How to Make Birria Pasta- NOT Ramen

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This birria pasta recipe takes the rich, bold flavors of birria and combines them with the comforting texture of pasta.

While most birria recipes on social media are for birria tacos or birria ramen, this dish takes hearty and satisfying bucatini pasta and slathers it in savory Mexican birria. 

This mouthwatering meal takes leftover birria de res and flavorful birria broth, and turns it into a weeknight meal that will have you coming back for seconds. 

If you typically make a birria ramen recipe with your leftover birria, then this fusion pasta dish willl be a welcome change for a quick and easy weeknight meal. 

Who Is Birria Pasta For?

Birria Pasta is perfect for anyone who loves to eat pasta, but have never tried bucatini. I love using bucatini, because the noodle really soak up the bold and aromatic flavors of traditional birria. The bucatini pasta also has a texture similar to chewy ramen noodles, that is almost springy and goes great with leftover birria stew. 

If you're someone who loves experimenting in the kitchen and enjoys the fusion of different cuisines, this recipe is for you. For this recipe, you can use either of the birria recipes on this site here and here. You can also use a fully cooked birria, like the one sold at Trader Joes or Sams Club. 

🛒Ingredients

• bucatini pasta
• olive oil or birria fat
• pre-cooked birria meat and sauce
• white onion
• garlic cloves
• tomato paste
• oaxaca cheese
• cilantro
• lime wedges

🍲Directions

Cook the bucatini pasta in beef broth, then drain and set aside. Saute the onion in the olive oil until softned, then add the garlic and tomato paste.

Over medium-high heat add the birria sauce and meat and heat through, then toss the cooked pasta in to combine. Top the finished dish with the optional garnishes and a squeeze of lime. 

👩🏾‍🍳Recipe Tips and Shortcuts

Quick Birria Sauce: If you're short on time, you can use store-bought birria sauce without compromising on flavor. You can find this sauce at target or on amazon. Look for a high-quality option with great reviews that's rich in taste.

Prepped Birria Meat: If you have leftover birria meat from a previous meal, this recipe is a fantastic way to transform the tender meat into a new and exciting dish. You can double the recipe for instant pot birria and store some of it in the freezer to use later for shredded beef quesadillas or this birria pasta recipe. 

You can also use the frozen birria meat from Trader Joe's. Just be sure to thaw it according to package instructions before using it in this recipe.

Cheese Variations: While the recipe suggests shredded Oaxaca cheese, you can experiment with other cheese options like queso fresco or Monterey Jack or Colby Jack. 

🤔What is birria meat?

Birria meat is a slow cooked mexican beef dish that is made with a beef cuts like chuck roast or short ribs. Sometimes it is made with goat meat, but I use chuck in my recipes because it is easy to find and more affordable than goat meat.

The slow-cooked meat is typically served with the birria consomé that is seasoned with different dried chiles, like chipotle peppers and guajillo peppers.  A blend of spices including bay leaves and cinnamon stick are what makes the birria consommé a more flavorful broth.

How is birria meat typically served?

There are different ways to serve birria. The most popular way to serve it would be birria tacos made with corn tortillas that are fried on griddle using the oil from the cooked birria meat. Once the tacos are assembled you dip them into the birria consomé before eating.

Another popular way to serve birria is to make ramen birria. Many people use instant ramen noodles for this dish, but you can use Japanese ramen along with the birria broth as ramen broth.

I like making birria ramen when I have several cups of broth that I need to use up. This popular recipe is the ultimate comfort food and can be served with green onions and soft-boiled eggs for garnish. 

🍽️What to serve with Birria Pasta?

For an appetizer, you can serve guacamole. A light and refreshing dessert, lika a citrus sorbet or a fruit salad with a drizzle of honey and crushed pistacios, will cleanse your palate and provide a light ending to this filling meal. 

🔪Kitchen Equipment You'll Need

To bring this amazing Birria Pasta to life, you'll need the following kitchen essentials:

• Large skillet
• Cutting board and knife
• Tongs
• Large pot for pasta
• Serving bowls

🥡Storing Leftovers

If you find yourself with any Birria Pasta leftovers, make sure to store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The flavors tend to meld and intensify overnight, so your leftovers will be even more flavorful the next day.

Simply reheat the pasta in the microwave or on the stove, and you're all set for another delightful meal. You may need to add a splash of beef broth to loosen up the sauce as the bucatini tends to soak up the consomme. 

I would not reccomend freezing the leftover birria pasta. 

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Birria Pasta

Birria pasta used bucatini and leftover birria and consommé to make a hearty weeknight meal.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time8 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian, Mexican

Keyword: easy beef birria recipe, instant pot birria

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 238kcal

Equipment

• 1 large skillet

Ingredients

• 1 pound bucatini pasta cooked and drained
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil or Birria fat
• 4 cups of birria sauce and meat approximately 2 cups of sauce and 1 pound of birria meat
• 1 cup diced white onions small dice
• 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 Tablespoons tomato paste

Optional garnishes:

• shredded oaxaca cheese
• chopped cilantro
• diced white onion
• lime wedges

Instructions

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil and onions. Cook until the onions are soft, about 1 minute.
  2 Tablespoons olive oil or Birria fat, 1 cup diced white onions
• Add the minced garlic and tomato paste to the skillet and continue to cook for about 30-60 seconds until the garlic is fragrant.
  2 Tablespoons minced garlic, 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
• Increase the heat to medium high and add the birria sauce and meat. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the birria is heated through. Add the cooked pasta and toss with the sauce and meat to combine. Top the pasta with the shredded oaxaca cheese, cilantro and diced white onion just before serving.
  1 pound bucatini pasta cooked and drained, 4 cups of birria sauce and meat, shredded oaxaca cheese, chopped cilantro, diced white onion, lime wedges

Notes

You can make this recipe using the birria meat and sauce from this 3 ingredient birria recipe or this instant pot birria recipe. You can also use a store bought birria, like the one from trader Joe's or the pre-cooked birria from del real foods.

Nutrition

Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 239mg | Potassium: 243mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 87IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 2mg