Birria – Authentic Mexican Birria Recipe from Jalisco

Birria is a traditional Mexican dish from the state of Jalisco. This rich and flavorful stew is traditionally made with goat or mutton, but beef is also commonly used for a delicious and easy-to-make version at home.

Birria is often served at special celebrations like weddings, baptisms, Christmas, Easter, and family gatherings. Slow-cooked with dried chiles, spices, garlic, onion, and tomatoes, this recipe creates tender meat and a flavorful consommé perfect for dipping warm corn tortillas.

Ingredients

• 2 lb beef chuck roast
• 5 large garlic cloves
• 1 white onion
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1 lb tomatoes
• 2 Guajillo chiles
• 2 Ancho chiles
• 1–2 bay leaves
• 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground oregano
• 1/2 tablespoon ground black pepper
• 2 cloves
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro

Looking for authentic ingredients? Shop dried Mexican chiles, Guajillo chiles, and other Mexican pantry favorites at MexGrocer.com.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the Onion and Garlic

Peel the garlic and onion. Chop half of the onion and set aside the other half for garnish.

Step 2: Toast the Spices

Quickly toast the cumin, oregano, cloves, and black pepper in a pan, one by one. This helps bring out their aroma and flavor.

Step 3: Make the Marinade

Blend the toasted spices with the white vinegar, a bit of salt, half a tablespoon of cumin, and half a tablespoon of black pepper until you get a paste.

Step 4: Marinate the Beef

Cut the beef chuck roast into medium-sized pieces. Place the beef in a pot and mix it with the marinade. Let it rest for 30 minutes.

Step 5: Prepare the Chiles

Bring water to a boil. While the water heats, clean and devein the Guajillo chiles and Ancho chiles. Remove the water from the heat and soak the chiles for a few minutes until softened.

Step 6: Blend the Chile Sauce

Blend the softened chiles with the tomatoes, half an onion, two garlic cloves, oregano, a pinch of salt, and another pinch of black pepper.

Step 7: Slow Cook the Birria

Add the chile mixture to the pot with the marinated beef. Add the bay leaves. Cook over low heat for about 4 hours, or until the meat is tender and almost falls apart.

Step 8: Prepare the Garnish

Finely chop the remaining half of the onion and the fresh cilantro. Set aside.

How to Serve Birria

Serve the birria stew in a bowl with chopped onion, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime on top. Enjoy with warm corn tortillas and some of the consommé on the side for dipping.

For an even better meal, serve with corn tortillas, Mexican rice, beans, and your favorite salsa.

Shop Birria Ingredients at MexGrocer

• Shop Guajillo Dried Chile Pepper
• Shop Dried Mexican Chiles
• Shop Herdez Guajillo Pepper Paste
• Shop Tortillas

Birria Cooking Tips

• Use beef chuck roast for a tender, flavorful birria.
• For deeper flavor, sear the beef before slow cooking.
• Use Guajillo and Ancho chiles for a rich, traditional sauce.
• Shred the meat and serve in tacos with consommé for dipping.
• Adjust the spice level by adding more or fewer dried chiles.

Why Birria is Special

Birria is more than just a stew. It is a traditional Mexican dish full of history, flavor, and celebration. Whether served as a comforting bowl of stew or turned into crispy birria tacos, this recipe brings the taste of Jalisco, Mexico to your kitchen.

Find the authentic Mexican ingredients you need at MexGrocer.com and make homemade birria with bold, traditional flavor.