Birria Meat Explained: What Kind of Meat Is Used in Birria?

Birria meat is a traditional Mexican dish that many people recognize from social media videos and restaurant menus. It is often shown as a rich, slow-cooked meat served with broth or inside tacos.

But people often ask a common question: What kind of meat is used in birria?
Some say it’s goat meat, some say it’s beef, and some are unsure whether birria is made with red meat or something else.

What Is Birria?

Birria is a slow-cooked meat dish that comes from Mexico. Traditionally, the meat is cooked for many hours with spices until it becomes very tender and flavorful. The dish is usually served with a rich broth and sometimes used as a filling for tacos.

Originally, birria was a regional dish prepared for festivals and family gatherings. It was not widely known outside its local areas before. In recent years, birria became popular internationally, mainly because of its use in tacos and street food.

What Meat Is Traditionally Used in Birria?

Traditionally, birria is made with goat meat.
In many parts of Mexico, especially in the state of Jalisco, goat meat also known as chevon was commonly used for birria because it was locally available and suitable for long, slow cooking.
For this reason, authentic or traditional birria refers to birria made with goat meat.

Why Is Beef Used in Birria Today?

Although goat meat is traditional, beef birria is now very common, especially outside of Mexico.

There are a few reasons for this:
Goat meat is not easily available in many countries
Beef is cheaper and easier to find globally
Beef has a milder flavor that many people prefer
Restaurants adapt birria to local taste preferences

Because of this, many modern birria dishes use beef cuts instead of goat. This does not make the dish incorrect, but it does mean the meat choice has changed from the traditional recipe.

Goat Birria vs Beef Birria: What’s the Difference?

The main difference is not in how birria is cooked but in the meat itself.

Goat birria has a stronger, richer flavor and is closer to the traditional version. It can taste more intense and is often preferred by people familiar with goat meat.

Beef birria has a milder taste and softer texture that appeals to a wider audience. This is why it is more popular in restaurants and street food outside Mexico.

Both are red meat dishes, and both are considered birria.

If you want to understand how lamb is classified, you can also read our detailed explanation on is lamb red meat or white meat.

Is Birria the Same as Barbacoa?

No, birria and barbacoa are not the same, even though they may look similar.

Both are slow-cooked meat dishes, but they use different seasoning styles, preparation methods, and cultural backgrounds. Birria is known for its spiced broth and is often served with dipping sauce, while barbacoa is usually simpler and more focused on the meat itself.

Can Birria Be Made With Other Meats?

In some regions, people experiment with other meats. However, these are not traditional versions of birria.

Lamb is sometimes used as a substitute for goat because it has a similar texture and richness when slow-cooked.

While some modern adaptations mention chicken birria, it is not traditional and changes the character of the dish significantly compared to classic birria, especially when meat is used in different ways across styles.

Final Answer: What Is Birria Meat?

To summarize in the simplest way:
Birria is traditionally made from goat meat.
Today, beef birria is the most common version worldwide.
Lamb is sometimes used.
All birria versions are red meat dishes.
If your focus is on understanding food categories and meat types, birria clearly fits into the red meat, non-vegetarian category.

For more details about birria, you can check the Wikipedia page.

Birria Meat FAQs