Jul 13 2026
RestaurantsAyAyAy! Mexican CuisineBirria Tacos Recipe

Birria Tacos Recipe

Time3h
Serves6

Birria, pickled onion, cilantro

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Ingredients

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For the Birria

For the Pickled Onion

For the Tacos

Method

For the Birria

  1. 1

    Prepare the Meat

    Cut the chuck roast and lamb shank (if using) into large chunks. Season with salt and black pepper.

  2. 2

    Prepare the Chiles

    Remove the stems and seeds from the guajillo and ancho chiles. Toast the chiles in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 2-3 minutes until fragrant.

  3. 3

    Blend the Sauce

    In a blender, combine the toasted chiles, garlic, onion, cumin, oregano, and 1 cup of beef broth. Blend until smooth.

  4. 4

    Cook the Birria

    In a large pot, add the seasoned meat, bay leaves, blended sauce, and remaining beef broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 2-3 hours until the meat is tender.

  5. 5

    Shred the Meat

    Once cooked, remove the meat from the pot and shred it with two forks. Return the shredded meat to the pot and stir to combine.

For the Pickled Onion

  1. 6

    Slice the Onion

    Thinly slice the red onion and place it in a jar or bowl.

  2. 7

    Prepare the Pickling Liquid

    In a small saucepan, combine apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and water. Heat until the sugar and salt dissolve.

  3. 8

    Pickle the Onion

    Pour the pickling liquid over the sliced onions. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes or refrigerate for a few hours for deeper flavor.

For the Tacos

  1. 9

    Warm the Tortillas

    In a dry skillet, warm the corn tortillas over medium heat for about 30 seconds on each side until pliable.

  2. 10

    Assemble the Tacos

    Fill each tortilla with shredded birria meat, top with pickled onions, and sprinkle fresh cilantro.

  3. 11

    Serve

    Serve the tacos with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the top.

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