Papas con Carne: Rustic Beef and Potato Comfort Stew
Papas con Carne
Hearty beef and potato stew simmered in a savory sauce—simple, rustic comfort for any weeknight.
Nutrition (per serving)
Papas con Carne is the kind of no-fuss stew that tastes like home: tender beef and chunky potatoes simmered in a savory tomato and broth base until everything melts together. It’s rustic, comforting, and easy enough for an everyday lunch or dinner, but flavorful enough to make friends ask for seconds.
This version leans on pantry-friendly ingredients and a little slow-simmer time to build depth—brown the beef, sweat the onion and garlic, then let the pot do the work. Serve it with warm tortillas or crusty bread and a squeeze of lime to brighten the rich, hearty flavors.
Ingredients
- Beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes:1.5 lb
- Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks:1.5 lb
- Yellow onion, diced:1 piece
- Garlic cloves, minced:3 pieces
- Tomato paste:2 tbsp
- Canned diced tomatoes:14.5 oz
- Beef broth:2 cups
- Olive oil:2 tbsp
- Bay leaves:2 pieces
- Ground cumin:1 tsp
- Smoked paprika:1 tsp
- Salt:1.5 tsp
- Black pepper, freshly ground:1 tsp
- Sugar (optional, to balance acidity):1 tsp
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish):1/4 cup
- Lime, cut into wedges (for serving):1 piece
Instructions
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Pat the beef cubes dry and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper.
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Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat. In batches, brown the beef on all sides, about 4 minutes per batch. Transfer browned beef to a plate.
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Reduce heat to medium and add remaining 1 tbsp olive oil. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, 4–5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
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Stir in the tomato paste and cook 1 minute to deepen the flavor. Add the diced tomatoes, beef broth, bay leaves, cumin, smoked paprika, remaining salt, pepper, and sugar if using. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
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Return the browned beef and any accumulated juices to the pot. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 35 minutes to tenderize the meat.
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Add the potato chunks to the pot, stir to combine, and continue simmering, uncovered, for 20–25 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender and the sauce has thickened. Stir occasionally and adjust liquid with a splash of water or broth if it reduces too much.
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Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed. Remove and discard bay leaves.
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Ladle the stew into bowls, sprinkle with chopped cilantro, and serve with lime wedges alongside warm tortillas or crusty bread.
Tips & Notes
- Don’t crowd the pan when browning beef—working in batches gives a better caramelized crust and more flavor.
- If the stew is too thin at the end, remove the lid and simmer a few extra minutes; for a thicker stew, mash a few potato chunks against the side of the pot and stir in.
- Make-ahead friendly: the flavors deepen after a day in the fridge and it reheats beautifully on the stove or in the oven.
