Spicy Cheesy Quesabirria Tacos Recipe

Sizzling Cheesy Quesabirria Tacos Recipe: A Fiesta Of Flavors

Tacos have undergone a delicious metamorphosis with the spicy cheesy quesabirria tacos recipe taking center stage in modern Mexican cuisine.

Bold flavors and rich textures define this mouthwatering dish that blends traditional techniques with contemporary flair.

Tender, slow-cooked beef creates a stunning foundation for these irresistible tacos.

The crispy, cheese-crusted tortillas deliver an incredible sensory experience that elevates street food to gourmet levels.

Each bite promises a complex harmony of spices, melted cheese, and succulent meat that dances across your palate.

Authentic ingredients transform these tacos from a simple meal into a culinary celebration.

Prepare to savor every delectable moment of this incredible taco experience.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Calories: 450 kcal

Servings: 9

Cheesy Quesabirria Tacos Ingredients List

For Birria Sauce Ingredients:
  • Dried Chiles: Essential for creating deep, complex flavor profile with authentic Mexican warmth.
  • Chipotle Peppers: Adds smoky heat and rich depth to the sauce's character.
  • Tomatoes: Provides natural sweetness and helps build sauce's smooth consistency.
  • Garlic: Infuses aromatic intensity and traditional Mexican cooking essence.
  • Onion: Contributes foundational savory undertones to the sauce.
  • Cumin: Delivers earthy, warm spice notes typical in Mexican cuisine.
  • Oregano: Brings herbal brightness and traditional seasoning complexity.
  • Cinnamon: Introduces subtle warmth and unexpected depth to the sauce.
For Meat Base Ingredients:
  • Beef: Tender cut perfect for slow-cooking and achieving melt-in-your-mouth texture.
  • Beef Broth: Creates moisture and enhances overall meat tenderness.
  • Bay Leaves: Provides subtle herbal undertones during slow-cooking process.
  • Salt, Pepper: Fundamental seasonings to elevate meat's natural flavors.
For Taco Assembly Ingredients:
  • Tortillas: Soft corn base that becomes crispy when griddled with consomme.
  • Cheese: Melts beautifully, creating irresistible stringy texture.
  • Chopped Onion, Cilantro: Fresh garnishes that add brightness and traditional Mexican finish.
  • Lime Wedges: Offers zesty freshness and balances rich meat flavors.

Tools For Cheesy Quesabirria Tacos

  • Blender: Essential for creating smooth, well-combined birria sauce.
  • Large pot or Dutch oven: Perfect for searing beef and simmering the rich, flavorful sauce.
  • Skillet: Crucial for toasting chiles, searing beef, and creating crispy, golden tacos.
  • Forks: Needed for shredding the tender, slow-cooked beef.
  • Cutting board: Useful for chopping onions and cilantro.
  • Sharp knife: Required for precise ingredient preparation.

Cooking Cheesy Quesabirria Tacos

  • Roast Chili Peppers

Toast dried chiles in a skillet over medium heat until they become wonderfully fragrant and develop a deep color. Soak the peppers in hot water to soften their texture and enhance their flavor.

  • Create Magical Sauce

Blend softened chiles with tomatoes, garlic, onion, and aromatic spices until the mixture becomes silky smooth and rich with complex flavors.

  • Transform the Beef

Heat oil in a large pot and sear the beef until it develops a beautiful golden-brown crust. This step locks in incredible flavor and creates a delicious foundation for the dish.

  • Slow Cook to Perfection

Pour the blended sauce over the beef, adding additional broth. Allow the meat to simmer gently, becoming incredibly tender and easily shreddable. This slow cooking process develops deep, mouthwatering flavors.

  • Craft Crispy Tacos

Dip tortillas into the savory consomme, then layer with melted cheese and tender shredded beef. Fold and cook until the exterior becomes wonderfully crispy and golden.

  • Serve and Enjoy

Garnish tacos with fresh chopped onions and cilantro. Accompany with a side of rich consomme for dipping and bright lime wedges to add a zesty finish.

Tips & Variations For Cheesy Quesabirria Tacos

  • Meat Mastery: Choose chuck roast or short ribs for maximum tenderness and rich flavor. Slow cooking breaks down tough muscle fibers, creating melt-in-your-mouth beef that falls apart effortlessly.
  • Spice Level Control: Adjust chile intensity by removing seeds from dried chiles for milder heat or adding extra chipotle for bolder, spicier results. Different chile combinations can transform the sauce's depth and character.
  • Vegetarian Twist: Swap beef with jackfruit or portobello mushrooms for a plant-based version. Roast vegetables in similar spices to mimic the rich, complex birria flavor profile while maintaining a meaty texture.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare birria meat and sauce up to 3 days in advance, allowing flavors to develop deeper complexity. Store separately in refrigerator and reheat gently before assembling tacos for convenience and enhanced taste.
  • Gluten-Free Option: Use corn tortillas and verify all ingredients are gluten-free certified. Check broth and spice labels to ensure complete dietary compliance without compromising authentic Mexican flavor.

Serving Suggestions For Cheesy Quesabirria Tacos

  • Fiesta Flavor Explosion: Pair these quesabirria tacos with vibrant side dishes that complement their rich, spicy profile.
  • Dip and Dive: Serve extra consomme in small bowls for an authentic Mexican street food experience, encouraging guests to dunk and savor each crispy, cheesy bite.
  • Fresh and Zesty Companions: Offer a bright Mexican cabbage slaw or quick pickled radishes to cut through the taco's richness and add crunchy texture contrast.
  • Cocktail Companion: Serve with a classic margarita or Mexican beer like Modelo or Pacifico to balance the bold, spicy flavors of the birria tacos.

How To Store Cheesy Quesabirria Tacos

  • Smart Batch Cooking: Prepare extra birria beef during the weekend to create quick weeknight meals like tacos, quesadillas, or loaded nachos. The meat freezes beautifully and maintains incredible flavor for up to 3 months.
  • Refrigerator Performance: Store shredded birria beef in an airtight container with its sauce for maximum moisture. Consume within 4-5 days for optimal taste and texture, ensuring each bite remains succulent and rich.
  • Freezing Technique: Separate beef and sauce into individual portion containers before freezing. This approach allows flexible defrosting and prevents unnecessary waste. Label containers with date and contents for easy tracking.
  • Meal Prep Strategy: Create taco filling components separately – shredded beef, consomme, and chopped garnishes – and store in separate containers. When ready to serve, quickly reheat beef and assemble fresh, restaurant-quality tacos within minutes.
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Spicy Cheesy Quesabirria Tacos Recipe

Spicy Cheesy Quesabirria Tacos Recipe


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4.9 from 22 reviews

  • Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
  • Yield: 9 1x

Description

Savory Mexican cheesy quesabirria tacos blend tender braised beef with melted cheese in crispy corn tortillas. Dripping with rich consommé, these tacos invite deep comfort and bold flavor for hungry diners seeking authentic regional cuisine.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 lbs (1.36 kg) beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • ½ tbsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp oil (for searing)
  • 1 white onion, chopped
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 3 dried guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded
  • 2 dried ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
  • 1 chipotle pepper in adobo
  • 1 (14 oz / 396 g) can fire-roasted tomatoes
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1012 corn tortillas
  • 2 cups shredded Oaxaca or mozzarella cheese
  • Chopped onion (for topping)
  • Chopped cilantro (for topping)
  • Lime wedges (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Sauce Preparation: Toast dried chiles in a dry skillet until fragrant, then steep in hot water to soften. Blend softened chiles with chipotle, tomatoes, garlic, onion, cumin, oregano, cinnamon, and beef broth until smooth and complex.
  2. Meat Braising: Season beef with salt and pepper, sear in a hot pot to create a caramelized exterior. Pour prepared sauce over meat, add beef broth and bay leaves. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a slow simmer, allowing the meat to become tender and infused with deep flavors.
  3. Meat Breakdown: Remove beef from sauce and shred delicately using two forks. Return shredded meat to the rich sauce, ensuring complete flavor integration.
  4. Taco Assembly: Dip corn tortillas into consomme, place on a heated skillet. Layer with melting cheese and shredded beef, folding to create crispy, golden tacos.
  5. Finishing Touch: Garnish with chopped onion and cilantro. Serve with a side of consomme for dipping and lime wedges to add bright, citrusy notes.

Notes

  • Control Chile Heat: Adjust the type and quantity of dried chiles to manage spiciness. Remove seeds for milder flavor or keep them for a fiery kick.
  • Perfect Meat Tenderness: Cook the beef low and slow to ensure maximum tenderness. Aim for a minimum of 2-3 hours of simmering to break down tough muscle fibers.
  • Crispy Tortilla Technique: Use a non-stick skillet and moderate heat when creating crispy tacos. Dip tortillas in consomme just before cooking to enhance flavor and prevent burning.
  • Cheese Selection Matters: Choose a melting cheese like Oaxaca or queso quesadilla for optimal gooey texture. Avoid hard cheeses that won’t provide the desired creamy consistency.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 hours
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
  • Method: Simmering
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 9
  • Calories: 450
  • Sugar: 2 g
  • Sodium: 600 mg
  • Fat: 25 g
  • Saturated Fat: 10 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 30 g
  • Cholesterol: 80 mg
John Nicholson

John Nicholson

Lead Writer & Recipe Developer

Expertise

Recipe Testing and Development, Kitchen Hacks and Time-Saving Tips, Flavor Pairing and Ingredient Selection, Engaging Food Writing and Storytelling

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Program: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: A hands-on curriculum emphasizing farm-to-table cooking, local ingredient sourcing, and creative menu development. Students gained real-world restaurant experience, learning both classic techniques and modern approaches to sustainable cooking.

John Nicholson honed his skills at Johnson & Wales University, learning how to use fresh, local ingredients and down-to-earth techniques to make cooking simple and satisfying.

His recipes blend Southern comfort flavors with a modern touch, inviting everyone to cook with ease and confidence.

Living in Charleston, John takes cues from the city’s lively food scene, local markets, and seasonal produce. He’s all about making meals stress-free through easy tips, flavor pairings, and fun experiments in the kitchen

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