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Slow Cooker Birria de Res

Slow Cooker Birria de Res
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Slow Cooker Birria de Res is a traditional Mexican stew featuring tender, juicy beef chuck slowly cooked with smoked chilies and warm spices. This hands-off recipe delivers deep, authentic flavors perfect for stews, tacos, or nachos and is versatile and family-friendly with mild to medium heat.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 2 to 3 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks
  • 4 dried guajillo chilies, stems and seeds removed
  • 3 dried ancho chilies, stems and seeds removed
  • 1 medium white onion, peeled and quartered
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 3 cups beef broth (preferably gluten-free)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds or ground cumin
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick (about 2 inches)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chilies: Remove stems and seeds from dried guajillo and ancho chilies. Soak them in hot water for about 15 minutes until softened to unlock their full flavor.
  2. Blend the Sauce: In a blender, combine the soaked chilies, garlic, onion, tomato sauce, cumin, cloves, and cinnamon stick. Blend until smooth to create a rich marinade and cooking sauce.
  3. Season and Marinate the Beef: Cut the beef chuck roast into large chunks, season them with salt and pepper, then coat thoroughly with the blended chili sauce to infuse bold flavors.
  4. Transfer to Slow Cooker: Place the marinated beef in the slow cooker. Add beef broth, bay leaves, and any remaining sauce. Cover and cook on low heat for 8 hours or until the beef is tender and easily shreddable.
  5. Shred and Serve: Remove the beef from the slow cooker, shred it into bite-sized pieces, then stir it back into the cooking liquid. The birria is now ready to serve as a stew or in tacos.

Notes

  • Toast dried chilies lightly before soaking for a deeper, smoky aroma.
  • Cook on low heat for tender meat and well-developed flavors.
  • Skim excess fat from the surface before serving for a cleaner finish.
  • Use the cooking liquid as a dipping consommé for tacos or reduce it to intensify flavor.
  • Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro, finely chopped onion, lime wedges, and crumbled queso fresco or shredded cheese for added zest.

Nutrition

Keywords: birria, slow cooker, beef stew, Mexican, tacos, authentic birria de res

Find it online: https://mealsbymary.com/slow-cooker-birria-de-res/