The BEST Easy Carne Guisada (Prepped In Just 10 Minutes)

This carne guisada recipe is loaded with flavor. It combines tender and juicy meat with sauteed veggies and a rich and delicious tomato sauce to make an unforgettable meal. And the best part is that it's so, so easy to prepare. In fact, 10 minutes is all you need to get this carne guisada recipe going, and then it basically cooks itself after that!

The Best Carne Guisada

This carne guisada, also known as Latin beef stew, is one of my favorite hearty, meaty meals to make during the cold winter months we get here in Buffalo. And, well, if you know anything about Buffalo, then you know those cold months last for about half of the year here.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I make this carne guisada quite a bit during the year. It never fails to warm me up and also just hits the spot when I'm craving stew.

Heck, even my 2 year old loves it.

That's probably not a surprise though. This carne guisada is chock-full of stew meat and the perfect amount of garlic, green pepper, and tomatoes. Then, the flavor gets cranked up to 11 with a blend of warm, yummy spices.

How good does all of that sound?

But, along with being delicious, this recipe is also pretty darn easy to make. All you have to do is sear the chunks of beef, saute the veggies, and then add everything to one pot and let 'em cook together to blend the flavors.

Also, since the majority of making this carne guisada recipe is passive cooking, you'll have plenty of time to make a tasty side dish to go with it. My favorite sides to make with it are these Texas Roadhouse rolls, this Mexican street corn casserole, and this sweet potato corn bread.

Ingredients

One of the best things about this Latin beef stew is that it's made almost entirely with kitchen/pantry staples. In fact, you probably have the majority of what you need to make it at home already!

Anyway, here's what you'll need to make this carne guisada:

• 2 tbsp. olive oil 
• 1 lb. stew meat, cut into small bite-size pieces
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 cup green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup tomatoes, diced
• 1 tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. black pepper
• 1 tsp. dried cumin
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 3 tbsp. tomato paste
• 2 cups beef broth or beef bouillon
• Fresh cilantro for garnish

Pretty simple stuff, right?

By the way, you might want to grab some extra stew meat, you can put it to good use by making this classic beef stew. It is a little milder than this carne guisada recipe, but it's just as delicious.

Oh, and if you happen to have any extra tomato paste or tomato sauce, you have to try this meatball soup! It's a family favorite.

Ingredient Substitutions & Suggestions

Now, while I recommend making this Latin beef stew recipe exactly as it is written, there are a few different ways you can change it up, and make it your own. With that said, I'll go over some of those changes below.

Switch The Meat Up

Stew meat is what is traditionally used to make carne guisada, and it should be easy to find at your local grocery store. However, you can use chuck roast or beef round to make it instead.

By the way, if you want to make a Puerto Rican carne guisada, you can use round roast. Just cut these bigger portions of meat into small beef cubes about 1-2 inches in size. You want little chunks of beef that will cook into juicy, tender beef bites.

Add Potatoes

Speaking of Puerto Rican carne guisada, some traditional Puerto Rican carne guisada recipes use potatoes. So, if you want to add potatoes, just peel and chop 'em up, and then you can add them to the pot along with the green bell pepper. Then, after you saute the potatoes in the olive oil with the veggies, you can just keep on cooking the carne guisada recipe as written.

Oh, and just so you know, you can use small red potatoes, yukon gold potatoes, or even sweet potatoes.

Add More Flavor

Now, I think this recipe is about as flavorful as it gets. But with that said, if you want to add another dimension of flavor, you can add a little garlic powder or fresh garlic.

If you want some more spice, sprinkle in some red pepper flakes.

Oh, and if you like cheese, feel free to sprinkle some shredded cheddar cheese on top to finish it off.

How to Make Carne Guisada

I know I already mentioned this a few times, but it's worth saying again. This carne guisada recipe is super easy to put together.

In fact, I would even go as far as saying it's one of the easiest beef stew recipes out there!

I mean, you basically just add the ingredients to a pot and let them cook. It's practically effortless!

Anyway, let's stop talking about how easy it is to make and get cooking, shall we?!

Step 1: Brown the Beef and Veggies

First, you'll brown the beef to give it a nice sear before you finish cooking it later on.

So, to do that, you'll want to take out a large pot - or dutch oven - and add the olive oil or vegetable oil to it. Heat the oil over medium-high heat and once it's hot, add the chunks of beef to it and cook the stewed meat for about 5-7 minutes until it's browned on all sides.

Once the beef is browned, you can add in the onion, garlic, and green bell peppers.

Now cook everything for a few minutes until the veggies soften.

Step 2: Add The Spices And Simmer

So, once the meat and veggies are good to go, you can add all of the spices to the pot - that would be the salt, black pepper, dried cumin, and chili powder. Then, you can add in the tomatoes and tomato paste, give everything a stir, and cook it all for about 1 minute.

Next, you can add the beef broth, give everything another stir, and cover the pot with a lid. Now, after you've taken care of that, you can cook the stew over low heat for about 60-90 minutes or until the meat is fork-tender and easily falls apart.

Just keep in mind that while everything is cooking, you'll want to stir it occasionally. So, don't go too far from the kitchen as it cooks.

By the way, if the sauce is looking too thick, you can just add some more beef broth to thin it out.

Step 3: Serve The Carne Guisada

Finally, once everything has been cooked to perfection, it's time to serve this delicious meal!

You can either serve the carne guisada in bowls, on top of homemade flour tortillas, or with a side of refried beans for a classic presentation.

Oh, and don't forget the sprinkle some cilantro on top to add a pop of green color and some extra flavor.

Enjoy!

How to Make Crock Pot Carne Guisada

This carne guisada recipe can easily be made in the slow cooker - or crock pot - if you don't want to cook it on the stove. Just sear the stew meat in a skillet like in the recipe, then pour the meat into a crock pot or slow cooker.

Next, add all the remaining ingredients - except the garnish - and cover the slow cooker with its lid. Then, cook on high for about 4 hours or until the beef is tender. The carne guisada will turn out perfectly cooked and just as flavorful as if you cooked it in a pot. 

How to Store Carne Guisada

This recipe for carne guisada will make about 6 servings, so it's perfect for a big family dinner! It also makes a terrific meal prep recipe since it tastes so good leftover.

Speaking of leftovers, if you have any, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Alternatively, if you want to keep it for even longer, you can store it in an airtight container - or freezer-safe bag - in the freezer for up to 6 months.

How to Reheat Carne Guisada

Once you're ready to enjoy this carne guisada recipe again, it's definitely best when served warm. So, to reheat it, all you have to do is add your carne guisada to a pot and heat it on the stove over medium heat - stirring it occasionally - until it's warmed through.

However, if you want to reheat a single portion of it, just add it to a bowl and microwave it in 30-second increments, stirring between each one until it reaches your desired temperature.

Wrapping it Up

Well, that's how to make carne guisada at home in just a few simple steps!

This Latin beef stew is seriously so addictive. Once you try it, you're going to want to make it all the time. From the tender beef to the flavorful gravy-like sauce, it's just so, so tasty.

Honestly, I have been making this carne guisada recipe constantly, and my family thinks it gets better every single time.

Anyway, I hope you and your family enjoy this recipe as much as I/we do.

As always, if you make this carne guisada recipe, leave a comment below and let me know how it goes!

More Comfort Food Recipes

If you loved this carne guisada recipe and are looking for even more delicious comfort food recipes, you're in luck. We have a few a ton on the blog that you can try next!

Here are some of our favorites:

• Beef enchilada casserole
• Cowboy cornbread casserole
• One pot Texas chili
• Beef noodle soup
• Beef lasagna

Oh, and for even more insanely delicious recipes, be sure to follow us on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. We post awesome recipes every single day.

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