesabirria Tacos Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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Quesabirria consists of spicy, shredded beef cooked with melty cheese and served inside of tortillas for a dish that comes out like a cross between tacos and quesadillas. In other words, it’s the most delicious Mexican food! I first had this absolutely divine meal on a girl’s weekend with my best friends and instantly knew I had to develop my own recipe. The birria beef is slow-cooked in a well-seasoned chile sauce, then served like crispy, cheesy tacos.

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Table of Contents

What’s in Quesabirria Tacos?

I’m absolutely obsessed with this ridiculously mouthwatering flavor combination. Tender beef is simmered in a flavorful stew, shredded, and served with a side of consomé for the ultimate indulgent taco. My cheesy take on birria tacos is sure to leave you satisfied!

  • Beef: I like to use boneless beef chuck roast. However, you can also use a combination of chuck roast and bone-in short ribs. If you have it available, you can also use oxtail in place of the short ribs.
  • Chiles: Stemmed and seededdried Guajillo chiles,dried Ancho chiles, and dried chiles de arbolgive birria beef its characteristic deep red color and rich, complex flavor.
  • Vegetable Oil: Helps the beef and tacos to brown without burning.
  • Onion: Adds earthy flavor to the meat and a bite to the finished tacos.
  • Tomatoes: Help form the base of the braising liquid, and adds acidity and rich tomato flavor.
  • Garlic: Adds earthy flavor.
  • Spices: Mexican oregano, kosher salt, cumin, black pepper, and ground cinnamon are classic Mexican seasonings.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds acidity to the braising liquid.
  • Beef Stock: Forms the base of the braising liquid.
  • Tortillas: I like corn tortillas for these quesabirria tacos because they get really crispy, but flour or cassava flour tortillas also work.
  • Cheese: If you can find Oaxaca cheese, there’s nothing quite like it! Monterey jack works well in a pinch.
  • Cilantro + Lime: Perfect bright and fresh accompaniments to birria meat.

Pro Tip:These are dipping tacos! Save some of the braising liquid for a delicious dipping sauce.

Variations on Quesabirria

Believe it or not, you can make quesabirria with just about any meat. Forchicken, swap the beef for boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Forporkbirria tacos, use pork shoulder. Fora vegetarianversion, try using jackfruit and vegetable broth.

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How to Store and Reheat

I store leftover birria meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I always keep the meat separate from the braising liquid until ready to assemble. Simply reheat in the microwave or in a pot set over medium-low heat until warmed through.

How to Freeze

Freeze quesa birria taco meat separately from the braising liquid in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

Whether I am serving these tacos up for Cinco de Mayo food or Taco Tuesday, I always serve it with yummy side dishes, likeMexican Corn on the Cob,Mexican Street Corn Dip,or Rotel Dip.

Traditional Mexican Rice and Refried Beans would also be delish! And they taste even better when served with your favorite margaritas.

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5-Star Review

“Absolutely delicious! You made them EXTREMELY easy to make from start to finish! Will most definitely keep these on the rotation!” – Joshua

Recipe

Quesabirria Tacos Recipe

4.70 from 13 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 30 minutes minutes

Cook: 3 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total: 4 hours hours

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Serves8

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Tender, spicy meat, melted cheese, and crispy tortillas make up these flavorful quesabirria tacos!

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Ingredients

For the Birria

  • 4 dried Guajillo chiles stems and seeds removed
  • 3 dried Ancho chiles stems and seeds removed
  • 2-3 dried chiles de arbol stems and seeds removed
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
  • 1 white onion roughly chopped
  • 1 pound tomatoes roughly chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Mexican oregano
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 pounds chuck roast cut into 3-inch pieces
  • 3 cups low-sodium beef stock

For the Tacos

  • Vegetable oil
  • 16 corn tortillas
  • 1 pound Oaxaca cheese or Monterey jack
  • 1 white onion finely chopped
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 limes cut into wedges

Instructions

  • Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chilis and toast, stirring often, until fragrant. Place in a bowl and cover with 3 cups of boiling water. Set aside for 20 minutes to rehydrate.

    4 dried Guajillo chiles, 3 dried Ancho chiles, 2-3 dried chiles de arbol

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  • To the same skillet, add 1 tablespoon oil. Once hot, add the onion and tomatoes. Cook until softened, 5-7 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 60 seconds.

    2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1 white onion, 1 pound tomatoes, 5 cloves garlic

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  • Transfer the mixture to a blender. Add the chilis and their soaking liquid, oregano, salt, cumin, pepper, cinnamon and apple cider vinegar. Blend until smooth.

    1 tablespoon Mexican oregano, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

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  • Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add in the remaining oil. Once hot, brown the beef in batches.

    2 pounds chuck roast

  • Pour in the sauce and beef stock and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer, cover, and cook for 3 hours or until the beef is tender.

    3 cups low-sodium beef stock

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  • Place the meat in a bowl and use two forks to shred it into bite-sized pieces. Reserve the consommé, or sauce, from the beef.

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  • Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add enough oil to just coat the bottom of the pan. Dip both sides of a corn tortilla in the consommé. And place it in the pan.

    16 corn tortillas, Vegetable oil

  • Add cheese and birria meat. Once the cheese starts to melt, fold the tortilla in half. Continue to cook until the tortilla is golden and crisp on both sides. Repeat with the remaining tortillas. Serve with onion, cilantro, and the remaining consommé for dipping.

    1 pound Oaxaca cheese, 1 white onion, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, 2 limes

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Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

  • Use more or less arbol chilis for spice.
  • Don’t forget to save the braising liquid for dipping!

Storage:Store stewed beef and reserved braising liquid in individual airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Assembled tacos are best enjoyed fresh.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 2tacos Calories: 675kcal (34%) Carbohydrates: 45g (15%) Protein: 41g (82%) Fat: 39g (60%) Saturated Fat: 19g (119%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g Monounsaturated Fat: 9g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 99mg (33%) Sodium: 1691mg (74%) Potassium: 1144mg (33%) Fiber: 10g (42%) Sugar: 10g (11%) Vitamin A: 4532IU (91%) Vitamin C: 20mg (24%) Calcium: 143mg (14%) Iron: 5mg (28%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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What is the difference between birria tacos and quesabirria?

The main difference between birria and quesabirria is the addition of cheese! Quesabirria tacos have a lot more cheese and end up more of a cross between a taco and a quesadilla.

Are these tacos gluten-free?

As long as you use corn tortillas, these tacos are gluten-free!

What is the best kind of beef for quesabirria?

Chuck roast is the best meat for these tacos. You could also use a mix of half chuck roast and half beef short ribs or oxtail.

Can I use any kind of dried peppers?

I use dried Guajilo, Ancho, and chiles de arbol, as they give you this wonderfully smoky, fruity flavor. However, you can use others. Just be aware that the spice levels and flavor will change slightly.

Where can I find dried peppers?

Typically they are found in the spice or condiment aisles.

Are quesabirria tacos spicy?

These tacos are medium spicy but you can dial it up by adding in some chili powder or cayenne pepper.

What kind of tortillas should I use?

Corn tortillas are classic and crisp up really well in the pan, but flour tortillas will also work.

More Taco Recipes We Love

  • Ground Beef Tacos
  • Barbacoa Tacos
  • Baked Chicken Tacos

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Quesabirria Tacos Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Quesabirria and birria tacos? ›

What is the difference between Birria and Quesa-Birria? The difference between birria and the Quesa-Birria is that the Quesa-Birria is a fun twist on a quesadilla where the quesadilla is filled with birria meat. The Quesa-Birria is made with beef, cheese and chilies, and served with a consomme-based dipping sauce.

Why are my birria tacos soggy? ›

How do you make sure birria tacos don't go soggy? Fresh tortillas are an important trick in avoiding sogginess as they absorb less moisture. Make sure not to add too much sauce before frying too, as it will weaken the structure.

Are Quesabirria tacos healthy? ›

Birria tacos can be a healthy meal. The consommé has anti-inflammatory herbs and spices, and the meat provides protein and iron. Corn tortillas provide fiber. You may want to add extra vegetables in the form of salsas, onion, and cilantro for a fully balanced meal.

Why are my birria tacos not getting crispy? ›

You must use the fat on the very top of the pot of liquid to dip the tortillas in. Not even dip, but gently lay them on. If you do not have the fat on top of your liquid then this method will not work and the taco shells won't crisp up. If you dip it way down into the consommé you will just have a soggy birria taco.

What does birria mean in english? ›

Birria (Spanish: [ˈbirja]) is a meat stew or soup made from goat, beef, lamb, mutton, or chicken. The meat is marinated in an adobo made of vinegar, dried chiles, garlic, and herbs and spices (including cumin, bay leaves, and thyme) before being cooked in a broth (Spanish: consomé).

What is birria meat called in English? ›

Birria is a Mexican dish that is made from goat or beef. Goat is the traditional meat used for birria, but beef can also be used. Barbacoa is a type of meat that can be used for birria.

Why do my Quesabirria tacos fall apart? ›

If you use store bought tortillas you need to warm them up before folding them into a taco. Also, if you are serving your birria with a lot of broth, your tortilla might come apart, you might want to try using two, but I can almost bet you encountered the problem because the tortilla was not warm enough.

Should birria tacos be corn or flour tortillas? ›

In short, corn tortillas are the way to go for your birria tacos. If you really like flour tortillas you can use them too, but in that case you'll be eating a birria burrito and you experience will be different.

Are you supposed to eat the birria broth? ›

You start by making a rich and flavorful stew that you can eat as is. Or you can take the meat out, chop it up, fry up some tortillas, fill them with the chopped meat and some cheese, then grill them. To eat you dip the taco in the consume which is simply the broth from the stew and enjoy.

Is Quesabirria a taco or quesadilla? ›

Quesabirria is "a cross between a taco and a quesadilla." It comprises a corn tortilla with either mozzarella or Chihuahua cheese melted with stewed meat. The meat is often beef – commonly brisket – in contrast to birria, which is traditionally made with goat.

What makes birria tacos so good? ›

The key to a good birria taco is the meat, which can be made with a variety of options like beef, pork, or chicken. However, the traditional option is goat meat. The spices used in birria can also vary but typically include chili peppers, garlic, cumin, and oregano.

Why do birria tacos have two tortillas? ›

because if you have an overly juicy taco filling, two corn tortillas will hold up better than one. I think it's totally essential. The moisture trapped between two warm tortillas will keep them warm and soft and from toughening up as quickly as just one. It's like a little pillow of warm and moist air in between.

How to make birria tacos without the tortilla falling apart? ›

If you use store bought tortillas you need to warm them up before folding them into a taco. Also, if you are serving your birria with a lot of broth, your tortilla might come apart, you might want to try using two, but I can almost bet you encountered the problem because the tortilla was not warm enough.

What is the difference between birria tacos and quesatacos? ›

Quesabirria tacos are large tortillas filled with birria beef and cheese, then cooked on the stove until the cheese is melted. This is different to birria tacos, which use corn taco shells or soft tacos for the exterior.

What makes birria tacos different? ›

Birria tacos feature tortillas filled with the stew's tender, juicy meat. The tortillas are dipped in the thin layer of fat that floats to the top of the birria, then filled with meat and thrown on the griddle, giving them their Instagram-worthy look and addictively crispy exterior.

Why are birria tacos different? ›

The History of Birria Tacos

The origins of birria can be traced back to the indigenous communities of Mexico, who would cook meat in pits dug in the ground. Over time, the dish evolved to include spices like cinnamon, cloves, and cumin, giving it the distinct flavor it's known for today.

Is there different types of birria? ›

As I explain below, there are endless variations of birria to be found nowadays around different regions in Mexico, made with various kinds of meat, cooking methods, signature blends of seasonings, consistencies of consommés (broths), and more.

References

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