How to Make Birria Pizza: A Fusion of Flavors Recipe

The Birria Pizza is the epitome of an ideal blend between two of the most favorite dishes: the tender, full-of-flavor birria and the globally embraced pizza. Whether you want to impress a group of friends at a dinner party or simply yearn for something special during a family meal, this fusion recipe will provide a rich, savory, delicious take on pizza. Spicy, juicy beef of birria marries with melted, sticky cheese and crunchy pizza dough. Instant family favorite alert.

Below, we walk you through every step you need to take to make the ultimate homemade birria pizza. From making the birria stew to the assembly of the pizza, none of these steps are hard to make, and all come packed with flavor.

Birria Pizza Ingredients

For the Birria Stew:

2 lbs beef chuck roast or a combination of beef and goat if you want to go traditional
2 dried guajillo chilies
2 dried ancho chilies
1 dried pasilla chili
2 cloves garlic minced
1 medium onion roughly chopped
1 cinnamon stick
4-5 whole cloves
1 bay leaf
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp dried oregano
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp smoked paprika
2 cups beef broth, or as needed
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp vegetable oil to brown the meat

For the Pizza:

Pizza dough – store-bought or homemade
2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
1/2 cup cotija cheese crumbled, optional
1 medium red onion thinly sliced
Fresh cilantro for garnish
Lime wedges for serving
Birria consommé from the birria stew, for dipping

How to Make Birria Pizza: Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Birria (Stew)

Soften the Chiles: Begin by removing the stems and seeds from the dried guajillo, **ancho, and *pasilla chiles*. Place them in a bowl and cover them with hot water. Let them soak for about 15 minutes until they are soft and pliable. Once softened, drain the water and transfer the chiles to a blender.
Make the Marinade: Add to the blender: garlic, onion, cinnamon stick, cloves, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, apple cider vinegar, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Fill the blender with about ½ cup of the beef broth to help all the ingredients blend into a smooth paste.
Brown the Meat: Heat vegetable oil in the large pot or Dutch oven over high heat; then add beef chuck roast, seasoning with salt and pepper. Sear the meat on all sides until browned. This will take about 8-10 minutes and give depth to the flavor.
Cook the Birria: When the meat is brown, add the chile paste into the pot from the blender with the meat. Stir all the ingredients together, making sure the meat is well-covered in spices. Pour in the remaining beef broth, about 2 cups, so that it covers the meat and toss in the bay leaf. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook for about 2.5 to 3 hours, until the beef is tender and shreds easily.
Shred the Beef: When the birria is done, remove the meat from the pot and shred using two forks. Remove but do not discard the birria consommé—liquid in the pot—for later dipping of the pizza.

Step 2: Prepare the Pizza Dough

Oven Preheat: While your birria is reducing, preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C). If you are using store-bought pizza dough, take it out of the fridge about 15 minutes before assembling your pizza to let it come to room temperature.
Dough Rolling Out: On a lightly floured surface, take the pizza dough out for a roll to your desired thickness. If you want a crispy crust, go for a thin roll; for a chewier inside, keep it a little bit thicker.
Parbake the Dough (Optional): If you want your crust to be extra crispy, prebake it for about 5 minutes in the preheated oven without toppings. This gives the dough a head start and ensures it doesn’t get soggy from the birria juices.

Step 3: Assemble the Birria Pizza

Spread the Birria: Once your dough is ready, go ahead and spread a layer of the shredded birria meat evenly across the pizza. Make sure some of the juices from the birria stew are present to keep it juicy and full of flavor-think of it as setting a saucy base for it.
Add the Cheese: Sprinkle a liberal amount of shredded mozzarella cheese over the birria to amply cover the meat. If you want an extra flavor punch and salty contrast to the richness of the birria, add a bit of cotija cheese.
Adding the Red Onion: Place some of the red onions, sliced, on top of the cheese. The onion gives your pizza a hint of sharpness and color. You can give them a slight caramelization by sautéing them in a pan if you want.
Bake the Pizza: Transfer the assembled pizza to a pizza stone or baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and golden, and crust is perfectly crispy.

Step 4: Garnish and Serve

Garnish: Remove pizza from the oven when cooked and let it cool for a few minutes. Sprinkle freshly chopped cilantro over the top for color and freshness.
Serve: Cut your birria pizza into large slices, and make sure to serve it with lime wedges for that extra kick. For the ultimate enjoyment, take your pizza slices for a dip in the rich birria consommé–that broth you saved. The consommé enlivens even further the already flavorful birria pizza.

Tips to Make the Perfect Birria Pizza

Quality Meat: Any great birria has to start with the quality of the meat. Beef chuck roast works great, but if you want it as close to authentic as possible, use goat meat.
Toppings of Choice: Even though a classic birria pizza is mozzarella, cotija, and onions, you can do as you like with the toppings. To that, you can add sliced avocado, added slices of jalapeños, or an added drizzle of crema for a creamy touch.
Types of Dough: You can make this pizza with any kind of dough you would prefer. Gluten-free pizza dough or cauliflower crusts should do if you are looking for a healthy alternative.
Extra Spice: If you want to kick it up even another notch, you could add in jalapeños or a few dashes of hot sauce before adding the birria mixture onto the pizza. This adds more heat and complexity to the flavor.

Why Birria Pizza Works

Rich, stewed beef in birria plays very nicely with a crispy, doughy base from pizza for an amazing, contrasting textures-and-flavors outcome. Smoky, spicy notes of the birria sauce complement so well with melted cheese and that touch of acidity from the lime and fresh cilantro topping. The thing that makes the pizza special is this fusion of classic Mexican flavors in perfect harmony with the comfort of a pizza, which will basically make it a crowd-pleaser among people who love bold and heavy dishes.

Conclusion

One just cannot resist the combination of two of the world’s favorite foods put together-the Birria Pizza. Tender spiced beef, gooey melted cheese, and crispy pizza dough are combined to make the meal truly savory, indulgent, and memorable. This flavored pizza requires a few simple ingredients and can be made in some easy steps at home. Whether served at a family dinner or as an artful treat on the weekend, this birria pizza is going to be surefire. Enjoy!