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Birria Enchiladas

Delicious Birria Enchiladas topped with sauce and fresh garnishes
Birria Enchiladas combine tender, slow-simmered beef with cheesy corn tortillas for a comforting dish that’s perfect for feeding a crowd or a hearty weeknight dinner.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Serving Size 8 servings

Ingredients

For the Birria

  • 3 lbs beef chuck roast (short ribs, lamb, or goat are fine substitutes)
  • 6 dried guajillo chiles Remove stems and seeds
  • 4 dried ancho chiles Remove stems and seeds
  • 1 large white onion Half for blending, half for garnish
  • 6 cloves garlic cloves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 stick cinnamon stick
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 1 tsp Mexican oregano
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds (or 1 tsp ground cumin) Use ground cumin if you don’t have seeds
  • 4 cups beef broth (plus more if needed)

For the Enchiladas

  • 16 corn tortillas Warm tortillas on a hot skillet to make them pliable
  • 2 cups enchilada sauce (homemade, store-bought, or use reserved birria consomé)
  • 2 cups shredded Oaxaca or Monterey Jack cheese Swap half for Chihuahua cheese for variations
  • ½ cup crumbled Cotija cheese
  • Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Instructions

Preparation of Chiles

  • Remove stems and seeds from the guajillo and ancho chiles. Toast them lightly in a dry skillet—just until fragrant, 20–30 seconds per side—and then soak in hot water until soft, about 15–20 minutes. Drain but reserve some soaking liquid.

Blend the Sauce

  • In a blender, combine softened chiles, garlic, half the onion, cinnamon stick, cloves, cumin, oregano, and 2 cups of beef broth. Blend to a smooth sauce. Taste and adjust salt.

Sear the Meat

  • Season the beef with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned, about 3–4 minutes per side.

Braise

  • Pour the chile sauce over the seared meat. Add bay leaves and the remaining beef broth so the roast is mostly submerged. Bring to a low simmer, cover, and cook on low for 2.5–3 hours until the meat shreds easily.

Shred and Strain

  • Remove the meat and shred with two forks. Strain the braising liquid, reserving the consomé. Thin a cup or two into your enchilada sauce if it’s too thick.

Warm Tortillas

  • Warm corn tortillas on a hot skillet for 10–15 seconds per side until soft and pliable. Keep them covered with a towel so they don’t dry out.

Assemble

  • Spoon shredded birria into each tortilla, roll tightly, and place seam-side down in a baking dish.

Sauce and Cheese

  • Pour enchilada sauce (or diluted consomé) generously over the rolled tortillas. Sprinkle with shredded Oaxaca or Monterey Jack.

Bake

  • Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15–20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Finish

  • Top with crumbled Cotija and chopped cilantro. Serve with a small bowl of warm consomé for dipping.

Notes

For extra authenticity or crisp edges, briefly run the assembled enchiladas under the broiler for 1–2 minutes—watch carefully. The shredded birria can be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen for months. Assemble and bake on the day you plan to serve.