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Home » Blog » Main Course » Beef Birria (Mexican Stew) – Stovetop, slow cooker, or Instant Pot

Beef Birria (Mexican Stew) – Stovetop, slow cooker, or Instant Pot

April 28, 2020 by Jessica Halverstadt 20 Comments

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Pinterest graphic for beef birria (Mexican stew).
Pinterest graphic for beef birria (Mexican stew).
Pinterest graphic for beef birria (Mexican stew).
Pinterest graphic for beef birria (Mexican stew).

Beef birria is a slow-cooked, savory Mexican stew made with beef, a blend of chile peppers, onion, garlic, and a variety of spices. This dish is warm and inviting with a depth of flavor that goes unmatched. Naturally gluten-free.

bowl of beef birria topped with lime wedge, cilantro, and diced white onion on a blue towel shot from above

Jessica Halverstadt is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

I am so excited to share this recipe with you. Like SO, SO excited!!!! It’s by far my favorite dish. The absolute best recipe I’ve ever developed! Hands down.

So I was browsing social media one day and happened to watch a short video about a food truck that was serving birria tacos. They looked so freaking amazing that I was bound and determined to replicate them.

Prior to that I’d never heard of birria. How about you??

Anywho, birria is a Mexican stew originating from the state of Jalisco. Traditionally it was made with goat, however, this recipe calls for beef as it is more accessible. Alternately it can be made with chicken, veal, lamb, or pork. Aside from beef, I’ve only tried it with pork. And it was delicious, but not as good as the beef version in my opinion.

The incredible depth of flavor and richness of this dish is the result of the plethora of spices and aromatics that were originally incorporated in an attempt to mask the gaminess of the goat meat.

Since it is slow-cooked at a low temperature the beef is super tender and infused with flavor. It will smell so good that you may be tempted to dig into it before it’s stewed long enough, but I urge you not to; the longer you cook it the better!! You have to allow time for the meat to tenderize and the flavors to meld.

The broth is hearty, uber flavorful, and contains just the right amount of fat. The majestic aroma lures you in and the pure comfort of each bite leaves you longing for more. The flavors of this dish are so complex and enticing I swear you’ll be left dreaming about it. For real, I’ve made it four times in the last six weeks!!!

two bowls of beef birria on distressed wood surface with denim towel and side of diced white onion, cilantro, and lime wedges

So what do you need to make this stew? (+ substitutions)

  • Beef chuck roast: As mentioned above, you may also make this dish with chicken, veal, goat, lamb, or pork. Aside from beef, I have only tried pork thus far. If you opt to sub pork, I recommend a pork butt roast. The recipe calls for three pounds, however, it does not need to be exact. I’ve used the same ratio of ingredients for a 3 1/3 pound roast.
  • Salt and pepper
  • Chile de árbols and guajillo chile peppers: Luckily my local supermarket carries both varieties. If yours does not, however, they are also available at Mexican markets or online through Amazon.
  • Garlic
  • White onion
  • Water
  • Spices: Paprika, cumin, oregano, ground clove, bay leaves, and a cinnamon stick. A handful of people have indicated that the clove is a bit overpowering. If you are not fond of clove, I recommend only adding a pinch or leaving it out altogether.
  • Optional toppings: Fresh squeezed lime juice, cilantro, and diced white onion. I highly recommend not skipping the toppings!!
onion, dried chile peppers, and garlic cloves on a distressed wood surface.

How do you make beef birria? ( + tips)

Birria is actually very simple to make. It requires little prep, but does need to cook for a significant amount of time. However, since it’s kept at a simmer, it requires little monitoring.

The first step is to sprinkle the meat liberally with salt and pepper. Make sure you cover both sides, then rub it in and set it aside.

Next you will need to remove the stems and seeds from the chiles and place them in a pot along with the onion and garlic. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Continue boiling for 15 minutes.

chiles, onion, and garlic in dutch oven with water, shot from above

Transfer one cup of the cooking liquid, the chiles, onion, and garlic to a blender. Add the paprika, cumin, oregano, ground clove, salt, and black pepper and pulse until smooth.

birria produce covered in spices in blender shot from above
chile paste in blender shot from above

Cut the meat into large chunks and place in a large pot or dutch oven. Pour in the chile mixture and add just enough water to submerge the meat. You don’t want to add too much water or it will dilute the consomé and you will lose flavor. Add the bay leaves and cinnamon stick.

beef birria in dutch oven with bay leaves floating atop broth shot from above

For stovetop: Bring it to a boil, cover, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook for four to six hours. The longer the better as the meat will be much more tender and flavorful.

Remove the meat and shred it using to forks.

shredded beef on cutting board with two forks

Return it to the pot/dutch oven and simmer for an additional one to two hours.

beef birria in dutch oven with wooden spoon

For slow cooker: Cook on low heat for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 hours; shred meat and return to pot. At this point you can go and serve it or allow to cook an additional 1-2 hours if time allows. The extra cooking time really allows the meat to absorb more flavor and tenderizes it more.

For Instant Pot: Close the lid and pressure valve and pressure cook on high for 45 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally, then do a quick release. Shred the meat and return to pot.

Prior to serving remove the bay leaves and cinnamon stick. Serve warm with your choice of toppings.

two bowls of beef birria on distressed wood surface with denim towel and side of diced white onions and lime wedges

How to store

Refrigerate in an airtight container or up to four days or freeze for up to three months.

close up of beef birria in bowl topped with diced white onion, cilantro, and lime wedge with lime wedges in background
close up of beef birria in bowl topped with diced white onion, cilantro, and lime wedge

What else can I do with birria?

  • Beef Birria Tacos w/ Consomé: These birria tacos are EVERYTHING!! They start with two corn tortillas dipped in consomé, then stuffed with cheese, and fried (Quesadilla!!). Next comes succulent, flavorful beef topped with onions, cilantro, and fresh lime juice. Served with a side of consomé for dipping.
  • Birria Ramen w/ Quesadilla Strips: Birria ramen is a wonderful way to use up leftover birria. It begins with a consomé based broth that is thick, rich, and a bit spicy, then noodles, tender beef, soft boiled eggs, crispy quesadilla strips, and of course, TOPPINGS! This fusion style ramen is guaranteed to knock your socks off!!

Product Recommendations

If you make this beef birria I’d love your feedback. Please leave a comment and/or a rating below as I greatly value your opinion. Or snap a pic and tag me on Instragram @taoofspiceblog. Love, light and happy cooking ya’ll ♥

Continue to Content
bowl of beef birria topped with lime wedge, cilantro, and diced white onion on a blue towel shot from above

Beef Birria (Mexican Stew)

Yield: ~ 10 1/2 cups
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes

Slow-cooked savory Mexican stew made with beef and a blend of chile peppers, onion, garlic, and a variety of spices. This dish is warm and rich with a depth of flavor that goes unmatched. Naturally gluten-free.

Ingredients

  • 3 pound beef chuck roast (see notes)  
  • 2 teaspoons salt + more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper + more to taste
  • 10 dried chile de árbol peppers, destemmed and seeded
  • 6 dried guajillo chile peppers, destemmed and seeded
  • 6 cloves garlic, peeled
  • Water
  • 1 large white onion, peeled and quartered 
  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 tablespoon ground clove (See notes) 
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • Optional (but highly suggested) toppings: Fresh squeezed lime juice, diced onion, and cilantro. 

Instructions

    1. Liberally sprinkle beef chuck roast with salt and pepper, rub into roast, and set aside.
    2. Place the chile de árbols, guajillo chiles, garlic, and onions in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes.
    3. Remove from stove. Transfer one cup of cooking liquid, the chiles, garlic, and onion to a blender. Add the paprika, cumin, oregano, ground clove, salt, and pepper. Pulse until smooth. *If you wish to remove any chunks from the sauce you can run it through a fine sieve.
    4. Cut beef chuck roast into large pieces. Place in dutch oven or stockpot, slow cooker, or Instant Pot. Add the sauce from step three and enough water to cover the beef by no more than one inch. Add the bay leaves and cinnamon stick.
    5. For stovetop: Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 4-6 hours; shred meat and return to stove to simmer for an additional 1-2 hours. For slow cooker: Cook on low heat for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 hours; shred meat and return to pot. Go ahead and serve or allow to cook an additional 1-2 hours. For Instant Pot: Close the lid and pressure valve and pressure cook on high for 45 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally, then do a quick release. Shred the meat and return to pot.
    6. Remove the bay leaves and cinnamon stick and serve warm topped with cilantro, onion, and fresh-squeezed lime juice.

Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to four days or freeze for up to three months.

Notes

    • You may sub the beef for chicken, veal, goat, lamb, or pork. I have personally only tried pork. If you opt to sub pork, I recommend a pork butt roast. Additionally, this recipe calls for three pounds of meat however, it does not need to be exact. I have used all the way up to a 3 1/3 pound roast.
    • To cut some of the heat, I recommend either cutting down the chile de arbol or leaving them out completely and instead adding 2-3 extra guajilo chiles.
    • For some people, the taste of clove can be overpowering. If you are not a big fan of clove, feel free to leave it out or add just a pinch.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 7 Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 525Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 161mgSodium: 810mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 51g

The nutritional information provided is computer generated. It is only an estimate and intended for informational purposes only. Nutrition details may vary depending on various factors such as origin, freshness of ingredients, etc

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Jessica Halverstadt
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Main Course

Filed Under: Dinner, Fall, Gluten-Free, Main Course, Mexican, Winter Tagged With: gluten free

Previous Post: « Green Goddess Enchiladas
Next Post: Mexican Slaw & Shrimp Stuffed Avocados »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Doogels

    December 28, 2020 at 11:17 AM

    I’m all in and can’t wait to try this! In step 4, why do you use fresh water instead of the remaining cooking liquid? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Jessica Halverstadt

      December 28, 2020 at 11:30 AM

      After boiling the chiles the water has a tendency to be a bit bitter which is off putting for some.

      Reply
      • Shawn

        January 17, 2021 at 12:31 PM

        I tried this recipe and left out the clove. It was absolutely delicious!

        Reply
        • Jessica Halverstadt

          January 17, 2021 at 7:34 PM

          So happy to hear you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for trying the recipe!!

          Reply
  2. Manola

    November 15, 2020 at 11:10 AM

    more authentic without paprika 🙂

    Reply
    • Jessica Halverstadt

      November 15, 2020 at 11:57 AM

      I’m aware, but thanks for your input!

      Reply
  3. Peter

    September 14, 2020 at 7:57 PM

    AHh, I love birria and the flavors in your recipe are astounding! Very delicious. Love the bright rich red color too. The beef is super tender! drooling here 😀

    Reply
    • Jessica Halverstadt

      September 14, 2020 at 9:00 PM

      Thank you, Peter!

      Reply
  4. Farrah

    September 13, 2020 at 11:54 PM

    Ahh, the flavors in this sound absolutely amazing! Can’t wait to try making it–looks perfect for fall! *-*

    Reply
    • Jessica Halverstadt

      September 14, 2020 at 4:42 PM

      Thank you!!! They are the BEST flavors!!! And definitely a great dish for fall.

      Reply
  5. Paolo Paolo

    September 13, 2020 at 10:47 PM

    Love this Beef bria recipe! Will try this recipe for our sunday lunch! Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Jessica Halverstadt

      September 14, 2020 at 4:42 PM

      Thank you so much! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂

      Reply
  6. Biana

    September 13, 2020 at 9:11 PM

    Love beef stew! This recipe looks amazing, and now is the perfect time to try it. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

    Reply
    • Jessica Halverstadt

      September 13, 2020 at 9:28 PM

      You are very welcome, Thanks for checking it out!!!

      Reply
  7. Rachel Kasper Fitzsimons

    September 5, 2020 at 7:30 AM

    This looks amazing! Is there any change I would need to make to use a crock pot instead of doing it on the stove?

    Reply
    • Jessica Halverstadt

      September 5, 2020 at 5:24 PM

      Thank you, they are!!! I would cook it on low for 6-8 hours, then shred the meat and return it for another hour or two.

      Reply
  8. Denise

    July 25, 2020 at 12:24 PM

    How much water?

    Reply
    • Jessica Halverstadt

      July 25, 2020 at 5:20 PM

      Just enough to cover the ingredients.

      Reply
  9. Imelda

    May 26, 2020 at 5:07 PM

    Paprika is not a traditional ingredient.

    Reply
    • Jessica Halverstadt

      May 27, 2020 at 10:46 AM

      I understand. This is just my take on the dish 🙂 Thank you for stopping by my site!

      Reply

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