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Mexican Beef Birria

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A slow-cooked, chile-forward shredded beef served in its rich consomé, perfect for tacos or as a comforting stew.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 hours
Total Time 10 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 500
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 3 lbs beef chuck roast
  • 4 pieces dried guajillo chiles mild-to-moderate heat
  • 2 pieces dried ancho chiles mild, smoky
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups beef broth, divided 1 cup for blending, 1 cup for crockpot
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano Mexican oregano if available
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Corn tortillas, for serving
  • Fresh cilantro, for garnish
  • Lime wedges, for serving

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat a dry skillet over medium. Toast the guajillo and ancho chiles 30–60 seconds per side until fragrant and slightly darkened. Remove stems and shake out seeds.
  2. Place the toasted chiles in a blender with the chopped onion, minced garlic, 1 cup of beef broth, apple cider vinegar, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Blend to a very smooth sauce.
  3. Put the beef chuck roast in the crockpot. Pour the blended chile mixture evenly over the roast.
  4. Add the remaining 1 cup of beef broth into the crockpot.
Cooking
  1. Cover and cook on LOW for 8–10 hours, or until the beef easily shreds with two forks.
  2. Remove the roast to a cutting board and shred with two forks. Skim fat from the surface of the consomé if desired.
  3. Return shredded meat to the crockpot to soak in the juices, or serve immediately with bowls of consomé and warm corn tortillas. Garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedges.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 500kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 45gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 600mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3g

Notes

For more heat, add a chipotle or a pequín chile. For a richer broth, substitute part of the beef broth with roasted beef stock.
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