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    Home / Recipes / Main Dishes / Beef Recipes

    Carne Guisada (Slow Cooker)

    Jump to Recipe
    Easy Slow Cooker Carne Guisada.
    Slow Cooker Carne Guisada.

    Flavorful Carne Guisada in the crock pot is a Mexican beef stew perfect for serving over rice or with tortillas. Its wonderful aroma as it simmers in the slow cooker will have you anxiously awaiting dinnertime.

    Overhead view of Carne Guisada made in the crock pot.

    Carne means meat (but often is used to refer to beef), and guisada means stew.

    This is the crockpot version of my Carne Guisada for Instant Pot recipe for those who prefer using a slow cooker. It goes well with Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice.

    Jump to:
    • Video
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Crock Pots (Size Matters)
    • FAQ
    • My other favorite time-saving slow cooker recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Video

    Ingredients

    Overhead view of ingredients for Carne Guisada Crock Pot.
    • water
    • beef stew meat
    • salt and pepper
    • canned diced tomatoes with green chilies with juices reserved
    • chopped onion
    • diced green bell pepper
    • minced garlic
    • flour
    • ground cumin
    • dried oregano
    • chili powder
    • sour cream, for garnish
    • fresh cilantro, for garnish
    • shredded cheddar cheese, for garnish
    • pico de gallo, for garnish

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Overhead view of beef in a crock pot for Carne Guisada.

    Put ¼ cup water in slow cooker and add meat. Salt and pepper as desired.

    Reserved juice from tomatoes and green chilies with water added.

    Drain juice from tomatoes with green chilies and reserve.

    Overhead view of beef, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and bell peppers for Carne Guisada in a crock pot.

    Place tomatoes & green chilies over meat with garlic, onion, and green pepper.

    Overhead view of meat, vegetables, and spices for Carne Guisada in a crock pot.

    Cover with lid and cook on high for 30 minutes, then add spices to slow cooker.

    Pouring thickened sauce for Carne Guisada over meat, vegetables, and spices in crock pot.

    Add enough water to the reserved juice from tomatoes to make 1-½ cups liquid. Mix ¼ cup of reserved juices with flour and mix well. Add flour mixture to remaining juices; heat to thicken. Add to slow cooker and stir to blend well.

    Overhead view of Carne Guisada made in crock pot with garnishes in small bowls.

    Cook on low for 3-4 hours until sauce is thickened and meat is tender. Stir gently until well mixed, then serve with tortillas or rice and provide shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo, and chopped fresh cilantro as garnishes.

    Crock Pots (Size Matters)

    The model and size slow cooker you use can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Small slow cookers cook more slowly than larger ones, with larger models cooking the same amount of food more quickly. Additionally, if you change the quantities in a recipe, the cooking time will change.

    6 quart Rival CrockPot (affiliate link)

    This Carne Guisada crock pot recipe was tested in a 6 quart Rival CrockPot (affiliate link), which is my favorite slow cooker (when my first one died I bought the exact same model to replace it). You will need to adjust the cooking time based on your individual appliance. For 4 quart models, you will need to increase cooking time, while 8 quart models will need less time to cook.

    There is no substitute for getting familiar with your particular slow cooker; based on your experience with recipes over time, you will be able to judge how to adapt cooking times to your model.

    FAQ

    What is Carne Guisada

    Carne means meat, but it is often used to refer to specifically to beef, and guisada means stew. Carne guisada is a traditional Mexican-style beef stew flavored with garlic, onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes. This particular Carne Guisada crockpot recipe is popular because of the ease of preparation.

    Is Carne Guisada gluten-free?

    This recipe uses flour to thicken the gravy, but you could substitute a mixture of 2-3 tablespoons of cornstarch with the room temperature reserved juices instead (do not heat the liquid when using cornstarch) to make it gluten-free. Serve with corn tortillas or rice instead of flour tortillas.

    How long does it take to cook Carne Guisada in the crock pot/slow cooker?

    Total time is about four and a half hours, with a cook time of 4 hours and prep of about 20-30 minutes. Unlike oven cooking, there is no way to exactly predict the time needed to cook in a crockpot because they vary based on size and model. Small slow cookers cook more slowly than larger ones, and if you change the quantities in a recipe the cooking time will change. This recipe was tested in a 6 quart Rival CrockPot (affiliate link); you will need to adjust the cooking time based on your individual appliance.

    Can crock pot Carne Guisada be frozen?

    Yes, you can freeze the cooked Carne Guisada for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. To use, thaw the stew in the refrigerator then reheat on the stove top of in the microwave. If necessary, add water or beef broth while reheating.

    My other favorite time-saving slow cooker recipes

    • Slices of beef on a white platter. Beef is covered with cooked onions and resting in an au jus. The plate is garnished with parsley and there is a steak knife resting on the back of the platter.
      Easy Crockpot London Broil
    • Cube steak with mushroom soup gravy served over mashed potatoes.
      Crock Pot Cube Steak with Mushroom Soup
    • Chicken breasts cooked with peanut sauce over white rice and garnished with chopped cilantro and peanuts
      Easy Slow Cooker Thai Chicken in Peanut Sauce
    • A pile of cooked spaghetti noodles covered with marinara sauce on a blue plate
      Crockpot Marinara Sauce

    📖 Recipe

    Overhead view of Carne Guisada made in the crock pot.

    Carne Guisada for the Slow Cooker

    Flavorful Carne Guisada in the crock pot is a Mexican beef stew perfect for serving over rice or with tortillas. Its wonderful aroma as it simmers in the slow cooker will have you anxiously awaiting dinnertime.
    4.50 from 14 votes
    Print Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 4 hrs
    Total Time 4 hrs 20 mins
    Course Main Dish
    Cuisine Gluten-free, Tex-Mex
    Servings 16 servings
    Calories 178

    Ingredients
      

    • ¼ cup water
    • 4 pounds beef stew meat
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes with green chilies, with juices
    • 1 onion, chopped
    • 1 green bell pepper, diced
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 cup water, approximately
    • 3 tablespoons flour

    Garnishes:

    • fresh cilantro
    • grated cheese
    • pico de gallo
    • sour cream
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Put water in slow cooker and add meat. Salt and pepper as desired.
      ¼ cup water, 4 pounds beef stew meat, salt and pepper to taste
    • Drain juice from tomatoes with green chilies into a 2 cup measuring cup and place tomatoes with green chilies over meat. Add garlic, onion, and green pepper. Cook on high for about 30 minutes.
      28 ounces canned diced tomatoes with green chilies, 1 onion, 1 green bell pepper, 3 cloves garlic
    • Add spices to slow cooker and stir.
      ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • Add enough water to the reserved juice from tomatoes with green chilies to make 1-½ cups liquid. Heat liquid in microwave or on stovetop. Add flour to liquid and mix well. Add flour mixture to slow cooker and stir to blend well.
      1 cup water, 3 tablespoons flour
    • Cook on low for 3-4 hours until sauce is thickened and meat is tender.
    • Serve with garnishes and tortillas or rice.
      fresh cilantro, grated cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo

    Notes

    1. These instructions are for making Carne Guisada in the slow cooker; you can find the instructions for the Instant Pot here.
    2. If you prefer mild vs. spicy food, substitute canned tomatoes for the tomatoes with green chilies.
    3. Leftovers from Carne Guisada can be used to make beef enchiladas, Tex-Mex Beef Casserole, or burritos.
    4. Garnishes not included in nutrition data.

    Nutrition per serving

    Calories: 178 calCarbohydrates: 4 gProtein: 26 gFat: 6 gSodium: 72 mgFiber: 1 gSugar: 2 g
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    Carne Guisada (Slow Cooker)
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    Posted by Mary Ann on February 26, 2019; Updated on October 27, 2022Filed Under: Beef Recipes, Favorite Recipes, Slow Cooker Recipes, Soups and Stews

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