Slow Cooker Carne Guisada

📝Shopping list

To make this amazing Mexican stew, you will need these simple ingredients:

• beef stew meat - you can buy it cut into cubes or cut it yourself
• all purpose flour
• sliced stewed tomatoes - with onion, celery and peppers, if possible
• onion - diced
• canned chopped green chiles - we use mild.  If you want to crank up the heat, you can use chopped jalapeno pepper.
• beef broth
• chili powder
• garlic - minced
• ground cumin
• salt
• black pepper

🔪Instructions

This great recipe just involves a few simple steps:

Preparing Your Slow Cooker

Prepare your slow cooker by coating it in a non-stick agent.  Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings. 

 NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface.  Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended over spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface.  Check you slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns. 

Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.  

Cooking

🍽Serving suggestions

There are so many amazing way to serve this simple carne guisada recipe.  A few suggestions include:

• Top a bed of rice, riced cauliflower or mashed cauliflower with it.  
• Serve your tender beef over beans.
• Wrap it up in corn tortillas or flour tortillas
• Fill a hollowed out green bell pepper with it.
• Shred the beef, top it with avocado slices and scoop it up with tortilla chips
• Serve next to a bowl of mexican rice and refried beans

Top your deliciously tender meat with some avocado chunks, chopped fresh cilantro and freshly squeezed lime juice. This recipe is very saucy. The delicious sauce is wonderful soaked up with crusty bread.

🔁Substitutions

• This recipe calls for minced garlic.  I use jarred garlic (lazy!) but you can substitute with minced fresh garlic cloves or with garlic powder
• Diced tomatoes can be used in place of stewed, sliced tomatoes
• Turn this delicious recipe into a hearty beef stew, by adding in some fresh vegetables .  Various veggies such as turnips, carrots, and parsnips cut into chunks all work here.  Root vegetables are best.  
• To dial up the heat, substitute chopped jalapeño peppers for the mild chili peppers.
• Like cajun steak bites, slow cooker Asian steak bites, and French beef tips, chunks of lean beef are great with this recipe.  Pre-cut beef stew meat is easiest. Chuck roast, flank steak, and skirt steak are also great options. I suggest going with whatever cut of beef makes the most sense economically.

Storing

Store leftover carne guisada in an airtight container or zip-top bag. Leftovers will stay good in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and 4-6 months in the freezer.

I like to store leftovers of this hearty crock-pot carne guisada in meal-sized containers. This makes for easy reheat-and-eat next day meals for the whole family

😉Hints & hacks

1. This is a delicious stew to make if your diners will be eating at different times.  Once your dish has finished its cooking time, turn your crock pot to the warm setting.  Everyone will have a warm meal waiting for them, no matter what time they walk through the door! 
2. This is a great recipe to double for a crowd.  The ingredients should all be doubled in the same proportions, but the cooking time will not change. 
3. I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price.
4. In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
5. Always double check to make sure your slow cooker is on and plugged in!!! There is nothing worse than coming home to a slow cooker that was never properly turned on!