Crock Pot Carne Guisada (Mexican Beef Stew)
, Updated Jul 06, 2025
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Level up your beef stew game with my Crock Pot Carne Guisada recipe! I guarantee you will be amazed with the incredible flavor and melt-in-the-mouth tender beef – this one’s a keeper 🙂
You will also love my Chicken Tinga (Mexican Shredded Chipotle Chicken)
Want a zero effort meal your whole family will go crazy for? Look no further than this delicious crock pot Carne Guisada! It’s quite remarkable how much flavor this easy beef stew packs in so few ingredients.
And though stews are traditionally more of a cozy winter meal, I love making carne guisada in the summer as it can be served in so many ways. Plus with the slow cooker you don’t have to worry about getting hot and bothered over the stove!
What is Carne Guisada?
Carne guisada translates as meat stew and this Latin American dish is popular in Mexico, Texas and further afield, with regional variations of course. Carne guisada is a one-pot dish that lovingly cooks low and slow so the flavors meld together to create magic.
If you love my Slow Cooker Birria Tacos and Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne you will definitely be hooked on this one too!
Carne Guisada Ingredients
- Ground cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, salt and pepper
- Flour to thicken the gravy
- Beef: less expensive cuts such as stew beef, braising steak or chuck steak all work a treat!
- Olive oil or any neutral tasting oil
- Onion or shallots
- Plenty of minced garlic
- Green bell pepper or a mix of green and red
- Tomato paste (tomato purée)
- Fresh diced tomatoes
- Beef broth, canned or fresh or stock made using stock cubes
- Bay leaf and fresh oregano
- Cilantro / coriander to garnish
How to make Carne Guisada
Full measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page. Please take a look at the steps and video before attempting this recipe!
- Cut the beef into cubes and pat it dry. Mix together the flour, spices, sugar, salt and pepper and sprinkle half the mixture over the beef, tossing to coat.
- Heat the oil in a skillet or directly in your slow cooker if it has a browning function. Add the diced onion and remaining seasoning and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until softened.
- Stir in the minced garlic and sauté fir a minute until it is fragrant. Add the seasoned beef and brown for a few minutes, until nicely colored on all sides.
- Transfer everything to your slow cooker if you have started the recipe in a separate pan. Add the diced pepper, tomato paste, diced tomatoes and stir well.
- Add the broth, bay leaf and oregano, cover and cook on LOW setting for 6-8 hours or the HIGH setting for 4-5 hours. Test the meat by piercing with a fork – it should be perfectly tender.
- Discard the bay leaf and taste the stew to check the seasoning. Garnish with chopped cilantro (coriander) and serve over rice with tortilla chips or use as a taco filling.
Recipe Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze for up to three months. Add a little water to loosen the gravy when reheating.
- Freeze in portions in suitable containers for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge or reheat from frozen over low heat until piping hot all the way through.
- Mix things up – you can add cubed potatoes or other vegetables such as squash to make this stew stretch further.
- Spice it up! Carne guisada is rich but not particularly spicy. You can dial up the heat by adding more cayenne pepper and fresh chilies when serving.
- Serving suggestions: Spoon over rice, pile into tacos, wrap in burritos, or serve Tex-Mex plate-style with beans and tortillas.
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📌 Pin this recipe to your comfort food board or slow cooker favourites — it’s perfect for cosy weekends and make-ahead meals.
Crock Pot Carne Guisada (Mexican Beef Stew)
Video
Ingredients
- 900 g (2 lbs ) beef , chuck or braising steak
- 2 tbsp flour , all purpose / plain
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder , mild
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion , finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 green bell pepper , diced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 large tomatoes , diced or 400g (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup beef broth or use beef stock cube
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 sprigs fresh oregano or 1 tsp dried
- cilantro / coriander to serve
Instructions
- Cut the beef into cubes and pat it dry. Mix together the flour, spices, sugar, salt and pepper and sprinkle half the mixture over the beef, tossing to coat.900 g (2 lbs ) beef, 2 tbsp flour, 1 tsp brown sugar, 2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp chili powder, ½ tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper
- Heat the oil in a skillet or directly in your slow cooker if it has a browning function. Add the diced onion and remaining seasoning and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until softened.2 tbsp olive oil, 1 large onion
- Stir in the minced garlic and sauté fir a minute until it is fragrant. Add the seasoned beef and brown for a few minutes, until nicely colored on all sides.4 garlic cloves
- Transfer everything to your slow cooker if you have started the recipe in a separate pan. Add the diced pepper, tomato paste, diced tomatoes and stir well.1 green bell pepper, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 2 large tomatoes
- Add the broth, bay leaf and oregano, cover and cook on LOW setting for 6-8 hours or the HIGH setting for 4-5 hours. Test the meat by piercing with a fork – it should be perfectly tender.½ cup beef broth , 1 bay leaf, 2 sprigs fresh oregano
- Discard the bay leaf and taste the stew to check the seasoning. Garnish with chopped cilantro (coriander) and serve over rice with tortilla chips or use as a taco filling.cilantro / coriander to serve
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze for up to three months. Add a little water to loosen the gravy when reheating.
- Mix things up – you can add cubed potatoes or other vegetables such as squash to make this stew stretch further.
- Carne guisada is rich but not particularly spicy. You can dial up the heat by adding more cayenne pepper and fresh chilies when serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate, and will depend on quality of ingredients and serving sizes.
INCREDIBLE! I halved the recipe and it turned out so well! The flavors and texture are amazing! Cook this ASAP and enjoy the leftovers which are even better!
Thanks so much for your comment!!