Sizzling Spicy Birria Enchiladas Recipe: A Fiery Flavor Fiesta

Weeknight dinners demand bold, exciting flavors that keep everyone craving more, and these spicy birria enchiladas bring serious heat to the table.

Tender, slow-cooked beef infused with rich chili peppers creates a mouthwatering centerpiece for any meal.

Deep, complex spices dance through each enchilada, promising an explosion of Mexican culinary tradition.

The vibrant red sauce coats every inch of these rolled tortillas, promising a delicious adventure.

Melted cheese adds a creamy contrast to the intense, spicy meat filling.

Each bite promises a journey through layered, authentic flavors that will transport you straight to the heart of Mexican cuisine.

Prepare to savor every single, spectacular bite of this unforgettable dish.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Total Time: 4 hours

Calories: 420 kcal

Servings: 8

Birria Enchiladas Ingredient Lineup

• Beef Chunks: Succulent protein carrier that absorbs rich marinade flavors, choose well-marbled cuts for tender results.
• Beef Broth: Enhances deep meaty undertones, select low-sodium versions for controlled seasoning.

• Guajillo Chiles: Provides smoky sweetness with mild heat, look for flexible, deep red peppers.
• Ancho Chiles: Delivers rich, fruity complexity with gentle warmth, choose wrinkle-free, pliable specimens.
• Chiles de Arbol: Introduces sharp, fiery kick, select bright red, crisp peppers.
• Tomatoes: Adds vibrant acidity and thickness to sauce, pick ripe, firm fruits.
• Onion: Contributes aromatic base layer, select firm, heavy bulbs without soft spots.

• Vinegars: Creates tangy depth, balances rich meat flavors.
• Garlic: Provides robust, pungent undertone, choose firm, compact cloves.
• Cinnamon Stick: Introduces warm, subtle sweetness, select whole, fragrant bark.
• Bay Leaves: Offers earthy, slightly floral note, pick intact, deep green leaves.
• Black Peppercorns: Delivers sharp, warming spiciness, choose whole, glossy corns.
• Cumin: Adds warm, nutty complexity, select freshly ground for intense flavor.
• Oregano: Brings herbal brightness, choose vibrant green, aromatic leaves.
• Cloves: Introduces intense, sweet-spicy warmth, select whole, intact buds.

Tools That Help with Layers and Sauce

• Large Pot or Dutch Oven: Essential for cooking the beef and preparing the rich birria sauce.
• Blender: Critical for creating the smooth, complex sauce by blending chiles and spices.
• Baking Dish: Needed to assemble and bake the enchiladas until cheese melts perfectly.
• Slotted Spoon: Helps transfer softened chiles from cooking liquid to blender with ease.
• Sharp Knife: Used for chopping ingredients and shredding tender beef.
• Measuring Cups: Ensures accurate liquid and spice measurements for balanced flavor.
• Frying Pan: Helps quickly warm and soften tortillas before rolling enchiladas.
• Strainer: Removes solids from cooking liquid, creating a clean sauce.

How to Make Juicy, Cheesy Birria Enchiladas

• Brown the Beef

Heat oil in a large pot and sear beef chunks until golden brown on all sides. This step locks in rich, deep flavors and creates a beautiful caramelized exterior.

• Create Magical Sauce

Combine chiles, tomatoes, onions, and spices in the pot. Blend the softened ingredients with broth and seasonings until silky smooth. The sauce is the heart of your birria adventure.

• Slow Cook the Meat

Pour the vibrant sauce over the beef, ensuring it’s completely covered. Simmer gently for about 3 hours until the meat becomes incredibly tender and easily falls apart with a fork.

• Transform into Enchiladas

Quickly fry tortillas to make them flexible. Dip each tortilla in the birria sauce, then fill with shredded meat. Roll tightly and place in a baking dish.

• Bake and Finish

Cover the rolled enchiladas with extra sauce and sprinkle generously with cheese. Bake until the cheese melts and becomes gloriously bubbly.

• Serve with Flair

Top with fresh cilantro, crumbled Cotija cheese, and a squeeze of lime. Enjoy the explosion of flavors that tells a story of Mexican culinary tradition.

Flavor Boosters and Shortcut Tips

• Birria Enchiladas Cooking Tips & Variations
• Meat Magic: Select chuck roast or beef short ribs for maximum tenderness and rich flavor. Slow cooking breaks down tough muscle fibers, creating melt-in-your-mouth meat.
• Spice Level Control: Adjust chile pepper quantities to manage heat intensity. Remove seeds from guajillo and ancho chiles for milder version, or keep seeds for extra spiciness.
• Gluten-Free Option: Use corn tortillas and verify beef broth is gluten-free. Replace wheat-based ingredients with certified gluten-free alternatives.
• Vegetarian Twist: Substitute beef with jackfruit, portobello mushrooms, or black beans. Maintain complex sauce by keeping original spice blend and cooking method.
• Make-Ahead Friendly: Prepare birria meat 2-3 days in advance and store in refrigerator. Sauce can be prepared separately and reheated, making weeknight cooking faster and easier.

How to Serve Enchiladas That Impress

• Flavor Fiesta Plate: Serve these birria enchiladas with Mexican-style rice and refried beans for a complete, hearty meal that brings authentic flavors to your table.
• Taco Party Upgrade: Create a DIY taco bar alongside the enchiladas with extra birria meat, chopped onions, cilantro, lime wedges, and various hot sauces for guests to customize their plates.
• Fresh Sidekick Spread: Pair with a crisp avocado salad, quick pickled radishes, or a refreshing cucumber-tomato salsa to balance the rich, spicy enchiladas and add bright, zesty notes to your meal.
• Drink Pairing Magic: Complement the bold birria flavors with an ice-cold Mexican beer like Modelo or Corona, a tangy margarita, or a bright, citrusy agua fresca to cut through the richness.

Storage Tips That Keep It Ooey and Gooey

• Quick Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover enchiladas in airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth. Place them in single layers to protect the texture and prevent soggy edges.
• Smart Reheating Technique: Revive cold enchiladas by using the oven instead of microwave. Preheat to 350°F, cover with foil to retain moisture, and warm for 15-20 minutes. Add a splash of reserved birria sauce to keep the meat juicy and prevent drying.
• Freezer-Friendly Approach: Wrap individual enchiladas tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Label with date and contents. These can stay frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before reheating for best taste and texture.
• Ingredient Separation Hack: Keep sauce and meat separate during storage to prevent tortillas from becoming soggy. Store shredded beef, sauce, and rolled enchiladas in different containers. This method helps maintain crisp edges and allows flexible meal preparation for quick future meals.

Spicy Birria Enchiladas Recipe

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4.7 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 4 hours
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Mexican birria enchiladas offer a rich culinary journey through traditional flavors that blend tender braised meat with complex spices. Meat-filled tortillas rolled and smothered in savory sauce create an irresistible meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 lbs (1.36 kg) beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks
• 3 tbsps olive oil
• 2 cups beef broth
• 16 tortillas (flour or corn)
• 3 cups Oaxaca or Chihuahua cheese, shredded
• 12 dried guajillo chiles, rinsed, stemmed, and seeded
• 5 dried ancho chiles, rinsed, stemmed, and seeded
• 5 dried chiles de arbol, rinsed, stemmed, and seeded
• 2 medium tomatoes
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 7 cloves garlic
• 2 cups cooked white or Mexican rice
• 3 tbsps distilled white vinegar
• 3 tbsps apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried Mexican oregano
• ½ tsp whole black peppercorns
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ¼ tsp ground coriander
• 2-inch Mexican cinnamon stick
• 3 bay leaves
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Chopped cilantro (optional)
• Cotija cheese (optional)
• Lime wedges (optional)
• Pickled or raw onion (optional)

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Instructions

1. Meat Preparation: Generously season beef chunks with salt and pepper, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
2. Searing Process: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat, creating a rich golden crust on all beef surfaces. Transfer browned meat to a separate plate.
3. Chile Sauce Foundation: Combine guajillo, ancho, and chiles de arbol with tomatoes, onion, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and black peppercorns. Submerge ingredients in water and bring to a vigorous boil.
4. Flavor Extraction: Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes to develop intense flavor profiles. Transfer softened chiles to a blender, adding cooking water, beef broth, vinegars, garlic, cumin, oregano, cloves, and coriander.
5. Sauce Development: Blend until achieving a silky-smooth consistency with no visible chile fragments. Return beef to the pot, coating thoroughly with the blended sauce and adding extra beef broth if needed.
6. Braising Method: Simmer gently, covered, on low heat for approximately 3 hours until meat becomes extraordinarily tender and easily shredded.
7. Enchilada Assembly: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Quickly fry tortillas in minimal oil to enhance flexibility. Dip each tortilla in reserved birria sauce, then fill with shredded beef and cooked rice, rolling tightly and positioning seam-side downward in a baking dish.
8. Final Preparation: Drench rolled enchiladas with additional birria sauce and generously sprinkle shredded cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes until cheese melts completely and develops a golden, bubbling surface.
9. Serving Presentation: Garnish with fresh cilantro, crumbled Cotija cheese, zesty lime wedges, and pickled or raw onion for a vibrant and appetizing finish.

Notes

• Meat Tenderizing Technique: Select chuck roast or short ribs for maximum tenderness, allowing slow cooking to break down tough muscle fibers completely.
• Sauce Complexity Management: Toast whole dried chiles briefly before blending to enhance their depth and prevent bitter undertones, creating a more sophisticated flavor profile.
• Oil Temperature Control: Maintain medium-high heat when searing beef to develop a rich caramelized exterior without burning, which locks in moisture and creates deeper taste dimensions.
• Tortilla Handling Strategy: Lightly fry tortillas for 2-3 seconds only, preventing them from becoming overly crispy and ensuring they remain pliable for smooth rolling without cracking.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 15 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg