Easy Chicken Birria Tacos Recipe

These chicken birria tacos will become your new favorite recipe. Classic birria tacos call for lamb or beef meat, but chicken is less expensive, more tender, and still very flavorful.

The meat is typically slow-cooked in a stew of spices, hot peppers, and tomatoes. To really up the flavor, the tortilla is dipped in sauce from the stew, called consommé, before being fried. It is very delicious, but a bit time-consuming.

The entire recipe can be time-consuming and sometimes pull people away from making it. The birria tacos I made here are not hard to make or take too much of your time, so you will have delicious birria tacos for your dinner in no time.

Why Are These Tacos Different?

As mentioned above, birria tacos require slow-cooking meat or chicken in the stew made from spices, tomatoes, and peppers.

This recipe is made by using leftover rotisserie chicken combined with onions, peppers, and sauce. The sauce is also very simplified and the entire dish is made in 30 minutes.

Although these birria tacos are easy, it does not mean they lack in flavor or taste different than the original birria tacos. This version is just suitable for all who want to try a new type of tacos without spending a whole day in the kitchen.

How To Make The Sauce

The sauce, or consommé, for the birria tacos takes around 3-4 hours to make.

My simple sauce is made from water, tomato paste, adobo sauce, spices, and cornstarch (as a thickening agent). This spicy concoction tastes just like the classic sauce that requires a long cooking time. 

The cornstarch used here is very important, so don’t skip it. The original sauce is very thick, and to get that thickness, some cornstarch is required.

Without it, the sauce would be too watery. You can also make this sauce ahead and reheat it when needed. 

How To Make The Filling

The filling for the chicken birria tacos is easy. In a bowl, combine shredded chicken, taco sauce, onions, and some peppers. You can use sweet or spicy peppers. 

Instead of this, you can take some of the sauce, add a bit of water, and then stir in chicken, onions, and peppers and simmer the sauce for a few minutes. This will give more flavor to the chicken. 

How To Fry The Tacos

My favorite and easiest method is by using a skillet. You can use a non-stick skillet or cast-iron skillet. For the cast-iron skillet, make sure you are using some canola oil, so the tacos do not stick to the skillet. 

Dip the tortillas (corn or whole-wheat) into the sauce or brush the sauce over the tortillas as the sauce is thick and will stick nicely. 

Place the tortilla into the skillet, and top with cheese, chicken, and more cheese if desired. Fold the tortilla, press down with a spatula, and sear until golden and crispy on both sides. 

How To Serve Birria Tacos

The birria tacos are a dish that does not require any additions, but for a full meal and you can serve your tacos with:

• Grilled vegetables
• Roasted sweet potatoes
• Refreshing salsa
• Pico de gallo
• Guacamole or avocado sauce
• Sour cream
• Or just with some lime wedges that balance the flavor of the entire birria tacos

How To Make Slow-Cooked Consomme?

If you want to try the longer version of the sauce, here is how to make it:

You will need:

• 1.5 lb chicken breasts, skin on, bone-in
• 5 oz tomato sauce
• 1 small bunch of cilantro
• 1 small onion
• 4 dried chilies
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper
• 20 oz chicken broth or stock
• 2 tsp powdered chicken bouillon
• 1 tomato
• 1-2 bay leaves

How to make it:

You will heat a stockpot over medium-high heat with some oil. Add in seasoned chicken breasts (with salt and pepper) and cook, for 10 minutes or until nicely browned. Remove the chicken and add in onions.

Cook the onions for 5 minutes. Place back in the chicken and add tomato sauce, garlic, tomatoes, chilies, garlic, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper, and chicken stock or broth. Crumble the chicken bouillon come on top and add bay leaves.

Simmer on low for 2 hours. Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon. Scoop out peppers and transfer them to a food blender. Add two cups of chicken stock or broth and blend until smooth. 

Dip the tortillas in the sauce. Cook the tacos in a skillet, topped with cheese and shredded chicken, until nicely crispy and golden.

Easy Chicken Birria Tacos Recipe

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

For the chicken:

• 4 lb rotisserie chicken, shredded 
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
• 8 corn tortillas
• Lime wedges, for serving
• Chopped cilantro, for serving
• Sweet or spicy peppers, chopped

For the sauce:

• 2 cups water
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tbsp adobo sauce
• 1 tbsp vegetable or canola oil
• ½ tsp garlic, minced
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• ¼ tsp cumin
• Oregano, to taste

Instructions

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