Chicken Birria Tacos Recipe

These Chicken Birria Tacos are an explosion of flavor yet take so little time to make! The juicy chicken is cooked in a broth of spices and chiles until it's fork-tender, then tucked into a warm tortilla and topped with cheese and cilantro. Then, you can dip the tacos in the consommé for an extra burst of flavor!

The Best Chicken Birria Tacos

Nothing beats authentic Mexican street tacos, but this chicken birria taco recipe comes pretty darn close. 

And what I love about these tacos is that they're so easy to make, and the result is tender chicken that absorbs all those deep spices and flavors so beautifully.

Also, I have to say, the break-out star of this dish is the dip. I think birria tacos are incomplete without a delicious consommé to dip them in. Even though the tacos are insanely delicious on their own, pairing them with the birria sauce is another level of flavor. 

As for the toppings, I love keeping it simple with shredded mozzarella cheese and fresh cilantro, but I encourage you to get creative! Try some diced avocado, finely chopped onions, crumbled queso fresco, or even a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

By the way, one of the best things about this recipe is the fact that most of the cooking time is hands-off since you'll simply be letting the meat simmer for an hour. And you can use that idle time to make this Instant Pot Spanish Rice or fideo soup to go alongside the tacos!

Why You'll Love This Chicken Birra Tacos Recipe

Effortless to make. All you have to do is combine the ingreidents in a pot, let them cook, and assemble the tacos.

Authentic. These birria de pollo tacos have an authentic flavor that is just so good. You'll think they came from a restaurant!

The consomé. The birria sauce in this recipe is perfectly rich, smoky, and savory, giving the tacos a flavor like no other.

Crowd-favorite. Everyone who likes chicken tacos says these are a thousand times better than anything they've had before, so you're guaranteed to satisfy everyone who eats them.

Ingredients

This chicken birria taco recipe has quite the spice list, but nothing too out there, I promise! Honestly, most of them are pantry staples, and they really help to achieve the full flavor profile that makes these tacos so incredible. 

Here's everything you'll need:

• 4 Chicken Thighs: or chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp. Olive Oil 
• 2 tsp. Cumin Powder 
• 2 Garlic Cloves, chopped
• 2 Bay Leaves 
• 1 tsp. Garlic Powder 
• 1 Cinnamon Stick 
• 2 tsp. Peppercorns 
• 1 Red Onion, sliced 
• 2 Tomatoes, chopped 
• 2-4 Red Chiles, sliced 
• 1 Poblano Chili: soaked in water for at least 2 hours 
• 2 tbsp. Vinegar 
• 1 tsp. Salt 
• 6 cups water
• 1 tbsp. Mexican Oregano 

And for assembling the tacos: 

• 8 Tortilla Shells: Flour tortillas or corn tortillas
• 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese 
• Fresh cilantro 

Now, if you don't like spice, you can leave out the red chiles and Poblano chili peppers. But I definitely recommend using them. They really contribute to that signature birria taco flavor in the birria sauce for dipping.

Oh, and you can use corn tortillas or flour tortillas to make birria tacos. Both work great in this recipe.

By the way, you can use the recipe for the shredded chicken to make these BBQ chicken sliders for a show-stopping appetizer.

How To Make Chicken Birria Tacos

1. Cook seasonings: Heat a deep pot to medium high and add the olive oil. Add the cumin powder, garlic cloves, bay leaves, garlic powder, cinnamon sticks, and peppercorns. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until fragrant.

2. Cook veggies and chicken: Add the red onion, tomatoes, red and poblano chilis, vinegar, oregano, salt, and water. Cook for 10 minutes. Add the chicken thighs and cook for 1 hour at low heat. Remove the cooked chicken from the pot and shred it with two forks.

3. Make the birria sauce: Use an immersion blender to blend the broth directly in the pot. Season with salt and pepper if needed. Alternatively, you can transfer everything from the pot to a blender and blend to combine.

4. Assemble the tacos: Heat a cast iron skillet to medium high and heat the tortilla shells. Add a bit of chicken and mozzarella cheese, let the cheese melt, then fold the shell and take it out of the hot skillet. Serve tacos warm with the birria sauce for dipping and chopped cilantro.

Tips To Make The Best Recipe

• Add adobo sauce, chili sauce, sliced jalapenos, or guajillo chiles to the tacos to make them spicier.
• Add your favorite taco toppings like onion, lime juice, avocado, or pico de Gallo.
• Use oaxaca cheese to make the best quesabirria tacos.
• Dip the shells in the sauce before frying them on the pan for the best flavor.

How To Store Chicken Birria Tacos

In the fridge: Transfer the chicken and birria sauce to separate airtight containers and store them in the fridge for about 4 days.

In the freezer: Store the cooked chicken and leftover sauce in freezer-safe containers and keep them in the freezer for about 4 months.

Reheating: Warm the chicken in a skillet with olive oil over medium heat for a few minutes until thoroughly warmed. Heat the sauce in a pot over medium heat, stirring frequently, then assemble each chicken taco. Let the frozen chicken and sauce thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

FAQS About This Chicken Birria Taco Recipe

What is chicken birria made of?

Chicken birria tacos are made of fall apart tender chicken cooked in a delicious adobo sauce. The chicken is layered in crisped tortilla shells with melty cheese, and served with the sauce on the side.

What makes birria tacos different?

The stew meat for birria tacos is cooked in the sauce that is then used to tip the tacos in. It makes for a flavorful taco experience like no other. The tacos are made with chicken, beef, and sometimes goat meat. 

What to serve with chicken birria tacos?

They're delicious with a side of Chipotle cilantro lime rice, Mexican street corn casserole, or tortilla chips and this Moes queso.

More Chicken Recipes

If you like chicken and want some more recipes and ideas of how to cook it, we have a ton of recipes on the blog!

Give one of these a try next:

• Huli Huli Chicken
• Baked chicken tacos
• Chicken Tempura
• Chicken Bryan
• Chicken Tocino
• Instant Pot Enchiladas
• Instant Pot Japanese Curry

And, of course, if you enjoyed today's recipe you can find more delicious recipes - just like this one - on our YouTube channel!

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