Quesabirria Tacos Easy To Follow Recipe Video

I first tried Quesabirria in Disneyland at the Cocina Cucamonga restaurant in Disney’s California Adventure. The flavors, the tender meat, the dipping sauce blew me away! The birria stew with tender meat in a flavorful beef broth, is chock full of flavor. Combine that with melty cheese, cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice and you have a tasty twist on regular tacos. They’re just as easy to throw together as regular tacos, and will quickly become one of your favorite taco recipes of all time.The best part: this recipe is ready in less than an hour!

Ingredients in Quesabirria Tacos

Here is a basic list of the ingredients you will need to make birria tacos. We’ll dive into each of these ingredients in more detail below.

Beef birria – one recipe of this rich beef is the centerpiece for these tacos. You can use leftover birria meat for nachos, soups, etc. Corn tortillas – this recipe makes a dozen tacos, so start with at least 12. Oaxaca cheese – about 24 ounces, shredded. Substitute monterey jack, mozzarella, colby jack or a Mexican blend. White onions – these are optional, but a cup of diced white onions will give the tacos mild, slightly sweet flavor and more texture. Limes – you’ll need the juice of about 4-5 limes, or some bottled lime juice. Cilantro – one bunch fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish.

The Birria Meat

The secret to the perfect Birria meat is to make it fall apart tender. I used a big pot of this beef birria (birria de res) recipe to make these beef birria tacos. Birria is a type of Mexican stew or chili made with tender chunks of meat. Traditionally it is made with lamb or goat meat but here in the U.S. it is more commonly made with beef. I used a beef chuck roast and seasoned it with a tablespoon of salt before braising in a broth sauce infused with a blend or spices for hours until fall-apart tender. Short ribs or any kind of stew meat will work great for this recipe. You can also toss in garlic cloves, a bay leaf, whole cloves, even a cinnamon stick for extra flavor.

What Cheese to Use for Quesabirria Tacos

Use Oaxaca cheese, it is a great melting cheese. If you can’t find that in your grocery store, Mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese is a great substitute. Avoid using pre-shredded mozzarella though; it doesn’t melt as well as a block that you shred yourself.

Preparing the Tortillas

Soften the corn tortillas on a griddle or a frying pan just for a few moments until they’re warm and soft. This is an important step, otherwise the tortillas will fall apart when you try to fry them later. Soften first, then dip completely in the sauce.

Garnishes

These tacos are show-stoppers all on their own, but for extra flair, add chopped white onion, cilantro, and fresh lime wedges to the top. I like to squeeze the limes over everything but especially over the dipping sauce.

Quesabirria Dipping Sauce (Birria Consomme)

The sauce is created when you make the birria. It is part of the birria. When you remove the beef from the sauce, what remains is the birria sauce. The sauce is made from dried chiles (chile de arbol, guajillo peppers, ancho chiles, and any other chiles you like. You can use chipotle peppers or chiles in adobo sauce. Use flavors you love!) Spices and seasonings such as garlic, cumin, cinnamon, Mexican oregano, black pepper, onions, and tomatoes are also used. If you want a smooth texture, use a blender to get it just the way you want.

How to Make Quesabirria Tacos

Follow these simple steps and you’ll have a plate full of tantalizing tacos! Some of the steps take a little bit of time, but trust me, the finished product is worth every minute.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Keep leftovers in airtight containers, reheating in the air fryer when you’re ready to enjoy a delicious leftover lunch. Store leftover tacos in the refrigerator. They’re terrific for lunch the next day! The best way to reheat the leftovers is using the air fryer. Air fry at 375 for 8 minutes. No air fryer? Reheat in a pan until over medium heat until cheese melts. Microwaving will make the shells soft and you will lose the crisp shell.

Questions

What To Serve with Quesabirra Tacos

Can’t get enough Mexican food? (we can’t!) Try some of our favorite Cinco de Mayo recipes or browse our Mexican recipes category to see ALL of our Mexican-inspired dishes.