Quick Chicken Birria Tacos Recipe

Chicken birria tacos can be made using shredded chicken from the rotisserie and a quick savory marinade. This is a quick and easy way to make fried tacos in less than 30 minutes.

Quick Chicken Birria Taco

Birria tacos, a Mexican favorite, are slow-cooked beef stewed in tomatoes and spices. After the meat has been shredded, it is pan-fried in corn tortillas.

The spicy sauce (called consommé) is used to enhance the flavor of the tortilla before it’s pan-fried. It’s delicious but time-consuming nonetheless.

My weeknight take on the popular Mexican dish is chicken birria tacos. It’s a delicious substitute for the traditional Mexican dish, made with shredded chicken from the rotisserie and a simple savory sauce. This recipe can be prepared in less than 30 minutes.

Table of Contents

The Sauce

It takes approximately 3-4 hours to make a consommé in birria tacos. My bare-bones sauce comprises water, tomato paste, adobo, ground cumin, cinnamon sticks, garlic, canola oils, and corn starch (thickening agents).

This creates a spicy concoction that incorporates some inspiration from the original dish. Corn starch is vital as it adds texture and dimension to the sauce. Without it, it will become too thin and watery.

This sauce is great for chicken and tortillas and as a dipping sauce. You can make the sauce and heat it when ready to cook your tacos.

Pan Frying Birria Tacos

Birria tacos taste best when fried in a hot cast iron skillet with canola oils. You can also use a nonstick pan. I usually fry one or two tacos at once and then eat them as they are ready!

Quick Chicken Birria Tacos Recipe

Layer my tacos with cheese, shredded chicken, and white onion in a skillet. To ensure both sides are crispy and golden, turn the tortillas upside down and sear them.

Flipping is a great way to get things done. This is quickly becoming one of our favorite Mexican-inspired recipes. I’m excited to share it with all of you!

Quick Chicken Birria Tacos Recipe

Quick Overview

PREP TIME: 10
COOK TIME: 15
TOTAL TIME: 25 MINUTES
YIELD: 3-4
CATEGORY: DINNER
CUISINE: MEXICAN

Chicken birria tacos can be made using shredded chicken from the rotisserie and a quick savory marinade. This is a quick and easy way to make fried tacos in less than 30 minutes.

Quick Chicken Birria Tacos Recipe

Ingredients

Small corn tortillas
1 white onion, diced
Fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
8-ounce bags of shredded Mexican mix cheese
Optional lime wedges to serve
Fully cooked rotisserie chicken weighing 4-6 lbs, shredded
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon cornstarch
A pinch of ground cinnamon
A pinch of cumin
Optional jalapeno pieces for garnish
2 cups water
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2-3 tablespoons of adobo sauce (I buy chipotle peppers with adobo)
Salt, pepper, to taste

Instructions

Set aside the chicken, onion, cilantro, and garlic. Ensure the chicken shreds are small enough to fit in the corn tortillas. Put the chicken in a bowl.
Mix all ingredients for the adobo sauce in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Mix until smooth.
Toss the chicken with 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Dip the corn tortilla on both sides in the adobo sauce and then place it flat in the skillet. Add a thin layer of cheese. Layer chicken, onion, cilantro, and a little cheese on half of the tortilla. With a spatula, fold the second half over and press down. Sear for about 1 minute on each side or until crisp and golden. Add more oil to the skillet as needed.
Add extra adobo sauce to your tacos, or use sour cream.
This recipe can be made with flour tortillas if desired. Always opt for the 6-inch size taco.