Instant Pot Birria Crunchwraps are a great alternative for taco tuesday and can be done in just over 60 minutes!
Embracing the essence of a traditional Crunchwrap, the instant pot Birria Crunchwrap showcases its innovation with an ensemble of carefully chosen ingredients. Atop the birria meat, a layer of melted cheese blankets the filling, providing a luscious melt-in-your-mouth experience. You can get creative by adding, diced onions, and tangy pickled onions that contribute a burst of freshness and zing.
Feeds 4-6 people
Prep time 10-15 minutes
Cook time 75 Minutes
This recipe yields 4 Crunchwraps
Why Instant Pot Birria Crunchwrap Works
Flavorful Birria Filling: Birria is a slow-cooked meat (typically beef, lamb, or goat) stewed in a richly spiced broth. Cooking it in an Instant Pot significantly reduces the cooking time while still allowing the meat to absorb all the bold flavors of the marinade and spices, resulting in tender, juicy meat that’s perfect for filling.
Convenience of the Instant Pot: The Instant Pot makes preparing birria more accessible by reducing the cooking time from several hours to under an hour. It also allows you to sauté, pressure cook, and keep the meat warm, all in one device, which simplifies the cooking process.
Crisp Texture and Structural Integrity: Crunchwraps are known for their crispy outer layer and the contrast between crunchy and soft textures. After making the birria, the shredded meat is added to a flour tortilla with cheese, tostadas, and other fillings, which is then folded and grilled. The grilling gives the outer tortilla a nice, crispy texture that contrasts beautifully with the soft, tender meat inside.
Versatile Customization: The combination of birria and crunchwraps is highly customizable. You can add different toppings like cheese, avocado, lettuce, and salsa, which allows for a personalized flavor profile. This flexibility means the dish can appeal to a wide variety of palates.
Ingredients for the Birria
- 2 lbs beef (such as chuck roast or brisket), boneless
- 2 onions, chopped
- 4-5 cloves garlic
- 4 dried guajillo (stems and seeds removed
- 2 ancho chilies (stems and seeds removed)
- 1 chile Arbol (Stem and seeds removed)
- 3 tomatoes
- Steak Seasoning or taco seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil for cooking
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 1/2 cups of water
- 2 bay leaves
For the Crunchwraps:
- Extra Large flour tortillas
- Small flour tortillas
- Tostadas
- Queso
- Diced Tomatoes
- Sliced jalapeños (optional)
- Sour Cream
Instructions For Birria
Season the beef on all sides with steak or taco seasoning
Set your Instant Pot to sauté mode. Then, add some cooking oil and sear the beef on all sides until browned.
Remove the beef and set it aside. Next, add the chopped onions, garlic, and tomatoes to the pot. Cook for a few minutes until softened.
Remove the garlic, onions, and tomatoes from the pot and set aside.
Place the dried chilies and cinnamon stick in the Instant Pot. Drizzle a little oil over the top of the chilies and stir around until the chilies are rehydrated.
In a blender, combine the rehydrated chilies, cooked onions, garlic, a splash of beef broth, and blend until smooth. Remember to remove the cinnamon stick before blending.
Return the beef to the Instant Pot and pour the birria mixture over it. Add enough water until the beef is nearly submerged.
Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on the high setting for 60 minutes. After cooking, release the steam pressure and carefully remove the beef.
Shred the cooked beef using two forks. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Keep the birria warm for assembling the crunchwraps.
For The Crunchwraps
Layout a large flour tortilla and spread a layer of queso in the center, leaving a tantalizing border around the edges.
Pile a generous portion of the shredded birria beef on top of the cheese, followed by a crispy tostada for that perfect crunch.
For those craving a bit of heat, add some sliced jalapeños on top (optional), followed by diced tomatoes and chopped lettuce.
Carefully fold the edges of the tortilla up and over the filling, creating pleats as you go, ensuring a secure pocket of flavor.
Heat a bit of oil in a skillet and place the Crunchwrap seam-side down, cooking until golden and crispy for 2-3 minutes. Flip and repeat the process for the other side.
Repeat the process to craft more tantalizing Crunchwraps
Serve the Birria Crunchwraps piping hot, accompanied by a dipping consommé broth that will elevate your dining experience to new heights.
Savor the rich flavors and textures of our Birria Crunchwraps, a culinary adventure that will leave you craving more with each and every bite!
If you are looking for another hearty warm recipe i highly recommend my Roasted Potato Corn Chowder soup
Another Instant Pot recipe i love to make is Chicken Noodle Soup
