Description
Crock-Pot Carne Guisada is a hearty and flavorful slow-cooked beef stew made from tender chunks of chuck roast simmered with tomatoes, jalapeños, garlic, and spices. This comforting Tex-Mex dish features a rich, thick gravy perfect for serving over rice or warm tortillas, making it a perfect meal for busy days with minimal hands-on cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Coating
- 2 ½ pounds chuck roast, bottom round roast, or beef stew meat, trimmed and cut into ½” to 1″ pieces
- 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons canola oil
Stew Ingredients
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juices
- 1 cup water
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- ¼ cup fresh jalapeños (2 medium), seeded and diced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon salt
Optional Thickener
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Prepare and Brown Beef: Trim the roast and cut it into ½-inch cube pieces. Coat the beef cubes evenly with the flour. Heat the canola oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Brown the beef on all sides, stirring frequently to ensure even coloring. Once browned, transfer the beef to the crockpot, discarding any excess oil from the skillet.
- Add Ingredients to Slow Cooker: Into the crockpot with the beef, add the diced tomatoes along with their juices, water, minced garlic, diced jalapeños, ground cumin, black pepper, and salt. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on the LOW setting for 5 to 6 hours, allowing the beef to become tender and the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Thicken Gravy Naturally: About 30 minutes before serving, remove the slow cooker lid to let the gravy thicken naturally. Continue to cook on LOW, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Optional Cornstarch Thickening: If a thicker gravy is desired, whisk 1 to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with â…“ cup cold water in a small bowl until smooth after the beef is tender. Add this mixture to the crockpot, turn the heat to HIGH, and cook for about 15 minutes until the gravy thickens. Once thickened, reduce the heat to warm and serve.
Notes
- For spicier flavor, leave jalapeño seeds in or add extra jalapeños.
- Serve Carne Guisada over warm tortillas, rice, or with refried beans for a complete meal.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and freeze nicely for up to 3 months.
- You can substitute beef stew meat if chuck roast is unavailable.
- To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free flour or cornstarch for coating the beef.
- Do not skip browning the beef as it adds depth of flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Stew
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
