Description
This hearty Crock Pot Carne Guisada recipe features tender beef stew meat slow-cooked with aromatic spices, tomatoes, and vegetables to create a rich and flavorful Tex-Mex stew. Perfect for a comforting family meal, it pairs wonderfully with rice, warm tortillas, or crusty bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 2 lbs beef stew meat (chuck roast or sirloin), cut into bite-sized cubes
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Canned & Liquids
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
Spices
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- Salt to taste
Others
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for searing)
- 2 tbsp cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish, optional)
- Rice, tortillas, or crusty bread (for serving)
Instructions
- Sear the beef: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef stew meat in batches, searing on all sides until browned. This step locks in flavor and texture. Transfer the seared meat to the Crock Pot.
- Sauté the vegetables: Using the same skillet, add chopped onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and fragrant. Then, transfer the vegetables to the Crock Pot with the meat.
- Add liquids and spices: Into the Crock Pot, add diced tomatoes with their juice, beef broth, tomato paste, ground cumin, chili powder, paprika, oregano, black pepper, and salt. Stir all ingredients well to combine everything evenly.
- Slow cook: Cover the Crock Pot and set it to cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, allowing the beef to become tender and the flavors to meld deeply.
- Thicken gravy (optional): If a thicker gravy is preferred, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to create a slurry. Stir this into the Crock Pot about 30 minutes before serving and let it cook for another 30 minutes until the sauce has thickened nicely.
- Garnish and serve: Once cooked, optionally garnish with fresh chopped cilantro. Serve the carne guisada hot alongside rice, warm tortillas, or crusty bread for a complete meal.
Notes
- Searing the beef before slow cooking adds depth of flavor but can be skipped for convenience.
- If using frozen beef stew meat, thaw before cooking to ensure even slow cooking.
- Adjust the level of chili powder according to your preferred spice level.
- The cornstarch slurry is optional but helps achieve a more stew-like consistency.
- Leftovers reheat well and flavors deepen after a day in the fridge.
