Easy Slow Cooker Birria de Res

Making Birria de Res at home is an easy way to pump up the flavor quotient for any number of celebrations. Try this trendy authentic Mexican recipe that can be eaten as either new-world tacos or old-world stew.

If you need the perfect excuse to roll those R’s this is it. Say it with me…Birrrrrrria. Satisfying, right? Well just wait until you taste this magnificent, fork tender meat served with a juicy, flavorful broth.

What is Birria?

I asked my mom if she knew how to make birria and her answer was, “Wow, I haven’t heard about that dish in years!” She said it was usually made with goat and eaten as a stew. I was telling her about birria tacos served with consommé that have become all the craze, and she was amazed.

I think it’s so interesting how a very old-fashioned dish can be reinvented to become the new “it” thing. What was once served from a bowl has now been converted into the top searched taco recipe for 2020! Who’d have thunk it?!?

Traditionally speaking, birria is meat stew from the Mexican state of Jalisco. It is usually made from goat meat in Mexico, but can also be made using beef or sheep. I opted to develop a recipe for birria de res (beef birria) as it is easier to find beef than goat here in the U.S.

My birria de res taco recipe actually reminds me of a cross between tender barbacoa or brisket and spicy adovada. The main difference is that birria also has a flavorful consommé-like broth that accompanies it. Birria is traditionally a stew, after all.

Since we’re turning the meat into tacos, however, that broth becomes a perfect dipping sauce for the crunchy, crispy fried quesabirria (cheesy birria tacos).

Why This Recipe Works

Since birria was not a dish (or taco) I grew up eating, I wanted to be sure to share an authentic Mexican recipe with you. In my search, I stumbled upon this Birria de Res recipe by Doña Angela, the adorable YouTube grandma from De Mi Rancho A Tu Cocina. Her recipe is very rustic made in a big pot on her wood burning stove.

Doña Angela reminds me so much of my late grandma, Jesusita. My grandma never measured anything and always ventured into her garden to pick fresh herbs. Doña Angela uses herbs like marjoram, mint, and bay leaves in her birria de res. 

I also included dried oregano, because my grandma always added a pinch of oregano to stews and red chile. I also added thyme, which pairs fantastically with beef and adds a touch of depth.

Since most of us don’t cook on a wooden stove these days, I made a few other tweaks to turn this old-world recipe into something anyone could easily recreate in their kitchen today. Using a slow cooker made the most sense to me, as it replicates the slow heat you would get from cooking on a wood burning stove.

While this birria de res recipe does take a bit of time, I can guarantee that it is neither difficult to pull off nor does it require any fancy equipment. I’ve also made sure to tailor the recipe to ingredients that can easily be sourced from a regular U.S. grocery store.

I also love that this recipe has dual uses. Feel free to serve it old school like Doña Angela by ladling it into bowls and topping with cilantro, onions, radish, and chiles like a stew. Or, if you’re feeling modern, try turning it into crispy tacos or cheesy quesabirria! No matter how you serve this yummy meat, you are sure to enjoy it.

How to Make Birria de Res

Slow cook meat

This yummy stew recipe is actually quite simple. First, slow cook the meat.

In a slow cooker add water, beef chuck roast (cut into 4-inch cubes), onion, garlic, salt, black peppercorns, bay leaves, oregano, marjoram, mint, and thyme (if using).

Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.

Remove the beef and shred the meat and discard fat pieces. Season to taste. Place shredded meat back in the slow cooker with broth.

Make red chile sauce

While the beef is cooking, make your red chile sauce. This sauce will add a ton of flavor to the resulting birria stew.

Remove stems, seeds, and veins from the chile pods. Place in a colander and rinse well with cool water.

Add chiles, garlic, onion, and water to a large pot. Bring water to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes. After 10 minutes turn the chiles over with tongs to make sure the chiles soften evenly. Allow time to cool down before blending. Do not discard water.

Once cooled, place in blender with salt. Blend until smooth. If necessary, season with more salt. Strain sauce through a fine sieve into the slow cooker and stir. Discard remaining skins and seeds.

Now all that is left to do is decide if you’d rather eat tacos or stew!

Make ahead: The red chile sauce can be made in advance and kept in airtight containers in the refrigerator or freezer. Red chile sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week or frozen for up to six months.

Serving and Storage

To make tacos or quesabirria: Heat a comal (cast iron griddle) over medium-low heat. Dip the tortillas one at a time in the consommé (beef broth combined with red chile sauce). Place on the comal and top with cheese, I recommend Queso Oaxaca, if making quesatacos (cheese birria tacos). Add shredded beef over half the tortilla and chopped cilantro and onion. Drizzle the beef with a little more consommé.

When the cheese is melted, fold each tortilla in half. Cook, flipping halfway through, until browned and slightly crispy, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.

Keep warm: Transfer the tacos to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Repeat assembling and cooking the remaining tacos.

Serve tacos garnished with additional diced onion, cilantro, and lime wedges, and small bowls of warm consommé for dipping.

To make birria stew: Serve in a bowl as a stew with diced onion, radishes, and fresh cilantro, and serve with corn tortillas.

For leftovers: As with most soups and stews, birria de res does beautifully in the fridge, making it a perfect recipe for your meal prep day. Any leftovers can be kept in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to three months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Need more inspiration?

• Make Ramen with Birria.
• Serve Birria Tacos with a classic Mexican beer or with a Chelada.
• Want to serve tacos with a side dish? Serve with Sopa de Fideo.
• Horchata is a great addition to any classic Mexican dish, pair Birria de Res with Strawberry Horchata.
• Need something to cool your tongue? Serve Paletas de Tamarindo for dessert. 
• Use leftover shredded beef and make nachos similar to these Brisket Nachos.

If you tried my simple recipe for authentic Birria de Res, please rate and review it below! Or, if you decide to Instagram your creations, tag me (@muybuenocooking) so I can see your delicious birria tacos.

Photography by Raemi Vermiglio