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What Are Quesabirria Tacos?
If you haven’t tried Quesabirria Tacos, let me tell you—you’re seriously missing out. Imagine crispy, cheese-filled tacos stuffed with tender, slow-cooked beef and served with a rich, flavorful consommé for dipping. It’s like the best parts of a birria stew and a quesadilla combined into one ridiculously satisfying bite.
These tacos fall into the Mexican street food category, but they’ve gained worldwide fame for a good reason. Whether you’re looking for a comfort meal, a show-stopping party dish, or just an excuse to eat something cheesy and delicious, quesabirria tacos are the way to go.
The Secret to the Best Quesabirria Tacos
The heart of Quesabirria Tacos is the slow-cooked beef. Traditionally, birria is made with goat meat, but beef (especially a combination of chuck roast and short ribs) gives it a richer, deeper flavor. The key is cooking it low and slow with a mix of dried chiles, spices, and beef stock until it becomes fall-apart tender.
Here’s where the magic happens: once the meat is shredded, it’s stuffed into corn tortillas dipped in the rich, chili-infused fat from the consommé. Then, they’re fried until crispy with gooey melted Oaxaca cheese. That first crunchy, cheesy bite, followed by a dip in the flavorful consommé? Unmatched.
Ingredients for Quesabirria Tacos
Before we dive into the method, let’s break down what you’ll need:
For the Meat:
- 2 lbs beef chuck roast
- 3 lbs beef short rib
- Salt and pepper (to season)
- 4 tbsp neutral oil
For the Sauce (Consommé):
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 10 cloves garlic (smashed)
- 2 tomatoes (quartered)
- 12 guajillo chiles (deseeded)
- 6 ancho chiles (deseeded)
- 3 arbol chiles
- 3-4 cups water
- 2 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp Mexican oregano
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tbsp coriander
- 1 tbsp black peppercorns
- 3 cloves
- 4 bay leaves
- 2 liters beef stock
For the Tacos:
- Corn tortillas
- Oaxaca cheese
- Chopped onions
- Fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
How to Make Quesabirria Tacos
1. Prepare the Meat
Start by seasoning the beef chuck roast and short ribs with salt and pepper. Let them dry-brine in the fridge while you prepare the other ingredients. This helps enhance the flavor and texture.
2. Sear the Beef
In a large pot, heat neutral oil over high heat. Sear the beef in batches until it’s browned on all sides—this builds deep, rich flavors in the consommé. Set the beef aside.
3. Make the Chili Base
In the same pot, sauté the onions and garlic until fragrant. Add tomatoes and cook for a few more minutes before tossing in the dried chiles. Let them toast for a bit, then add water and simmer until the chiles are soft.
Blend everything with vinegar, cumin, and oregano until smooth. This sauce is the backbone of your consommé.
4. Build the Consommé
In a dry pan, toast the cinnamon stick, coriander, black peppercorns, and cloves for a few minutes. Add them to a spice bag with the bay leaves.
Return the beef to the pot, pour in the blended chili sauce, add beef stock, and toss in the spice bag. Let this simmer on low heat for 4-5 hours until the beef is fork-tender.
5. Shred the Beef
Once the beef is done, remove it from the pot and shred it. Mix in some of the consommé to keep it juicy. Season with more salt if needed.
6. Assemble and Fry the Tacos
Here comes the fun part:
- Dip corn tortillas into the top layer of fat from the consommé.
- Place them in a hot pan and sprinkle with Oaxaca cheese.
- Add a generous amount of shredded beef.
- Once the cheese melts, fold the tacos in half and fry until crispy.
7. Serve with Consommé
No Quesabirria Taco is complete without a side of consommé for dipping. Serve with chopped onions, cilantro, and lime wedges for extra freshness.
Why You’ll Love Quesabirria Tacos
- The Texture – Crispy tortillas, gooey cheese, and melt-in-your-mouth beef? Perfection.
- The Flavor – A rich, smoky, and slightly spicy broth that packs a punch.
- The Experience – Dipping your tacos into the consommé makes every bite even more delicious.
Quesabirria tacos aren’t just food; they’re an experience. Whether you’re making them for a casual dinner or a special occasion, they always steal the show.
So, are you ready to dive into this flavor-packed dish? Try making Quesabirria Tacos at home—you won’t regret it!
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