Carne Guisada

If you follow this recipe to the letter, you will end up with the most tender, flavorful, satisfying carne guisada ever. Hailing from my own family’s recipe vault, this rich stew meat has a host of Mexican flavors, a luscious gravy, and caramelized veggies that build incredible flavor. We love it most in a tortilla with a generous sprinkle of fresh onion!

What is Carne Guisada?

If you’re new to carne guisada, know that it’s a slow-cooked Mexican stew meat. While some recipes have more gravy than others, I like mine thick like you see here. This is ideal for spooning over tortillas or enjoying on a plate next to beans and rice.

Slow and low is the name of the game, so don’t be shy about putting it on a few hours before dinner, letting it slowly simmer away (covered), filling the house with the best smells and your family’s bellies with the best meal a little later.

Ingredients

The list may seem long, but it’s actually full of really common pantry items. Here’s everything you’ll need:

• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1-1¼ pounds of stew meat
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• ¼ black of pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ white onion, finely diced
• 1 tablespoon of mild chili powder
• 1 teaspoon of cumin
• ½ teaspoon of Mexican oregano
• ¼ teaspoon of ancho chili powder
• 3 tablespoons of flour
• 1 cup of chicken or beef broth
• 1 can of Rotel
• Flour tortillas, for serving
• Cilantro, for garnish
• Avocado, sliced, for garnish
• White onion, diced, for garnish
• Refried beans, for serving

Ingredient Modifications and Variations

If you’re looking for modifications and variations for this homemade carne guisada recipe, we’ve got you! 

• Make it gluten-free: if you’re looking for a gluten-free option here, you’re in luck! Simply swap the flour in this recipe for a gluten-free flour (THIS one is our favorite!). If you’re serving your carne guisada in or alongside flour tortillas, be sure to snag gluten-free ones too.
• Make it dairy-free: for dairy-free carne guisada, substitute in olive oil for the butter in this recipe. Easy peasy! 
• Use regular oregano: can’t find Mexican oregano? No worries – regular oregano will work just fine here!

How to Make Carne Guisada

1. Melt the butter and season the meat – melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a 3-quart pot (with a lid) over high heat. While the butter is melting, season the stew meat with salt and pepper.
2. Sear the meat – add the stew meat in a single layer to the pot and sear on all sides, then remove from the pot.
3. Saute the garlic and onion – reduce the heat to medium and add the garlic and onion to the pot. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Add the spices and flour – add the spices and flour to the garlic and onion and toast, stirring constantly, for 2-3 minutes.
5. Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot – add the broth, meat, and Rotel to the pot. Stir and bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Simmer – after 45 minutes, uncover and simmer on low until the sauce reaches your desired thickness.
7. Serve and enjoy – spoon the carne guisada into tortillas and top with cilantro, avocado, and diced white onion. Enjoy alongside refried beans (if you want!).

Can I Make Carne Guisada in a Crock Pot?

You can definitely make your carne guisada in a crock pot, but it isn’t quite as simple as most slow cooker recipes. For the best results, you’ll want to grab a skillet and follow steps 1-4 on the stovetop. Then, transfer everything to the crock pot and set to cook on low for 8-10 hours.

How to Serve

There are a couple of ways that you can serve your carne guisada! You can serve it taco-style in warmed tortillas (like we did here) complete with a cilantro, sliced avocado, and diced white onion garnish, or you can eat the carne guisada with a spoon and use a warm flour tortilla to sop up the goodness – the choice is yours, and truly, you can’t go wrong either way!

Frequently Asked Questions