Carne Guisada (Puerto Rican Beef Stew) is a hearty, flavorful dish packed with tender beef, carrots, onions, potatoes, and olives, all cooked in a rich blend of Puerto Rican spices that bring it all together.
This hearty, flavorful beef stew is a staple in almost every Puerto Rican household. Growing up, I knew it was going to be a great meal whenever I walked into the kitchen and smelled carne guisada cooking.
The beef cooks in a rich sofrito-tomato sauce until it's melt-in-your-mouth tender, and soaks in the savory sauce, surrounded by carrots, potatoes, and pimiento-stuffed olives.
Traditionally, this dish is served with a side of arroz blanco (Puerto Rican white rice) and flavors the rice with all that savory sauce. I also love to serve it with a side of habichuelas guisadas (Puerto Rican stewed beans) and some crispy plátanos fritos (ripe plantains). It’s amazing with Puerto Rican yellow rice with corn too. If you've never tasted or made Puerto Rican beef stew before, get ready, this dish is about to become a favorite in your home too!
Ingredients
How to Make Puerto Rican Beef Stew
Step 1: Cut the meat into 1-inch cubes and season with adobo.
Heat oil in a caldero or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned meat and cook, stirring occasionally, until it's no longer red.
Step 2: Stir in the sofrito, sazón, tomato sauce, vinegar, garlic cloves, chicken bouillon, bay leaves, and oregano. Lower heat to medium and bring to a low boil.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover with a lid, and let it simmer for 1 hour.
Step 3: After an hour of cooking the beef, add the carrots and 1 cup of water. Stir, then cover and cook for another hour.
Step 4: Next, add the potatoes, onions, and olives. Stir to combine, cover the pot, and cook for another 40 minutes or until the beef is fork tender.
Taste for seasoning and add salt if needed. The stew is ready when the beef is fork tender.
Top the stew with fresh cilantro and serve.
Storing & Reheating Leftovers
Refrigerate: Store leftovers in the same pot or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The stew is even better the next day!
Freeze: Let the stew cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. To Eat: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheat: Warm leftovers in a pot over medium heat, adding a little bit of extra water to loosen the sauce. You can also microwave it in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until heated through.
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📖 Recipe
Carne Guisada (Puerto Rican Beef Stew)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef top round or chuck roast rinsed and cut into 1½-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons adobo seasoning
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 3 tablespoons sofrito
- 1 packet (envelope) Sazón with Annatto
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar or red wine vinegar
- 4 garlic cloves peeled and cut in half
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 large chicken bouillon or one teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
- 1-2 bay leaves
- ⅓ cup pimiento stuffed olives
- 2 potatoes peeled and cut into large chunks
- 2 carrots peeled and cut into slices
- 1 medium onion peeled, cut in half and sliced
- ½ can peas optional
- salt to taste if needed
Instructions
- Sprinkle the beef chunks with adobo.
- Heat the oil in a caldero or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned beef and cook, stirring occasionally, until it's no longer red.
- Stir in the sofrito, sazón, tomato sauce, vinegar, garlic, chicken bouillon, bay leaves, and oregano. Lower heat to medium and bring to a low boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover with a lid, and let it simmer for 1 hour.
- After an hour of cooking the beef, add the carrots and 1 cup of water. Stir, then cover and cook for another hour.
- Next, add the potatoes, onions, and olives. Stir to combine, cover the pot, and cook for another 40 minutes or until the beef is fork tender.
- Taste for seasoning and add salt if needed. The stew is ready when the beef is fork tender.Top the stew with fresh cilantro and serve.
Natalie says
Looks so delicious and comforting! Can’r wait to try this recipe – I love beef stew ♥
Cathy says
Thank you Natalie!
Irina says
OMG! Your recipe is a keeper! I will finally delight my family with the best Beef Stew!
Cathy says
Thanks Irina!!
Beth says
All the flavors in this dish look fabulous! I will not be waiting for cooler weather to give this a try!
Cathy says
Wonderful Beth! Have a feeling you will enjoy it!
Mikayla says
There is nothing better than a warm, comforting bowl of beef stew, and I really love the flavors in your puerto rican version. It’s different than our usual stew in my house and a big hit!
Cathy says
Oh that’s great to hear Mikayla!! All smiles here! Thanks!!
SHANIKA says
I love Stew and this Beef version looks and sounds like it’s packed with flavorful and delicious!
Cathy says
Thanks Shanika!