Mexican Style Beef Stew | The Best Homemade Stew Recipe (2024)

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This Mexican Style Beef Stew is the ultimate comfort food! It’s packed with flavorful, tender beef, vegetables and a slight Mexican flair.

Mexican Style Beef Stew | The Best Homemade Stew Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Beef Stew
  • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • What You’ll Need
  • How to Make Mexican Style Beef Stew
  • How To Choose The Best Meat For Beef Stew
  • How To Make Roux For Beef Stew
  • How To Serve Easy Beef Stew
  • How To Store Leftovers
  • Reheating Instructions
  • Try More Mexican Recipes!
  • Get the Recipe

Beef Stew

Beef Stew is such comfort food. Perfect for chilly months to warm you right up. It reminds me of eating dinner at my “Granna’s” House for so many years. I’ve got the best beef stew recipe for you today that has a fun Mexican flair. Hope you enjoy!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Beef Stew is the ultimate comfort food, especially during chilly months.
  • With a little prep work, you’ll have a fantastic stew recipe for the whole family to enjoy.
  • It makes delicious leftovers for the week!

Check out my Slow Cooker Beef Stew recipe as well! Be sure to follow Picky Palate on Instagram for sneak peeks on what’s coming next to Picky Palate!

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What You’ll Need

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make beef stew at home. See the recipe card located at the bottom of the post for full details and instructions.

  • extra virgin olive oil– You will use the olive oil for sauteeing the vegetables.
  • fresh garlic– Use fresh garlic and mince yourself or get the jars in the produce section that is already minced.
  • onions– I like to get white onion and finely chop for the stew.
  • carrot– peel and dice the carrots.
  • beef stew meat– Check the meat department for pieces of stew meat.
  • all-purpose flour– You’ll use the flour to coat the stew meat before browning.
  • kosher salt– Kosher salt is a coarse salt commonly used in cooking.
  • pepper- Use freshly cracked black pepper for best tasting results.
  • butter– I use salted butter for most of my recipes, but unsalted works fine too.
  • beef broth– Check for reduced sodium broth.
  • cooked potatoes– Check the freezer section or refrigerated section for potatoes.
  • taco seasoning– Use your favorite taco seasoning for the recipe.
  • diced green chilies– Green chilies add a layer of spice to the chili.
  • hot sauce– Cholula works great for the hot sauce.
  • sour cream– Use full-fat sour cream for best results.
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How to Make Mexican Style Beef Stew

Coat and Cook Beef Pieces For Stew. Heat oil in large dutch oven over medium high heat. Place beef, flour salt and pepper into a large zip top bag. Close bag and shake all ingredients together to coat beef. Carefully transfer flour coated beef to hot pan shaking off extra flour.

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Brown Beef. Cook and brown until nearly cooked through. Transfer beef to a large bowl and set aside.

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Saute Vegetables. Add more oil to pan, reduce to medium heat and add onions, carrots and garlic, stirring until softened. Stir in potatoes, cooking and stirring until cooked and browned. Stir in cooked beef, reduce heat to low.

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Prepare Roux. In a large saucepan melt butter over medium high heat, then whisk in flour, salt and pepper until combined.

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Add Roux To Stew. Slowly whisk in broth, continuing to whisk until thickened. Transfer to pot with beef and vegetables. Stir in water, taco seasoning, hot sauce and sour cream. Stir in Old El Paso Taco Seasoning until well combined. Simmer on low until ready to serve.

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How To Choose The Best Meat For Beef Stew

You want the tough, lean cuts. These don’t have as much fat, but they have “collagen.” Connective tissue. This breaks down over long cooking, leaving the meat fork tender. If your stew meat still seems a little tough, let it simmer for a bit longer. Keep checking it every 15-30 minutes and you’ll get that soft tender meat.

Great Meat Choices For Beef Stew

  • Chuck, Chuck Shoulder, Chuck Roast, Chuck-Eye Roast, Top Chuck
  • Bottom Round Roast, Bottom Eye Roast, Rump Roast, Eye Round Roast, Top Round, Round Tip Roast
  • English Roast, Pot Roast

Check your grocery store’s meat department, many times they’ve got stew meat already cut into cubes ready to be used. that’s what I did for my stew recipe today.

How To Make Roux For Beef Stew

  1. In a large saucepan melt butter over medium high heat, then whisk in flour, salt and pepper until combined.
  2. Slowly whisk in broth, continuing to whisk until thickened, then transfer to pot of beef stew.
  3. Whisk butter and flour mixture until hot and boiling.
  4. Slowly whisk in broth until thickened. Takes 5-10 minutes, whisking often.
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How To Serve Easy Beef Stew

Serve with a nice salad and crusty bread for dipping. This was a huge hit with the whole family.

How To Store Leftovers

Store any leftover stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheating Instructions

Place chilled stew in a heat proof bowl, loosely covered with plastic wrap. Heat for 60-90 seconds or until hot. Stir to combine before serving.

Try More Mexican Recipes!

  • Mexican Street Corn Salad
  • Mexican Spinach Dip
  • Mexican Chicken Noodle Soup

Mexican Style Beef Stew | The Best Homemade Stew Recipe (10)

5 from 1 vote

Mexican Style Beef Stew

This Mexican Style Beef Stew is the ultimate comfort food! It's packed with flavorful, tender beef, vegetables and a slight Mexican flair.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Servings: 10 servings

Calories: 371kcal

Author: Jenny

Cost: $25

Print Pin Rate

Equipment

  • Stove

  • large pot

  • cutting board

  • chef knife

  • mixing spoon

  • measuring cups

  • measuring spoons

  • mixing spoon

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 pounds stew meat
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cups chopped white onion
  • 2 cups diced carrots
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 pound chopped diced potatoes cooked
  • 4 ounce can Old El Paso diced green chilies
  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 32 ounces reduced sodium beef broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 packet Old El Paso Taco Seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce such as Cholula
  • 1 cup sour cream

Instructions

  • Heat oil in large dutch oven over medium high heat. Place beef, flour salt and pepper into a large zip top bag. Close bag and shake all ingredients together to coat beef. Carefully transfer flour coated beef to hot pan shaking off extra flour.

  • Cook and brown until nearly cooked through. Transfer beef to a large bowl and set aside. Add more oil to pan, reduce to medium heat and add onions, carrots and garlic, stirring until softened. Stir in potatoes, cooking and stirring until cooked and browned. Stir in cooked beef, reduce heat to low. In a large saucepan melt butter over medium high heat, then whisk in flour, salt and pepper until combined.

  • Slowly whisk in broth, continuing to whisk until thickened. Transfer to pot with beef and vegetables. Stir in water, taco seasoning, hot sauce and sour cream. Stir in Old El Paso Taco Seasoning until well combined. Simmer on low until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 631mg | Potassium: 861mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 4430IU | Vitamin C: 9.2mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 3.3mg

Keywords: best beef stew, best beef stew recipe, easy beef stew, easy beef stew recipe, homemade beef stew, how to make beef stew, simple beef stew recipe

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Mexican Style Beef Stew | The Best Homemade Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to tender beef stew? ›

The most important key to making stew meat tender is being sure to cook it for a long time. If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours.

What to add to beef stew to make it amazing? ›

I almost always add some beef bouillon crystals to my stew, it helps oomph (yes, a technical term) the beefiness of the stock. Sometimes also use a few shots of worcestershire sauce or soy sauce - both will also add some oomph to the flavor.

What makes stew more flavorful? ›

Tips To Give Your Beef Stew A Flavour Punch
  • Five Tips To Make Your Beef Stew The Best.
  • Add A Little Heat.
  • Good Quality Stock Goes A Long Way.
  • Add Vegetables For More Flavour.
  • Soup Mixes Are An Ideal Seasoning And Thickening Aid.
  • Serve Your Beef Stew In A New Way.

What is the most flavorful meat for stew? ›

For example, chuck is a lean and tender cut of beef that works well in stew. However, if you would prefer a thicker and more flavorful stew, short ribs or oxtail may be better choices for you. To make a delicious stew, choose good-quality ingredients.

How do you make beef stew taste richer? ›

It takes flavorful ingredients to brighten up a beef stew. My way is to brown the beef which adds flavor, use a flavorful beef broth, and season the stew well. I also like to add a bit of dark roux or dry roux (browned flour) for flavor.

Why put tomato paste in beef stew? ›

A bit of tomato paste amps up the flavor of beef stew, giving it a richness and a punch of umami that makes the stew truly memorable.

How do you thicken and add flavor to beef stew? ›

Five Thickening Agents for Stew
  1. Make a Roux. Roux is a classic French technique that consists of cooking equal parts flour and fat (usually butter) over a low flame until smooth. ...
  2. Incorporate a Purée. Another option for thickening your stew is to incorporate a purée. ...
  3. Add a Starch. ...
  4. Create a Slurry. ...
  5. Whip Up a Beurre Manié
Aug 15, 2022

How to make the perfect beef stew and the common mistakes to avoid? ›

The Five Most Common Beef Stew Mistakes
  1. Choosing a meat that's too lean. Stew is not meant for all cuts of meat. ...
  2. Putting too much flour on the stew meat before sautéeing them. ...
  3. Not using wine. ...
  4. Putting the meat and vegetables together in one pan. ...
  5. Not cooking it enough.
Jun 28, 2020

How do I make my stew richer? ›

Here are 10 ways to really boost the flavor of chili and stew.
  1. Season as you go. ...
  2. Include dried mushrooms. ...
  3. Stir in caramelized onions. ...
  4. Swap in roasted garlic. ...
  5. Simmer with whole spices. ...
  6. Up the umami with miso paste. ...
  7. Spice it up. ...
  8. Stir in a spoonful of fish sauce.
May 1, 2019

What can I add to tasteless stew? ›

How to fix a tasteless stew - Quora. Personally I would add as many aromatics and flavor enhancing substances that I like. If the stew is already finished, then you can sauté onions, garlic peppers, celery and carrots then add them to the stew. I would also add some herbs and finally salt and pepper to taste.

Does cooking stew longer make it better? ›

Don't Rush the Stewing of the Stew

Your beef stew needs at least two hours, sometimes three, on a low burner, so the meat is tender, and the flavors mingle. This isn't a dish to rush; it's a dish to make on a lazy weekend so you can enjoy the smell as it stews.

What makes beef stew taste like beef stew? ›

Coating the meat in flour and searing adds incredible color and flavor to the beef, which is then infused throughout the stew. It also creates browned bits on the bottom of the pan, and when we deglaze those with red wine, it takes the flavor to new heights.

Why is my beef stew meat so tough? ›

When cooked in moisture, the collagen dissolves into a gelatin and the meat fibers separate more easily. The higher the cooking temperature, the tougher the meat fibers become; a boil produces rubbery, chewy stewing beef. A gentle simmer is necessary to tenderize the meat.

What are the best potatoes for stew? ›

Technically any variety of potato may be used for stews and soups, so it comes down to personal preference and what's available. Yellow or gold potatoes, red potatoes, and fingerling potatoes are good choices for their thinner skins and lower starch content.

How do you make beef stew meat not tough? ›

Cook it slow and steady.

This gives collagens in the tough muscle tissue time to melt and make the meat tender. Try tasting a bite after an hour, two hours, and three hours — you'll see how the meat goes from chewy to pretty good to fall-apart tender.

How long to cook beef stew until tender? ›

Add the beef, beef broth and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a slow simmer. Cover and cook, skimming broth from time to time, until the beef is tender, about 1½ hours.

How do you cook beef so it's tender? ›

To cook it until it's so tender it falls apart, you'll need to choose a joint like chuck and blade or beef brisket and either braise, slow roast or slow cook it for at least a couple of hours.

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