Slow-Cooked Beef Birria with Mexican Chilies
Tender beef slow-cooked in a rich, smoky sauce made from dried Mexican chilies and aromatic spices, perfect for tacos or dipping. This mexican-inspired tacos & burritos ready in about 225 minutes pairs beef chuck roast, dried guajillo chilies, dried ancho chilies for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef chuck roast
- 4 dried guajillo chilies
- 3 dried ancho chilies
- 2 dried chipotle chilies
- 1 medium, quartered white onion
- 5, peeled garlic cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 tbsp white vinegar
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 12 corn tortillas
Instructions
- Step 1: Remove stems and seeds from 4 dried guajillo, 3 ancho, and 2 chipotle chilies. Toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes until fragrant, then soak in 2 cups hot water for 20 minutes until softened.
- Step 2: In a blender, combine softened chilies with 1 medium quartered white onion, 5 peeled garlic cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, 4 whole cloves, 2 bay leaves, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp black peppercorns, 2 tbsp white vinegar, and 1 cup beef broth. Blend until smooth.
- Step 3: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Sear 2 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks, for 3-4 minutes per side until browned.
- Step 4: Pour chili sauce over the beef, add remaining beef broth to cover meat, season with 2 tsp salt, and bring to a simmer. Cover and reduce heat to low; cook for 3 hours until beef is tender and shreds easily.
- Step 5: Shred the beef with two forks and return to the sauce, simmer uncovered for 15 minutes to thicken the sauce.
- Step 6: Warm 12 corn tortillas on a hot skillet for 30 seconds per side, filling each with beef and sauce for dipping or making tacos.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Cooked Beef Birria with Mexican Chilies take to make?
Total time is about 225 minutes (30 min prep + 195 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Slow-Cooked Beef Birria with Mexican Chilies?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep beef chuck roast from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Beef Birria with Mexican Chilies?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Slow-Cooked Beef Birria with Mexican Chilies for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Slow-Cooked Beef Birria with Mexican Chilies?
Mexican tacos & burritos like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
