My carne guisada recipe features tender, slow-cooked cooked beef chunks in the most incredible gravy ever. It’s easy to make and even easier to eat!
Love cozy beef dinners? Try my boneless beef short ribs, beef tips and gravy, beef shanks, and Italian beef next.
If you love a hearty beef stew, my carne guisada recipe has to make your dinner table. By definition, it literally translates to beef stew but with cozy Mexican flavors. It’s one of the first dishes I learned during my travels in Latin America, and a special shoutout to Jose from Del Canto Kitchen in Mexico for sharing this recipe with me (and you) today!
What is carne guisada?
Carne guisada is a Latin American dish featuring stewed beef chunks simmered in an aromatic brown gravy with various veggies. What begins as tough cuts of beef are simmered, low and slow, until perfectly tender and juicy.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- It’s a one-pot dish. Everything gets assembled in one pot. This makes cleanup a breeze!
- The meat is tender and juicy. The hearty cuts of beef simmer until they are melt-in-your-mouth tender.
- Multiple cooking methods. While I prefer using the stovetop, I’ve tested this stew in the Instant Pot AND slow cooker, so you have options.
- The leftovers! Okay, confession. I make a double batch of this stew every time I make it because the leftovers taste even better the next day.
Ingredients needed
- Beef. Look for either “stew beef” or chuck steak cut into bite-sized pieces. This is the best cut of meat that will cook for hours without becoming tough.
- Oil. Just enough to sauté the veggies and beef. I like to use peanut oil, but any neutral-flavored oil is fine.
- Onion. Chopped.
- Bell pepper. Chop into the same size as the onions.
- Garlic. Fresh garlic, please.
- Tomato. Diced. I tested this recipe with canned tomatoes and fresh tomatoes, and both work the same.
- Spices. I’m using salt, black pepper, cumin, and chili powder.
- Tomato paste. For added richness.
- Beef broth. Please choose an all-natural broth with minimal additives for the best flavor.
- Flour. To thicken the gravy.
- Cilantro. Freshly chopped for garnish.
How to make carne guisada
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Saute. Heat oil in a pot and cook the onion until translucent. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the steak and brown on all sides.
Step 2- Build the sauce. add the tomato paste, then add the tomatoes and cook for several minutes while stirring frequently. Follow this by adding the flour and cooking until it heats up, then pour in the beef broth.
Step 3- Season and simmer. Season the stew with spices, and then bring to a boil. Once it begins boiling, lower the temperature, cover the stew, and simmer until the beef is fork-tender.
Step 4- Thin out and serve. Add some water, if needed, then serve with fresh parsley.
Alternative cooking methods
As mentioned earlier, I like to cook this stew over the stove, but I know you like options, so I have tested it in the slow cooker and Instant Pot.
- Slow cooker method. Follow the steps for cooking the onion, garlic, beef, and tomatoes in a skillet. Then, transfer them along with the rest of your ingredients to a slow cooker. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
- Instant pot method. Add the oil to the instant pot. Using the sauté function, cook the onion and garlic, add the beef, and cook until browned. Season the beef and sauté the tomatoes. Then, add the remaining ingredients, close the lid, and cook on high pressure for 30 minutes. Let the stew sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Add extra veggies. You can use carrots, potatoes, squash, or sweet potatoes in this recipe for added richness.
- Serve with toppings. Serve your stew with sour cream, sliced avocado, fresh chopped tomatoes, or hot sauce.
- Bring the meat to room temperature. I like to let the beef sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before cooking, as this will help speed up the cooking process.
- Brown the meat. To add depth of flavor to your carne de res guisada, sear the meat in a hot pan until it’s browned on all sides. This will also help to lock in the juices and keep the meat tender.
- Adjust the seasoning. Taste your stew as it cooks and adjust the seasoning as needed. You may like to add a hint of cayenne pepper, more salt, or even some cumin.
- Serve this stew with arepas, gorditas, or pupusas for the most authentic meal.
Storage instructions
To store: Let the stew cool, then transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to one week.
To reheat: Transfer leftovers to a pot and cook on medium heat. Stir frequently until it reaches your desired temperature. You can also microwave leftovers in 20-second intervals until fully reheated.
To freeze: Place cooled stew in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Frequently asked questions
The brown gravy in carne guisada can be thickened either by adding flour to the broth as it’s simmering or by making a cornstarch slurry. To make a slurry, combine one tablespoon of cornstarch with ¼ cup of cold water. Mix until thickened, then add to the broth.
Carne guisada is a stewed beef dish, while carne asada is a thinly sliced steak that is cooked by grilling. Carne guisada translates to “stew meat,” while carne asada translates to “grilled meat.”
More Mexican recipes to try
Begin by heating oil in a pot over medium heat. Once hot, add onions and cook until they become translucent. Add garlic and continue cooking until fragrant.
Add the meat to the pot and cook until browned on all sides. Then, add peppers and cook for a couple of minutes until they soften.
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for an additional minute. Next, add tomatoes to the pot and cook for a couple of minutes.
Add flour to the pot and cook until heated through. Pour in the soup and season with salt, pepper, cumin, and chili. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to low.
Cover the pot and let the stew simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add water as needed to keep the mixture from getting too thick.
Once the meat is tender, serve the carne guisada warm and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro for extra flavor.
Serving: 1servingCalories: 235kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 27gFat: 10gSodium: 602mgPotassium: 635mgFiber: 2gVitamin A: 1130IUVitamin C: 35mgCalcium: 42mgIron: 3mgNET CARBS: 5g
Originally published April 2023, updated and republished August 2024
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