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    Home » Puerto Rican Recipes » Carne Guisada (Puerto Rican Beef Stew)

    Published: Jul 21, 2019 Modified: Mar 25, 2025 by Catherine Arena 10 Comments

    Carne Guisada (Puerto Rican Beef Stew)

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    Carne Guisada (Puerto Rican Beef Stew) Pinterest image.
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    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.

    Carne Guisada (Puerto Rican Beef Stew) cooked in a caldero.

    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

    Ingredients to make Carne Guisada (Puerto Rican Beef Stew).

    How to Make Puerto Rican Beef Stew

    Beef chunks cooking in a caldero.

    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.

    All the Puerto Rican spices added to the caldero.

    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.

    Carrots added to the caldero.

    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.

    Potatoes, onions and olives are added to the caldero.

    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.

    Other Puerto Rican Recipes You Will Love

    • Alcapurrias de Yuca (Cassava Fritters) sitting on top of plantain leaves with a side of hot sauce.
      Authentic Alcapurrias de Yuca
    • Espagueti con carne molida (Puerto Rican Spaghetti) served in a white bowl with a side of bread, tossed salad and grated parmesan cheese.
      Espagueti con Carne Molida
    • Jibarito Sandwich (Sandwich de Toston) served on a white platter with a side of cilantro garlic aioli.
      Jibarito Sandwich (Sandwich de Toston)
    • Piononos Boricuas served on a white platter.
      Piononos Boricuas

    Did you try this recipe? Please leave a ⭐ review below!

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    📖 Recipe

    Carne Guisada (Puerto Rican Beef Stew) cooked in a caldero.

    Carne Guisada (Puerto Rican Beef Stew)

    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.
    4.86 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Puerto Rican
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 2 hours hours 40 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 5
    Calories: 489kcal
    Author: Catherine Arena

    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.

    Notes

    Recipe Notes:
    Buying the Beef: Some grocery stores sell pre-cut beef labeled as “Beef Stew Meat,” ready for stewing. In Latin markets, look for it as “Carne Para Guisar.”
    Sazón: If you’re new to cooking with Sazón or adobo powder, you’ll typically find these seasonings in the Latin or International aisle of most grocery stores.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 5 | Calories: 489kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 429mg | Potassium: 1251mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 4488IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried this recipe?Click the stars above or below to rate or leave a comment down below!

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    • Alcapurrias (alcapurrias puertorriqueñas) served on a white platter with hot sauce.
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      Bolitas de Queso

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Natalie says

      July 25, 2019 at 2:11 am

      Looks so delicious and comforting! Can’r wait to try this recipe – I love beef stew ♥

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        July 25, 2019 at 2:13 am

        Thank you Natalie!

        Reply
    2. Irina says

      July 25, 2019 at 1:26 am

      OMG! Your recipe is a keeper! I will finally delight my family with the best Beef Stew!

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        July 25, 2019 at 2:09 am

        Thanks Irina!!

        Reply
    3. Beth says

      July 25, 2019 at 1:24 am

      All the flavors in this dish look fabulous! I will not be waiting for cooler weather to give this a try!

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        July 25, 2019 at 2:10 am

        Wonderful Beth! Have a feeling you will enjoy it!

        Reply
    4. Mikayla says

      July 25, 2019 at 1:13 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        July 25, 2019 at 2:11 am

        Oh that’s great to hear Mikayla!! All smiles here! Thanks!!

        Reply
    5. SHANIKA says

      July 24, 2019 at 10:44 pm

      I love Stew and this Beef version looks and sounds like it’s packed with flavorful and delicious!

      Reply
      • Cathy says

        July 25, 2019 at 2:12 am

        Thanks Shanika!

        Reply
    4.86 from 7 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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