Birria quesadillas are a hearty and flavorful Mexican-inspired dish made with flour tortillas coated in the juice from slow-cooked meat and filled with tender shredded beef, cheese, onion, cilantro, and jalapeno peppers. These quesadillas are not only packed with bold flavors and aromas but also are messy and delicious! Try them with my slow cooker shredded beef recipe.

Birria Quesadilla - Shredded Beef Quesadillas on a Cutting Board with Cilantro and Birria Sauce.
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Birria Quesadillas

Birria is a traditional stew made with beef or goat and seasoned with various spices like chili powder, cumin, and oregano. In this recipe, I did not use goat, I use shredded beef for a modern twist on the classic dish. Served with a side of consommé broth, these birria quesadillas are a delicious and unique dish that will impress everyone who tries it.

Steps for Making a Birria Quesadilla in a Pan, Adding Sauce, Cheese, Meat, Onions, Cilantro, Jalapeon, and then Folding Quesadilla.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Meat: If you don’t want to make your own shredded beef, you can find it precooked at some supermarkets. I recommend something like this, Hormel Beef Roast Au Jus. This is not as flavorful as the homemade, but you can always add more seasoning. You can also purchase Birria meat, which may be packaged as a stew or shredded. I also used my tender meat on my Shredded Beef Sliders, which are so good!

Tortillas: Look for large flour tortillas to use for the quesadillas. Or, you could make your own homemade tortillas to use. I prefer flour tortillas for their flexibility.

Cheese: I love Monterey Jack cheese in these quesadillas. However, you could certainly use your favorite kind of cheese or a blend of cheeses. Just be sure the cheese can be melted quickly. Shredding your own can help.

Cilantro: If you are not a fan of cilantro, you could leave it out. However, before simply omitting it altogether, try a quesadilla with just a little bit of it first.

Jalapeno Peppers: Jalapeno peppers are not always spicy. If you don’t want a lot of kick from the jalapenos, look for younger peppers without any white streaks or striations (shiny green color). The older the pepper (more white lines) will give you a spicier pepper.

Birria Quesadillas ona. Cutting Board Cut Up Into Pieces.

Can I Make Birria Quesadillas Ahead of Time?

Sure! You can get a head start on this appetizer in a couple of different ways. The birria stew or shredded beef can be made up to two days in advance. Simply store it in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the quesadillas. A second way to get these made ahead of time is to get the quesadillas assembled. Then, wrap them up in plastic wrap to be stored in the refrigerator. When ready, simply heat them in the skillet or air fryer.

Hand Picking up a Cut in Half Birria Quesadilla.

Can I Make Quesadillas In An Air Fryer?

Yes! First, preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Next, coat the tortillas in the shredded beef juice. Fill as instructed in the recipe. Finally, air fry the quesadilla for 4-6 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time. They are done when the cheese has melted and the tortillas are crispy.

Close up of the Inside of a Birria Quesadilla.

Freezing Birria Quesadillas

Although best served hot and fresh, quesadillas can be stored in the freezer. To store them, first, let the quesadilla cool completely. Next, wrap it in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Be sure to label and date the packaging. When ready to enjoy, reheat them in the oven, in a skillet, or in the air fryer. Keep in mind that the crispiness of the tortillas and the texture of the other ingredients may be affected when reheated.

Birria Quesadilla - Shredded Beef Quesadillas on a Cutting Board with Cilantro and Birria Sauce.
5 from 4 votes

Birria Quesadillas

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Birria Quesadillas are made with flour tortillas coated in the juice from slow-cooked meat and filled with tender shredded beef, cheese, onion, cilantro, and jalapeno peppers.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup shredded beef juice, warmed (this is the juice that is with the meat when you make it), divided
  • 4 large (10 inches each) flour tortillas
  • 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded, divided
  • 2 cups shredded beef*, divided
  • 1 medium white onion, diced, divided
  • ¼ cup freshly chopped cilantro, divided
  • 2 tablespoons jalapeno peppers, diced, divided

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Coat the pan with ¼ cup shredded beef juice, reserving the rest for dipping.
  • Once hot, add one flour tortilla to the skillet, flipping it over to cover both sides with the sauce.
  • Top one side of the tortilla with ½ cup of Monterey Jack cheese, ½ cup of shredded beef, 2 tablespoons onion, about 1 tablespoon cilantro, and ½ tablespoon jalapeno peppers.
  • Fold the tortilla in half. Cook for 3-5 minutes on each side, or until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are golden brown and crispy.
  • Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make a total of 4 quesadillas.
  • Slice each quesadilla into 3-4 wedges. Serve with extra shredded beef juice for dipping. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

*Recipe for Lazy Man’s Birria (called Shredded Beef) It’s quite easy to make and perfect in these quesadillas.

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Reader Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I am actually giddy (yes giddy) with excitement to make these! Some of our favorite Mexican restaurants don’t have them on their menu. Great that I can make these at home now! I expect they’ll feed a crowd – starting with our Super Bowl party! Yes they’re messy but who cares? I can tell by all the ingredients that these will be special. I’m planning on making the slow cooker beef and the homemade enchilada sauce!

5 from 4 votes

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