This Mexican style carne guisada recipe is chunks of beef that are stewed with tomatoes, peppers and spices until tender and flavorful. Serve your stewed beef as-is in its own gravy, or use it to make burritos, enchiladas, or many other different specialty dishes!
My local Mexican restaurant makes the absolute best carne guisada. I decided it was time to learn to make this classic dish at home! It turns out that this tender beef is actually quite simple to make, with ingredients that you probably already have on hand.
To make this recipe, you will need vegetable oil, beef stew meat, salt, black pepper, onion, green bell pepper, garlic, all purpose flour, tomatoes, tomato sauce, cumin, oregano, chili powder, paprika, beef broth and cilantro.
Carne Asada is typically a skirt steak that has been marinated in lime juice, various Mexican seasonings and cut into long strips. Carne Guisada, on the other hand, is typically made from beef stew meat, has various veggies and is more of a Mexican stew.
Tips For The Perfect Dish
- You can make carne guisada up to two days before you plan to serve it. The meat will become even more flavorful as it sits in the sauce. Reheat the beef in a pan on the stove over low heat until warmed through.
- Try preparing carne guisada in the slow cooker. Follow the recipe through step 7, then transfer the ingredients to a crock pot. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6 hours.
- This dish is a great candidate for the freezer. Place the cooked meat into airtight containers or freezer bags, and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator over night, then reheat on the stove.
- I like to serve my meat with flour tortillas or corn tortillas, white rice or pinto beans and rice, as well as homemade pico de gallo to add a fresh flavor and some color. It’s also great with a dollop of Chipotle guacamole on top.
Choose a well marbled cut of beef for this recipe such as beef stew meat or chuck roast.
Carne guisada is a stewed beef dish, whereas carne asada is a grilled beef dish. Carne asada contains steak, while guisada typically involves a less tender cut of beef. Both dishes are staples in Mexican cuisine!
Carne guisada is a type of stewed beef that is cooked with tomatoes, peppers and onions. Mexican style carne guisada consists of beef in a thick gravy and is often served as a main course with a side of tortillas, or as a filling for tacos and other dishes. There is another version of carne guisada that is popular in other Latin American countries that consists of beef stewed with potatoes and beer. This version here leans toward the Mexican interpretation.
You can enjoy carne guisda in a bowl as a hearty beef stew. You can also use a slotted spoon to remove the beef chunks from the liquid and use the meat as a filling for burritos, tacos or a nacho topping.
While I find this meat to be delicious as-is, you can experiment with different ingredients to make the flavors your own.
- Meat: Some varieties of this dish use sirloin, which is a lean cut of meat that does not need to cook for long. You can use sirloin, just be careful to make sure it doesn’t overcook! This dish also works with pork shoulder, although that is not a traditional choice for guisada.
- Spice: If you prefer your food on the hot and spicy side, feel free to add 1-2 canned chipotle peppers or 1/2 teaspoon (or more!) of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Vegetables: Feel free to add some veggies such as potatoes, carrots or poblano peppers.
- Toppings: Top your stewed beef with cotija cheese, sour cream, sliced green onions, diced tomatoes, fresh avocado or a drizzle of crema.
You will love this classic dish! It’s an easy way to enjoy authentic restaurant style flavors into the comfort of your own home.
How Do You Make Carne Guisada?
Start by searing the beef until it’s golden brown. Add peppers and onions to the pot, then cook until the veggies are soft. Stir in some flour to help thicken the sauce. Next, add in fresh diced tomatoes along with tomato sauce, beef broth and an assortment of seasonings. Cover the pot, and let the meat simmer on the stove until it’s fork tender. Add some cilantro, then serve and enjoy.
Carne Guisada, the recipe you have been waiting for!! So tender and full of flavor!
FAQ
What is the difference between carne asada and carne guisada?
What meat is carne guisada made of?
What makes carne asada different?
What is the difference between carne asada and al pastor?
What is the difference between carne guisada & Carne Asad?
Carne guisada is a stewed beef dish, while carne asada is a thinly sliced steak that is cooked by grilling. Carne guisada translates to “stew meat,” while carne asada translates to “grilled meat.”
What is a carne guisada?
Carne guisada is a sautéed beef dish that can have many different preparations because the name simply means cooked beef, whereas carne asada is grilled steak only. Where does carne guisada come from? Mexican carne guisada comes from the northern states, where stews and saucy beef recipes are super popular.
What is a carne asada steak?
Carne asada, which in English means “grilled meat,” is beef. For this Mexican dish, one-inch-thick steaks are marinated in lime juice and seasonings, grilled, and then cut into thin strips. Carne asada is either served as a main course typically with rice and beans, or used as a filling for tacos or burritos . What Cut of Meat Is Carne Asada?
Why is carne guisada so good?
First, carne guisada, cooked low and slow, magically turns a cheap cut of beef into super tender, fall apart meat. Its connective tissues are actually an asset, because the low slow heat breaks them down and makes the meat so soft and delectable. Second, carne guisada is deceptively simple.