Birria Burrito: A Bold Fusion of Tradition and Indulgence

• To understand the birria burrito recipe, you have to start with the birria itself. Traditionally, birria is a slow-cooked stew made with goat meat (though beef is now more common), native to the Mexican state of Jalisco. It's seasoned with a robust blend of chilies, spices, vinegar, and herbs, then simmered in a deep red, rich broth called consommé until tender.
• Birria is often served at celebrations—weddings, holidays,—and eaten with tortillas for dipping. But its versatility has given rise to countless dishes, including tacos, quesabirrias, ramen, and now burritos.

The Birria Burrito

• A birria burrito takes all the savory richness of birria meat and tucks it into a large flour tortilla, often with rice, cheese, beans, and sometimes a splash of consomé. It's portable, hearty, and hits every sensory note: smoky, spicy, tender, cheesy, and chewy.
• Think of it as the perfect fusion—one foot rooted in Mexican culinary tradition, the other firmly planted in modern, cross-cultural innovation. And the best part? It's customizable.

Why Everyone Loves It

1. Flavor Depth

   Birria meat is unlike typical burrito fillings. Thanks to dried chilies (such as guajillo, ancho, and pasilla), garlic, cumin, cinnamon, and cloves, it has incredible flavor complexity.

2. Texture

   Birria is slow-cooked until the meat is buttery-soft and dripping with juices. This contrasts beautifully with the firmer rice, creamy beans, and melty cheese in the burrito.

3. Dippable Element

   The consomé—the savory broth from cooking the meat—can be served alongside the burrito for dipping, making every bite juicier and more flavorful.

Ingredients You'll Need

Here's what typically goes into a birria burrito. Feel free to swap in what you love.

For the Birria Meat:

• 3 lbs beef chuck roast (or a mix of chuck and short ribs)
• 3 dried guajillo chilies
• 2 dried ancho chilies
• 2 dried pasilla chilies
• 1 large white onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 cloves1 bay leaf
• 1 tbsp vinegar (white or apple cider)
• 1 chipotle in adobo (optional for smokiness)
• 4 cups beef broth
• Salt and pepper

For the Burrito Assembly:

• Large flour tortillas
• Mexican rice (or cilantro-lime rice)
• Refried beans or black beans
• Shredded cheese (Oaxaca, Monterey Jack, or cheddar)
• Chopped onion and cilantro
• Lime wedges
• Optional: avocado slices, jalapeños, sour cream

Making Birria Meat

1. Toast and Soak the Chilies

   Remove seeds and stems from the dried chilies. Toast them lightly in a dry skillet until fragrant (don’t burn them), then soak in hot water for 15 minutes.

2. Blend the Marinade

   Drain the chilies and blend them with garlic, onion, vinegar, chipotle, and all the spices. Add a bit of soaking water or broth to get a thick paste.

3. Marinate the Meat

   Cut beef into large chunks and season with salt. Rub the chili paste all over the meat. Let it marinate for at least 2 hours (or overnight).

4. Slow-Cook It

   Add the meat, remaining marinade, bay leaf, and broth to a Dutch oven or slow cooker. Cook on low heat for 4–6 hours until the meat is fork-tender.

5. Shred and Separate

   Remove the meat and shred it. Skim the top of the broth (consomé) to remove excess fat. Reserve the consomé for dipping or moistening the burrito filling.

Building the Ultimate Birria Burrito

Once you’ve got your meat ready, building the burrito is the fun part.

1. Warm Your Tortillas

Use a griddle or large skillet to warm the flour tortillas until soft and pliable. Optionally, brush one side with a bit of consomé before warming for extra flavor.

2. Layer It Up

Start with:

• A scoop of Mexican rice
• A layer of refried or black beans
• A generous portion of shredded birria meat
• A handful of shredded cheese
• Chopped onions and cilantro
• Optional extras (avocado, sour cream, jalapeños)

3. Roll and Toast

Fold the sides, then roll tightly into a burrito. Place seam side down on a hot skillet or panini press to toast the outside, melting the cheese and adding a crispy finish.

4. Serve with Consomé

Serve the burrito sliced in half, with a small bowl of consomé on the side for dipping—just like with a French dip sandwich, but with chilies and beef.

Quesabirria Burrito

• Add extra cheese and sear the outside of the burrito in consomé fat until the exterior is golden and crisp, creating a hybrid of a quesadilla and a burrito.

Breakfast Birria Burrito

• Add scrambled eggs, potatoes, and maybe some queso fresco for a breakfast twist.• Keto Birria Burrito
• Use a low-carb tortilla or turn it into a burrito bowl with lettuce, guac, and cauliflower rice.

Tips for the Best Birria Burrito

1. Fat separation: Skim the consomé for excess fat before serving. Save the flavorful fat for toasting tortillas if desired.
2. Cheese choice: Use a good melting cheese, such as Oaxaca, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack.
3. Double wrap: If your tortilla is thin or overloaded, use two tortillas to prevent it from breaking.
4. Crisp it: A light toasting adds flavor and structure.

What to Serve with a Birria Burrito

Pair your birria burrito with:

1. Mexican street corn (elite)
2. Pickled red onions
3. Tortilla chips and guacamole
4. A zesty Mexican slaw
5. Agua fresca or horchataIt's a hearty meal, so the sides should be fresh and crisp to balance the richness of the main course.

The Rise of Birria in the U.S.

The birria trend caught fire thanks to social media and the rise of quesabirria tacos in Los Angeles and beyond. Food trucks and Instagram chefs turned birria into a spectacle—cheesy, juicy, and endlessly dunkable. From there, it wasn't long before burritos, ramen, nachos, and even pizza were infused with birria's signature flavor.

The burrito birria fits naturally into this evolution. It's a format Americans are familiar with, filled with the rich, spicy, and indulgent flavors of Mexico.

About One Stop Halal

Welcome to your favorite Butcher Shop. We carry various meat cuts that are hard to find elsewhere. We deliver to your doorstep anywhere in the United States within 1-2 business days.