Flavorful Mexican Ground Beef Birria-Style Quesabirria Tacos
A quick and easy recipe for authentic birria-style tacos using ground beef, smoky dried chiles, and melty cheese, perfect for weeknight dinners and casual gatherings.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 tacos (6 servings, 2 tacos per serving) 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20 preferred)
- 3–4 dried guajillo chiles, stems and seeds removed
- 1 dried chipotle chile (optional)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small white onion, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cups (475 ml) low sodium beef broth
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish
- 12 small corn tortillas
- 2 cups shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella
Instructions
- Remove stems and seeds from guajillo and chipotle chiles. Soak in hot water for 15 minutes until softened.
- Drain chiles and blend with garlic, tomato paste, cumin, oregano, cinnamon, and 1 cup (240 ml) beef broth until smooth. Add more broth if needed for saucy consistency. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and chopped onion. Cook 6-8 minutes until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Pour birria sauce over cooked beef. Add bay leaf and remaining 1 cup (240 ml) beef broth. Stir and simmer uncovered on low heat for 20-25 minutes until sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper.
- Warm tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave until pliable. Shred cheese and prepare for assembly.
- Heat a clean skillet over medium heat. Place a tortilla in the pan, sprinkle cheese over half, then spoon birria beef mixture on top. Fold tortilla over to form a half-moon.
- Cook each side 2-3 minutes, pressing gently, until cheese melts and tortilla is crispy and golden brown.
- Serve tacos hot with warm birria consommé for dipping. Garnish with fresh cilantro and optional diced onion or lime wedges.
Notes
Toast dried chiles lightly before soaking to intensify flavor. Maintain medium heat when crisping tacos to avoid burning or sogginess. Cover tortillas with a damp towel while assembling to keep them pliable. For dairy-free, substitute cheese with plant-based melting cheese or omit.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tacos
- Calories: 450
- Fat: 28
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
Keywords: birria tacos, quesabirria, ground beef tacos, Mexican tacos, easy birria recipe, cheesy tacos, weeknight dinner