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Lauren Cook

Easy Birria Quesadillas with Homemade Dipping Sauce Copy

Crispy, buttery birria quesadillas stuffed with tender shredded beef and melted Colby Jack cheese, served with homemade birria dipping sauce. Includes Dutch oven, Crockpot, and camping-friendly cooking methods!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

2–3 lb shoulder roast (chuck roast can be substituted)
2 tsp chili powder
1½ Tbsp cumin
1 Tbsp smoked paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp black pepper
2–3 Tbsp oil (I use garlic olive oil)
1 (28 oz) can fire-roasted tomatoes, crushed or diced
1 (32 oz) carton beef broth, or enough to cover the roast
For the Quesadillas
- Flour tortillas, store-bought or homemade
- Colby Jack cheese
- Shredded birria
- Chopped white onion
- Fresh cilantro
- Butter, for pan-frying
- Birria sauce, for dipping
- Green sauce, optional but highly recommended

Method
 

Instructions
    Dutch Oven Instructions
      Season both sides of your roast with garlic salt and pepper.
        Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the roast well on all sides.
          Add the fire-roasted tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano.
            Pour in enough beef broth to cover the roast.
              Cover and cook in a 275°F oven for about 6 hours, or until fall-apart tender.
                Crockpot Instructions
                  Brown the roast on all sides in a Dutch oven or skillet on the stovetop.
                    Transfer the roast to your Crockpot.
                      Add the fire-roasted tomatoes, seasonings, and enough beef broth to cover the roast.
                        Cook on low until the meat is fall-apart tender. Start checking around 6 hours.
                          Camping Method
                            Brown the roast directly in your Ninja Dutch oven-style Crockpot.
                              Add the tomatoes, seasonings, and beef broth.
                                Switch to Slow Cook and cook until the roast is fall-apart tender.
                                  Finish the Birria + Dipping Sauce
                                    Remove the tender roast from the cooking liquid.
                                      Remove any remaining fat and shred the meat.
                                        Skim excess grease from the cooking liquid and add garlic salt to taste.
                                          Blend the liquid until smooth using an immersion blender or carefully transferring it to a regular blender.
                                            Add more beef broth if you prefer a thinner sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings.
                                              Make the Birria Quesadillas
                                                Add shredded birria and Colby Jack cheese to a flour tortilla. I also like chopped white onion and cilantro inside mine.
                                                  Add a little butter to a skillet and pan-fry until the tortilla is golden and crispy and the cheese is completely melted.
                                                    Serve hot with homemade birria dipping sauce.
                                                      Add your favorite green sauce for dipping. I love MNMLST creamy spicy salsa!

                                                        Notes

                                                        I don't usually measure my seasonings. I eyeball them, so these measurements are my best estimate.
                                                        If you're a seasoned cook, sprinkle until it feels right. 😂
                                                        If you prefer measurements, follow mine above, then taste the dipping sauce and adjust as needed.
                                                        One of my biggest cooking tips: Taste your food! Recipes give you a starting point, but you're the one eating it. Make it taste good to you.
                                                        Lauren 🤎