Carne Guisada (Beef and Potato Stew)

Carne Guisada

This dish is all about cooking the beef low and slow until it’s super tender. It starts with chuck roast, a cut that has the perfect amount of fat to get nice and tender while it’s simmering. Then, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and both jalapenos and serrano peppers are added to the mix. That gives it a hearty, hefty kick of heat. Finally, when it’s all cooked to tender perfection, I love to serve it with rice, noodles, or tortillas. It’s delicious, it’s easy, and it’s a great meal for feeding a crowd.

Why You’ll Love This Carne Guisada Recipe

• It’s a delicious, authentic Mexican dish that’s easy to make and tastes so good.
• It takes simple ingredients that are easily found at any grocery store.
• The meat and potatoes are so tender, and the flavor is delicious!

Carne Guisada Ingredients

Everything you need for this recipe is either in your kitchen right now or just a quick trip to the grocery store away.

• Beef Chuck Roast – A tough cut of meat that becomes tender and flavorful when cooked slowly.
• Potatoes – Potatoes add a starchy base and help thicken up the sauce.
• Diced Onions – Onions add a sweetness and flavor to the dish.
• Salt and Pepper – Adds flavor to the dish.
• Vegetable Oil – Oil is needed to roast the vegetables and has a high smoke point.
• Water – Adds liquid with the tomato mixture to the beef and potatoes.
• Roma Tomatoes – Adds flavor and acidity to the dish.
• Jalapeno Peppers – Adds some heat to the dish.
• Serrano Peppers – Also, adds additional heat to the dish.
• Garlic Cloves – Enhances and adds flavor.

How to Make Carne Guisada

Carne Guisada is just Mexican beef stew, so it’s a super easy recipe to make. It just takes a little prep and simmering, and that’s it!

Step 1: Roast the Peppers

Add a teaspoon of oil to a small frying pan and heat over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the whole tomatoes, jalapenos, serrano peppers, and garlic. Roast until the skin is charred and blistered.

Step 2: Puree

Add the roasted vegetables to a food processor and pulse until your desired consistency is reached.

Step 3: Cook the Beef

Add the chunks of beef and onions to a cast iron or heavy-duty large skillet, or dutch oven, on high heat and cook until the meat is no longer pink.

Step 4: Simmer

Add the tomato mixture and water to the beef and simmer over medium-low heat until the meat is tender, adding additional water, ½ cup at a time, if needed.

Step 5: Add the Potatoes

Add the diced potatoes and continue cooking over low heat until they’re tender. Serve with rice and corn or flour tortillas.

Recipe Tips

• Let the skin of your vegetables get nicely black and blistered when roasting them. Don’t be afraid of burning the outside. That’s the point, after all.
• Give your beef a chance to get nicely browned on one side before stirring it in the skillet. You want to cook it through initially AND get a nice crust on the outside.
• By the time you’re finished with this recipe, your beef will be falling apart into shreds. Don’t panic. That’s exactly what you want!

Variations

• Add some green bell pepper for more flavor.
• You can use russet, red, or yellow potatoes for this recipe. They all work.
• Use any cut of beef you like so long as it has a nice amount of fat and marbling.

What to Serve with Carne Guisada

This delicious, spicy beef and potato dish is delicious when served with:

• Tortillas
• Rice
• Mexican rice
• Spanish rice
• Mashed potatoes

Recipe FAQ

What is carne Guisada?

Carne Guisada is a Mexican beef stew that’s cooked until the beef falls apart and is then served over rice or with tortillas.

What meat is carne Guisada made of?

Carne Guisada is usually made with chuck roast or beef round, both of which become very tender when cooked low and slow.

Can carne Guisada be made in the crock pot?

It sure can! The whole point of this Mexican beef stew is to cook it low and slow, something the crock pot was made to do.

What is the difference between carne asada and carne Guisada?

Carne Asada is a grilled beef dish whereas carne Guisada is a stewed beef dish. Carne asada is made with steak, while carne Guisada is made with less tender cuts of beef that do well when cooked low and slow like chuck roast or beef round.

What does carne Guisada mean?

Carne Guisada translates to “stewed meat”, which is exactly what it is.

Can you freeze Carne Guisada leftovers?

Yes. It freezes very well and will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Carne Guisada

Store this stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze it for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container.

To reheat the dish, place it in a saucepan over medium heat and cook until heated through.

Try This Delicious Carne Guisada Recipe Today

This carne Guisada recipe cooks up tender and delicious, and it takes very little effort. The hardest thing about this recipe is waiting for the beef to simmer to ultra-tender perfection! Give this recipe a try, and I know you’ll love it as much as I and my family do. One bite is all it takes to hook you for life!

Here are Some More Delicious Mexican Recipes to Try

Ground Beef Empanadas – A crispy and golden brown empanada filled with seasoned ground beef and cheese and make a great appetizer or dinner recipe.

Beef Enchiladas – Hearty, delicious, cheesy, and loaded with beef, olives, and red enchilada sauce, these enchiladas are super easy to make and great for dinner. 

Beef Fajitas – An easy and filling dinner recipe made with perfectly seasoned and marinated beef, fresh bell peppers and onions, and salsa.

And, try these Tex-Mex Breakfast Tacos from Deliciously Seasoned. It’s a hearty, filling, and flavorful breakfast recipe.