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Joe Rooney

Birria Grilled Cheese: Easy, Delicious Melt Recipe

This birria grilled cheese recipe is a mouthwatering spin on a classic grilled cheese sandwich, featuring slow-cooked shredded beef drenched in rich red enchilada sauce. Enjoy a quesabirria grilled cheese loaded with queso fresco, mozzarella, and fresh cilantro, all pressed between buttery Texas toast for a crispy edge birria cheese toast experience. Perfect for fans of cheesy birria melts and dipping sauce birria grilled cheese treats, this homemade birria cheese sandwich brings a tasty Tex Mex birria sandwich right to your table.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 hours
Total Time 10 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 703

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 pounds chuck roast
  • 1 tablespoon beef bouillon powder or 1 bouillon cube
  • 1 can (28 ounces) enchilada sauce, red
  • ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, divided
  • 20 slices Texas toast
  • 1 medium white onion, finely diced, divided
  • 2½ cups (305 g) queso fresco, divided
  • 2½ cups (282.5 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
  • 2 teaspoons chopped cilantro, divided

Method
 

  1. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high and pour in the olive oil.
  2. Once hot, add the chuck roast and brown each side for about 3 to 5 minutes just until it develops a nice crust.
  3. Transfer the browned beef to a slow cooker, then sprinkle with beef bouillon powder and pour the red enchilada sauce over it.
  4. Cover and let it cook on low for around 10 hours until the meat is tender and shreds easily.
  5. After cooking, lift the roast out and pull it apart with two forks, then stir the shredded meat back into the cooking juices.
  6. Set a skillet on medium-high heat to prepare for grilling the sandwiches.
  7. Spread butter on one side of each slice of Texas toast evenly.
  8. Place the bread butter-side down on the skillet, and while it cooks, build your sandwich by layering ½ cup shredded beef, about 1 tablespoon of diced onion, ¼ cup queso fresco, ¼ cup shredded mozzarella, and a sprinkle of cilantro on one slice.
  9. Top with another buttered slice of bread, butter side up.
  10. Lower heat to medium-low and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until the bread turns golden and the cheese begins to melt.
  11. Flip the sandwich carefully and cook another 5 to 7 minutes until the second side is golden and the cheese is fully melted.
  12. Remove the sandwich from the skillet using a spatula and repeat with the remaining ingredients.
  13. Serve your birria grilled cheese sandwiches warm alongside some of the leftover cooking juices for delicious dipping.

Notes

  • *Using store-bought or premade shredded birria beef cuts down prep time to approximately 20 minutes.