This slow cooker Latin beef stew, called carne guisada is made with baby red potatoes, tomatoes and Latin seasonings.
Crock Pot Carne Guisada (Latin Beef Stew)
Serve this over rice topped with fresh aji picante – it’s a must and really brightens the flavors and rounds out the dish! I love coming home to a great slow cooker dinner. It’s perfect for those busy nights you know you won’t have time to cook. A few of my favorite beef crock pot recipes are Cubed Steak with Peppers and Olives, Corned Beef and Cabbage, and Quick Beef Chili.
Last week I was on a cruise to the Bahamas from New York having fun in the sun. I was hoping to return to Spring weather but so far March is starting off really cold in New York. This Latin beef stew is the perfect way to warm up and it’s a favorite in my home. A bit different than traditional beef stew because the meat and potatoes simmer with light beer, scallions, garlic, tomatoes, cumin, achiote (also known as annato) and spices. If you can’t find achiote which is traditionally used in Latin cuisine and can be purchased at any Latin market or on Amazon, no worries, you can use Badia Sazon or even sweet paprika instead. If you prefer to make this without beer, you can replace it with water, it will still taste great.
I usually make it on the stove, but with some minor adjustments I was able to make this in the slow cooker. If you don’t have a slow cooker you can see the stove top recipe here. Pictured here I served this over brown rice with some avocado on the side. Enjoy!
And since so many are asking, I have the 6 Quart Hamilton Beach Set ‘n Forget Programmable Slow Cooker. I love it because you can adjust the time you want it to cook, and it automatically turns to warm when it’s done. It also has a probe for meat that automatically shuts off when done. I hated my old crock pot, it burnt everything and my food had a weird taste. This crock pot is so great, I actually own two!
Crock Pot Carne Guisada (Latin Beef Stew)
Ingredients
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 cup scallions, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 small tomatoes, chopped
- 2 tbsp cilantro, minced
- 1 1/2 lb choice Top round beef stew, cut into small chunks
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1/3 cup light beer, I used Corona light
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp dry adobo seasoning, or seasoned salt
- 1/2 tsp ground achiote, or Badia Sazon, or paprika
- 1 dried bay leaf
- kosher salt to taste
- 10 oz baby red potatoes, halved or quartered
For Topping:
Instructions
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
- Add 1 teaspoon of oil, scallions and garlic and sauté about 2 - 3 minutes; add tomatoes, cilantro and a pinch of salt.
- Cook another 2 minutes, then place in the slow cooker.
- Wipe the skillet, add remaining oil and increase the heat to medium high.
- Add the beef and brown on all side, about 4 minutes.
- Season with salt to taste and sprinkle flour over the meat, cook 1 minute turning often, then add to the slow cooker.
- Add beer, water, cumin, adobo, achiote, bay leaf and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt.
- Add potatoes and cover, cook on low heat 6 to 8 hours or until beef is tender and the potatoes are cooked through.
My husband and I loved this! So easy and delicious. Don’t skip the topping! Definitely brings the dish together. Thank you Gina!
Hi Gina!
Would this recipe be good with your sofrito? If so, would you make any other adjustments? Thank you!
Sure, just add and keep the rest the same
I changed the recipe a bit. Instead of 1/3 cup of water and beer, I added about 4 oz each, to make sure all ingredients were cover and added carrots. Also, I continue to slow cook until the beef began to shred. Meat is tender, juicy and with much flavor as I also added Italian Herbs and ground Medley peppercorns to taste. Will eat one serving and freezing the rest. On to my next recipe!
Best beef stew ever. So delicious and flavorful especially with the Aji Picante on top. Will add to the normal rotation.
GREAT!!!
I had this at my sister in laws & it was delicious!! Looking forward to making it at our house now.
Made this with the suggested topping and it was delicious!!
This is wonderful. Great taste.
Amazing! Great flavor. Served with garlic rice.
Hello, What do you use instead of bay leaf?
How many potatoes is 10oz? Thanks!
Can you use marinated pork tenderloin in asada seasoning? How would the calorie count change?
To those asking about how long to cooking this in a instant pot, if my calculations are correct, you should be placing this recipe on high pressure for about 40 mins and then letting it natural release. The conversion that I found was whatever amount of time we are cooking anything in a slow cooker on high for, we have to multiply by 60, and then divided by 10. So let’s say we’re going to cook this for seven hours on high in a slow cooker, we would have to multiply 7×60 which is 420÷10 which would be 42 minutes. I’ll try it out tonight and see how it goes and let you all know 🙂
Thank you Halle!! Very helpful
For future reference, you can just multiply by 6.. same thing as multiplying by 60 then dividing by 10.
Thank you so much for these instructions – cooked perfectly! This was delicious and so easy. I recently got an instapot and this will absolutely be on our weeknight dinner rotation!
How would you do this using the instant pot? I would love to try it that way.
Thanks!
A new favorite!! Simple and delicious. My only change was to use 2/3 and omit the water. Thank you Gina!
That should be use 2/3 cup beer ….
Gina, do you need the beer ? I have everything but the beer.
thanks : )
You can sub with water. 🙂
Have you tried this recipe in the instant pot? I’m trying to figure out what to set it on and how long.
Did you try it in the instant pot? If so what time did you use?
What temp would you cook this on in the oven if you prefer to not use crockpot?
I would cook it on the stove until the meat is tender, 45 min to an hour.
I make this all the time for my family. My little girl especially loves it. Gina – How many freestyle points for this?
Smart points have been updated to reflect the free style program.
Hi!
Can I used whole wheat flour instead of regular flour? Thanks so much def want to make this during the weekend!
I made this dish tonight with cilantro lime rice (also Skinnytaste recipe), and it was absolutely fantastic. It took only about fifteen minutes of prep to put together and the slow cooker did the rest of the work. I cooked the stew on high for 4 hours. It was very tender.
I made this with bison and it was delicious! The bison is leaner than beef.
My husband made this without the green sauce and served it over rice. It was absolutely AMAZING and introduced us to the deliciousness that is sazon! One of the best stews I’ve ever had.
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I have to say, this is one of my favorite recipes. So easy to make and super tasty.
With the potatoes, why would this be served over rice?
Because us puerto ricans love carbs. lol
I have to say I wasn’t sure about this recipe by just looking at it, I’m not much of a steak and potatoes girl but after reading all the glowing reviews I had to try it. Wow is it amazing!! I have already told all my coworkers and sent the pin to friends! I didn’t add shallots because I can’t do onions (I know I’m weird). Also the Colombian Aji Picante (green sauce) is a 100% must! I used a jalapeno and replaced the shallot with some garlic 🙂
My boyfriend LOVED. I ate it with brown rice and some hot sauce, I had to have second and then made my boyfriend swear he wouldn’t eat anymore because I loved it so much. Thanks so much for this recipe, it’s a keeper!
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Can I double up this recipe for the crock pot?
Yes.
Is top round roast ok? Or does it need to be stew meat?
This recipe is wonderful! I made it for my husband and I this week and then again for his parents when they came in town for the weekend!
Awesome! I love this recipe too!
I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
Hi, I have adobo paste from Puebla Mexico, can I marinate the meat before then saute it?
Gina, I am so excited for dinner tonight! I have this in my crock pot right now. I so surprised to see our little grocery store had adobo seasoning and achiote. I'll be keeping it on hand for your recipes. You make eating "skinny" a wonderful thing! 🙂
Made this overnight. My husband couldn't wait to have it for dinner. He served some up for breakfast. It's delish! Thanks for sharing.
In my crockpot right now…can't wait until dinner later! Thanks for the recipe!
Can you prepare the ingredients the night before and then throw in the crock pot in the morning?
Yes, that's what I did both times I made it.
I cooked up the ingredients the night before and put the ceramic of the slow cooker in the fridge overnight, and started it this morning before work.
Can I make this on "high" in my slow cooker for faster time?
I can't figure out why it won't let me pin this recipe worried that I won't be able to find it again
You can sub cubed turnips for potatoes. They lose that cabbagy taste and are neutral and pick up the flavor of the sauce and spices (the sauce doesn't pick up the turnip taste either) They still look like potatoes and hold their shape while filling you up with a lot less carbs/starch/calories than potatoes, especially helpful for diabetics. My meat and potato eatin man never noticed the difference. I finally told him and it's our joke now
Great recipe, I've never tried it with red baby potatoes before, maybe I'll give it a go?
I have made this twice now (in fact, heating up leftovers for lunch right now) and it is a big hit for both me and the husband. I LOVE the aji picante, works so much better with it 🙂
I made this recipe 2 nights ago.. it was absolutely AMAZING and DELICIOUS! My fiance couldn't believe how good it was. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us. I received your new book in the mail yesterday and half of it is tagged with all the recipes I plan on making 🙂
Are you supposed to pour the aji picante over the top? Or use it as a dip? Or just put in a little bit and mix it? What's the best way?
Serve it fresh over the meat.
Can this be made without tomatoes? I can't eat tomatoes, but I'm wondering if it would need extra liquid. — R.A.
My 14 month old who doesn't really like meat gobbled this right up! I subbed the beer for water and served it with a side of kale salad. Delicious!!
I let it cool a bit, served it over a bed of raw spinach and topped it with the salsa! Delicious.
I am going to cook the stew without potatoes for 4 hours on low then add the potatoes. I will let you all know how this turns out to cook the potatoes less time than the meat.
Question! Do you think 6 hours will do it? I want to put this in the crock pot around 3p today before the baseball game and eat it when we get home! Just wondering because it says 6-8, or is it better if I put it on high for about 4 hours? Thanks, love your recipes!
I have an over abundance of flat iron steak..can I use that instead of the round beef stew?
Tried this tonight with chicken breast. (we had beef a few nights ago). It was fantastic. Thanks you for sharing
Beautiful recipe! I grew up on this and I appreciate the beauty in this recipe.
Well, just ate it and can't say enough amazing things about this recipe!!!! OMG SOOOOO SOOOOOO GOOD! Best crock pot recipe I have ever made (and, I am old!) THANKS!!!
Just got this in the crock pot, it smells amazing and I can't wait to try it! Today starts a week of only Skinnytaste.com crock pot recipes! I am going to throw something in every morning and try to get something done while the kids are at school!!!
St. Patrick's Day weekend and I'm making Latin Stew!
I would like to say that this blog really convinced me to do it ! Thanks, very good. We are really happy just for this post in this website.
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After a 4 mile run in the blistering cold…cannot wait to go home to this in the crockpot! I know its going to be another winner!
Delicious and the aji picante just takes to a whole 'nother level of deliciousness! I used water to in place of the beer and it was still so good.Thanks for another awesome recipe.
Out of this world!! Will make this again and again. Thanks Gina
I have this in the crock pot right now and it smells so good! It's days like these that make working from home so difficult.
I don't have time to do the prep in the morning – do you think it would be OK to prep the night before, put it all in the crockpot and in the fridge, then plug it in the next morning?
I want to know the answer to this too. I made this today and it was delicious! My husband requested next time with cornbread. I washed the potatoes and cut the scallions and garlic the night before and then this morning cooked it all and put it in the crock pot. Last night prep time = 5 minutes. This morning cook time maybe 10 – 15 before I could leave it. I would like to try and throw it together the night before and then turn it on in the morning, but I don't know if it would make it soggy….
I would bet you could make each step the night before and put the scallion/tomato mix (maybe with the rest of the seasonings) and the beef in separate containers. I'd probably wash and cut the potatoes, and add the beer, in the morning.
I put it all in the crockpot the night before it was not soggy at all. I threw it all in at night, then just plugged it in the next morning.
I liked it so much that I made it again, to give someone. Did it all at one time. No difference whatsoever. No need to separate all the stuff; it all cooks together anyway.
did you put it in the crock pot the night before and then refrigerate it until you turn it on?
I'm making this right now! Yummmm! Although I have to go to work in the afternoon and I won't be home at dinner time. I have to wait till I get home to eat! : ( And yes, I agree with the above poster- Anonymous's comments are very negative!
Very good. And the aji picante does add a lot. I didn't have a beer on hand so I used chicken stock. Perfection! I'll make it with a beer next time.
I made this last night and it was Delish!! didn't put it over rice too many starches for me, instead I had 1 1/2 servings. I also doubled up on the spices. The aji picante, which was super awesome but there is so much left and just too good throw out, what else can I use it for. I put in the freezer in super small containers.
We use it over beans, stews and grilled steaks.
I bet it's good on an omelet.
I froze mine once and it did not go well for me 🙁 I might have messed it up, but I would just have it on everything!
HI!!
First of all, thank you for this site and your amazing recipes. I dont know how I would ever survive a healthy lifestyle without you.
I recently started a new job and find cooking when I get home prolongs my evening and screws up my meal times. I prepared this recipe this morning and left it in the crock (totally new concept for me BTW!). My question is, is it OK to leave in crock longer than 8 hours? By the time I get home it will be closer to 10.
Thanks!
Charlotte
Sure, that's fine!
I always taught my girls when they see a recipe they like to cook and there is something in it they don't like you just leave it out …they wouldn't notice the difference …GINA I love your recipes from down under Aussieland
thank you! good simple advice.
On the stove!
I made this for dinner tonite and it was absolutely delicious! Made it in the stove!
Hi, I used to do this because I didn't like to cook it on the stove and loved it. Now that I found your recipe I will start doing it again. Muchas gracias, siempre me encantan tus recetas!
That pic is awesome. I could eat the screen. Cannot wait to make this and I took in the advice to make sure the sauce is with it.
Just curious if there would be a good substitution for the beer. I'm doing lent, and this is one thing that I've cut out completely. Thanks for your help!!
She does mention you can use water instead of beer. I bet beef broth would work, too
Oh, I totally did not see that part. Thank you for replying!
Hi,
do you think I can leave this in the crockpot for longer than 8 hours. I mean much longer, more like 24 hours. Maybe set it on warm instead of low?
Thanks
Not sure if it can cook on warm.
I threw this in the crockpot this morning and put too much beer in it. Do you think it will be fine or should I add more seasoning?
I ended up just adding a bit more seasoning and it turned out fine. I was so sad at first 'cause I thought I ruined the recipe. Thanks so much for this. The hubby was super happy!!
It's fine, it gets cooked out.
Wow, this looks and sounds so fantastic I can almost smell it! In a former life I must have lived "south of the border" because recipes like this are becoming more and more frequent stars of my kitchen.
I don't eat beef. Would this work with chicken breasts or would the flavor be too bland?
I know this is almost a year late, but we're replacing the beef with venison. If that is something you have available it's worth a shot! It's a leaner red meat, and if processed right, tastes exactly like beef in any recipe. Just an idea.
This looks so delicious!
This looks delicious, and I want to make this very soon however need to feed 8 hungry adults… Not sure how much volume this takes in the slow cooker and if a double batch would fit it. Thoughts?
It's freezer friendly!
I tripled this recipe (Costco sells cubed beef for stew in 4 lb packages) so I basically tripled all the other ingredients and it fit in my 6qt crock pot no problem. It's currently at home cooking away. Can't wait to see how it turned out!
Hi I subscribe to you on Bloglovin but for some reason the last two posts of yours I haven't been able to get.The screen flashes really fast and shows your site and then it disappears. I had to google you to get this recipe and yesterdays as well. I wonder if anyone else has had that problem? Just wanted to let you know.
Hi Brandi
I just went to bloglovin and clicked on my link and it worked fine on Firefox. Maybe try a different web browser?
This. Sounds. Divine! And it certainly looks the part as well! I'm actually heading to New Jersey tomorrow, and could well do with something like this to brave the cold there, as it's very mild here in the UK in comparison. I love that you use a bit of beer in the stew as well, it gives it a slightly more round flavour I find 🙂 Mmmm!
Yes, it does! Enjoy and stay warm.
We made this and without the aji picante it was good, but nothing too special. However, WITH the aji picante it was AWESOME. Do not skip the sauce. If you don't like it spicy, just add the tiniest bit. My husband forgot the sauce the first night (he takes dinner to work) and he could not believe the difference on night two. Very good.
Yes, it's not complete without the sauce in my opinion. 🙂
The ahi picante certainly dies make it awesome!
Omg. This looks delicious. Wish I had a plate for lunch right now. Thanks for the recipe from 3girls1apple.com
Looks yummy! Not sure what makes this "skinny" ?? Have you done recipe with sweet pot. instead of red? For over a year, my family has cooked only your recipes, plus one date night (cheat night) and we've lost sooooo much weight. Thank you so much!
It's under 300 calories, with rice a little more but still a low calorie meal with lean beef. Sweet potatoes would work, but the flavor would change. Potatoes with the skin on are a high fiber whole food, and they are good for you : )
Why do you need rice with potatoes?
Don't think it is a matter of "need", but rather choice.
Correct, if you have Latina in your genes, then it comes pretty close to need as rice is eaten with every meal but here it's completely optional, although it's nice to soak up some of the gravy.
This looks so good, can't wait to try it!!! Love using my slow cooker.. I was away in Mexico last week and BRRR is it cold in NY.. i hear it will be 45 this weekend though !!! 🙂
thank goodness!
Can you post some meatless recipes soon!!!!!!!!!!!! Please 🙂
Will do!
The new issue of Cooking Light has a meatless cabbage roll recipe that I am going to try this week….
Oh my!! I do love a nice beef stew, it's looks delicious x
http://joysofsingleton.blogspot.co.uk/
Is there something I can use in place of beer?
Her post said water, but I'm sure fat free beef broth would do just fine.
Sure, broth or water would work fine.
They they go again!!
I think most bloggers just enjoy the number of comments they get, regardless what the issue. They are happy to have people reading their posts. LOL I have a lot of blogger friends and they would love the amt of comments these recipes get. 😉
Just wondering, is the Points+ value calculated with the brown rice, or without?
Without, if you add 1/2 cup brown rice add 3 pp.
What veggies would you suggest to add into the crockpot with this?
I don't usually add veggies to this one, but I do like to have fresh salad on the side.
We served it over riced cauliflower. 🙂
Yes!, I'm so excited. This is one of my favorite recipes of yours, I usually do it in the pressure cooker on weekends but now that I can make it in my crock pot I can do it during the week, thank you.
How long did you cook this in a pressure cooker?
Just last night we had your Puerto Rican style beans and cilantro rice for dinner. It's truly become one of our favs! I'm a vegetarian, but I can't wait to make this one for the husband. Thank you!
Great! My husband's favorite 🙂