Beef Birria

Beef Birria

10 servings
This beef birria is Chef John's recipe for a full-flavored meat stew featuring short ribs and chuck simmered with guajillo chiles and various spices.

Ingredients

  • beef chuck
    1
  • beef short ribs
    3
  • kosher salt
    4 tsp
  • dried mexican oregano
    2 tsp
  • freshly ground black pepper
    1 tsp
  • ground cumin
    1 tsp
  • ground cinnamon
    ¼ tsp
  • ground cloves
    ¼ tsp
  • dried guajillo chilies
    7
  • olive oil
    2 tbsp
  • onion

    roughly chopped

    1 large
  • garlic

    peeled

    6 cloves
  • piece fresh ginger

    thinly sliced

    1
  • tomatoes

    cored and chopped

    3 large
  • water
    2 c
  • chicken broth
    4 c
  • white vinegar
    ¼ c
  • bay leaves
    3
  • honey
    1 tbsp
  • finely diced white onion
    2 tbsp
  • chopped fresh cilantro
    1 tbsp
  • lime

    sliced

    1 medium

Directions

  1. 1

    Cut beef chuck in half; cut each half into 3- to 4-inch pieces. Cut each beef short rib through the middle, all the way down to the bone.

  2. 2

    Place beef chuck and short ribs into a soup pot; season with kosher salt, oregano, black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and cloves. Toss thoroughly until meat is evenly coated with spices, 2 to 3 minutes. Cover and keep in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours to overnight.

  3. 3

    Prep guajillo chiles by snipping off stems with scissors; slice open and scrape or shake out seeds onto a plate to discard.

  4. 4

    Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add guajillo chiles and toss in hot oil, about 30 seconds. Add onion, garlic, and ginger; toss to combine. Add tomatoes and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for 30 minutes.

  5. 5

    Turn off heat and use an immersion blender to purée mixture as smooth as possible, or use a countertop blender, working in batches as needed.

  6. 6

    Remove the soup pot with meat from the refrigerator. Strain puréed chili mixture into the pot using a large mesh strainer. Add chicken broth, vinegar, bay leaves, and honey to the pot.

  7. 7

    Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until meat is fall-apart tender, 3 to 4 hours. Skim fat off of the top and reserve for future birria queso tacos.

  8. 8

    To serve, place a few chunks of beef into a soup bowl and spoon some cooking liquid on the top. Sprinkle with some white onion and cilantro; squeeze lime juice over the top.

    Step 8
Beef Birria

Beef Birria

610 min10 servings375 cal

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About this Recipe

Craving a deeply savory, rich, and utterly comforting beef stew that transports your taste buds? Chef John's Beef Birria recipe delivers a full-flavored experience, transforming simple ingredients into a truly special, hearty meal.

This birria stands out by combining the rich marbling of beef short ribs with the robust, flavorful texture of beef chuck, creating an unparalleled tenderness after hours of simmering. The foundation of dried guajillo chiles provides an earthy, mild heat, while a thoughtful blend of aromatic spices like Mexican oregano, cumin, cinnamon, and cloves infuses every bite with complex warmth, ensuring a truly authentic flavor profile that deepens with time.

You can anticipate a spectacular, fall-apart tender beef stew, steeped in a vibrant, savory broth with a subtle, earthy heat from the guajillo chilies. The long, slow simmer transforms humble cuts of beef into a melt-in-your-mouth delicacy, yielding a rich, umami-packed sauce. This is a dish designed for depth of flavor, requiring patience but rewarding you with a profoundly satisfying and aromatic meal that fills your kitchen with irresistible scents, promising warmth and comfort in every spoonful.

To tailor the warmth of your birria, you can easily modify the number of guajillo chilies; use fewer for a milder stew, or for an extra kick, consider adding a pinch of a spicier dried chile during the cooking process. While the combination of beef chuck and short ribs provides optimal richness and texture, you could substitute with other cuts of beef well-suited for slow braising if those are more readily available.

This hearty Beef Birria is ideal for a comforting family dinner, a celebratory gathering, or when feeding a crowd. Serve it traditionally in bowls, perhaps with some of the finely diced white onion, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime to brighten each rich, savory bite.

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