The Ultimate Carne Guisada Recipe: Hearty Comfort in a Bowl

Warm, hearty carne guisada has been my go-to comfort dish since childhood.

Mexican kitchens buzz with excitement when this rich, tender beef stew simmers.

Slow-cooked meat melts into a deeply flavorful sauce that tells stories of generations.

Fragrant spices weave through each bite, creating a symphony of robust flavors.

Tender chunks of beef practically dissolve on your tongue with incredible depth.

Families gather around steaming bowls, sharing laughter and memories with every spoonful.

This recipe brings authentic southwestern comfort straight to your dining table.

You’ll want to savor every single delicious moment of this incredible meal.

Best Way To Store Carne Guisada

• Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. The stew will keep fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, maintaining its rich flavor and tender meat texture.
• Freezing: Transfer cooled carne guisada to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Label with the date and freeze for up to 3 months. Frozen stew helps preserve those delicious spices and hearty ingredients.
• Reheating on Stovetop: Gently warm the stew in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of beef broth to prevent drying and restore the original saucy consistency. Heat until the internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety.
• Microwave Method: Place leftovers in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap. Heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each interval to ensure even warming. Check the temperature and enjoy your delicious meal.

Sides That Work With Carne Guisada

• Pair with Bold Red Wine: Complement the rich, hearty flavors of carne guisada with a robust Tempranillo or Malbec from Spain or Argentina, cutting through the meat's richness and enhancing its spicy undertones.
• Rice and Bean Sidekick: Serve over fluffy white rice or creamy black beans to soak up the flavorful sauce, creating a perfect balance of textures and absorbing the stew's delicious spices.
• Zesty Cilantro Lime Slaw: Top with a crisp, tangy coleslaw made with fresh cilantro and lime juice to add brightness and cut through the stew's deep, meaty flavors, providing a refreshing contrast.
• Warm Corn Tortillas Companion: Offer soft, warm corn tortillas on the side for wrapping bites of tender beef, allowing diners to create their own handheld flavor experience and soak up every last bit of sauce.

Try These Variations On Carne Guisada

• Spicy Southwest Fusion: Kick up the heat by adding diced jalapeños or a tablespoon of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce during the vegetable sautéing stage. Replace beef broth with Mexican beer for a deeper flavor profile.
• Slow Cooker Comfort: Transfer the browned meat and sautéed vegetables to a slow cooker instead of using the stovetop method. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, allowing the flavors to meld together more intensely.
• Mediterranean-Inspired Version: Swap out cumin and chili powder for oregano, rosemary, and a splash of red wine. Add kalamata olives and diced eggplant to create a Mediterranean-style stew with rich, complex flavors.
• Lean Protein Alternative: Replace beef with turkey or chicken thighs for a lighter protein option. Adjust cooking time slightly to prevent the meat from becoming dry while maintaining the same robust spice blend.

FAQs On Carne Guisada

• What is the origin of Carne Guisada?

Carne Guisada is a traditional Latin American beef stew, particularly popular in Mexican and Puerto Rican cuisine. It’s a comforting, slow-cooked dish that brings families together around the dinner table.

• Can I use a different type of meat for this recipe?

While beef is traditional, you can substitute with pork or chicken. Just adjust cooking times accordingly, as different meats have varying tenderness and cooking requirements.

• How can I make the stew more spicy?

To add heat, include diced jalapeños during the vegetable sauteing stage or add a pinch of cayenne pepper when seasoning the spices. You can also serve with hot sauce on the side for extra kick.

• Is this dish gluten-free?

The original recipe uses flour as a thickener, which contains gluten. To make it gluten-free, replace wheat flour with cornstarch or arrowroot powder when creating the slurry to thicken the sauce.

What Makes Carne Guisada A Comfort Classic

• Savor Tender Meat Magic: This recipe transforms tough beef chunks into melt-in-your-mouth, incredibly soft meat through a slow-cooking method that breaks down muscle fibers perfectly.
• Spice Symphony Celebration: The combination of cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and oregano creates a robust flavor profile that dances across your taste buds with warm, complex layers of deliciousness.
• Hassle-Free Comfort Cooking: With simple one-pot preparation and minimal active cooking time, this stew allows busy home cooks to create a restaurant-quality meal with minimal effort and maximum flavor satisfaction.
• Latin Comfort Food Charm: Authentic carne guisada brings the heart of traditional Latin cuisine to your dining table, offering a soul-warming dish that connects generations through its rich, hearty preparation.

Everything You’ll Need For Carne Guisada

• Beef Chunks: Hearty and tender meat that forms the base of the stew, best with chuck or stew meat for rich flavor and soft texture.

• Onion, Green Bell Pepper, Garlic: Flavor-building trio that creates a robust and fragrant foundation for the stew, providing depth and complexity.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential base seasonings for enhancing the meat's natural taste.
• Cumin, Chili Powder, Smoked Paprika, Oregano: Warm, earthy spice blend that gives authentic Latin American flavor profile.

• Beef Broth: Rich liquid that helps tenderize meat and create a deep, savory sauce.
• Diced Tomatoes, Tomato Paste: Acidic base that adds thickness and bright tomato flavor to the stew.

• Flour, Water: Creates a smooth slurry to help thicken the sauce and give a silky texture.

• Vegetable Oil: Neutral oil for searing meat and sautéing vegetables.

• Cilantro: Fresh herb that adds bright, herbal notes to finish the dish.

• Rice, Beans, Tortillas: Traditional accompaniments that complement the stew's rich flavors.

Easy Steps For Carne Guisada

Step 1: Prepare Succulent Beef Chunks

Grab your beef and sprinkle it generously with salt and pepper. Warm a splash of vegetable oil in a hefty pot over medium-high heat. Toss in the beef pieces, working in batches to ensure each chunk gets a beautiful golden-brown sear. Once perfectly browned, transfer the meat to a waiting plate.

Step 2: Awaken the Aromatic Vegetables

• Chopped onions
• Sliced green bell peppers
• Minced garlic

Dance these ingredients around the pot for a few minutes until they become wonderfully soft and fragrant.

Step 3: Create a Flavor-Packed Sauce

• Ground cumin
• Chili powder
• Smoked paprika
• Dried oregano

Stir enthusiastically to coat every vegetable with these magical seasonings.

Step 4: Slow Cook to Tender Perfection

Reunite the browned beef with the vegetable mixture. Pour in beef broth, scraping up all those delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Cover and reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Let the stew bubble away for 1.5 to 2 hours, transforming the beef into melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.

Step 5: Thicken the Magical Sauce

Whisk flour with water to create a silky slurry. Slowly stir this into the stew, watching it transform into a luscious, clingy sauce. Cook uncovered for about 10 minutes, allowing the sauce to reach perfect consistency.

Step 6: Serve Up Deliciousness

Sprinkle fresh chopped cilantro over the top if you’re feeling fancy. Serve piping hot alongside fluffy rice, creamy beans, or warm tortillas. Get ready for a flavor explosion that’ll make taste buds dance!

Pro Tip: This hearty dish tastes even better the next day, so don’t hesitate to make extra for leftovers.

Tips That Help When Cooking Carne Guisada

• Meat Browning Mastery: Sear beef in batches to develop deep, rich flavor without overcrowding the pot, ensuring each piece gets a beautiful caramelized exterior.
• Spice Layering Technique: Toast spices with vegetables to release their essential oils, creating a more intense and complex flavor profile for the guisada.
• Tender Meat Secret: Low and slow simmering breaks down tough meat fibers, transforming beef chunks into melt-in-your-mouth perfection without becoming dry.
• Slurry Smoothing Trick: Whisk flour and water thoroughly to prevent lumps, then add gradually to create a silky, restaurant-quality sauce consistency.
• Flexible Serving Option: Swap traditional rice for cauliflower rice or serve over zucchini noodles to make this dish low-carb and diet-friendly.

Carne Guisada Recipe

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4.8 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty Mexican carne guisada brings robust beef stew magic straight from traditional kitchens, simmering with rich spices and tender meat. Comfortable home cooking welcomes you to savor slow-cooked deliciousness that connects families through generations of culinary love.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 2 lbs (900g) beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized chunks

Aromatics and Vegetables:

• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium tomatoes, diced (or 1 cup canned diced tomatoes)

Spices, Liquids, and Thickeners:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 cups beef broth or water
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon oregano
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons water (for slurry)

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Instructions

1. Prepare the beef by generously seasoning chunks with salt and black pepper for robust flavor enhancement.
2. Create a deep, caramelized foundation by searing meat in hot vegetable oil, working in batches to ensure even browning without overcrowding the cooking vessel.
3. Transform the pot’s flavor profile by sautéing aromatic onions, green bell peppers, and minced garlic until they become translucent and release their essential oils.
4. Develop a rich sauce base by incorporating diced tomatoes and tomato paste, allowing them to soften and meld with the previously sautéed vegetables.
5. Elevate the dish’s complexity by introducing a blend of warming spices – cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and oregano – thoroughly coating the vegetable mixture.
6. Reunite the beautifully browned meat with the spiced vegetable foundation, then introduce beef broth to create a deeply flavored braising liquid.
7. Allow the stew to gently simmer, covered, for approximately two hours, periodically stirring to prevent scorching and ensure the beef becomes meltingly tender.
8. Finalize the sauce’s consistency by creating a smooth flour slurry, which will naturally thicken the stew and provide a luxurious texture.
9. Present the carne guisada garnished with fresh cilantro, accompanied by warm rice, traditional beans, or soft tortillas for a complete, comforting meal.

Notes

• Ensure meat is cut into uniform chunks for even cooking and tender results.
• Pat beef dry before seasoning to achieve better browning and deeper flavor development.
• Use cast iron or heavy-bottomed pot for consistent heat distribution and rich caramelization.
• Select chuck or round beef cuts with good marbling for maximum tenderness and rich taste.
• Lower heat if vegetables start burning during sautéing to prevent bitter undertones.
• Stir occasionally during simmering to prevent meat from sticking and ensure even cooking.
• Allow longer cooking time for tougher meat cuts to break down connective tissues.
• Create gluten-free version by substituting flour slurry with cornstarch or arrowroot powder.
• Enhance depth by adding a splash of red wine or dark beer during liquid addition.
• Refrigerate overnight to develop more intense flavors and allow fat to solidify for easier skimming.
• Freeze leftovers in airtight containers for up to 3 months, preserving authentic taste and texture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 390
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Fat: 21g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 18g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 30g
• Cholesterol: 90mg