Fast and easy, budget-friendly, hearty, delicious, and Whole30 compliant, this ground beef stew with jalapeño is a Mexican dish I turn to time and time again.
Ground Beef Stew with Jalapeño
It's no surprise that today's recipe is such a popular one in many Mexican households. This dish is fast and easy to make. It is hearty and filling. It is budget-friendly. And above all, it is tasty and satisfying.
This is such a typical dish, that my mom remembers being in kindergarten and waiting anxiously in the breakfast line at school for a scoop of this delicious stew.
I have early memories of this dish too. I remember numerous times at my grandmother's house when ground beef stew with jalapeño would be her menu of choice as a quick and easy meal.
Now in my own home, it is not uncommon for a big pot of this stew to be simmering away on the stove just in time for dinner.
The thing about this ground beef and jalapeño stew is that it uses very simple ingredients that many Mexican households, including my own, tend to have stocked in the fridge.
Plus add in some potatoes, and this stew is hearty enough to feed an entire family with very little expense. Pair it with some tortillas, rice, or beans and you can invite the neighbors and their kids.
There are many variations of this dish, but the one that I am sharing with you today is the way I grew up eating this tasty one pot wonder. However, with one small adjustment this stew can be made Whole30 compliant.
How to Make Ground Beef Stew with Jalapeño
Begin by adding a tablespoon of olive oil to a dutch oven or large pot. Add in one pound of ground beef, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of pepper.
Brown the meat and break it up as it cooks using a wooden spoon.
Continue to cook until it is almost completely cooked through.
Then, add ¼ diced onion and 1 diced garlic clove. Cook until fragrant.
Next, add 1 diced tomato and one diced jalapeño. Cook for another minute.
Instead of jalapeños, you can substitute 5-6 diced roasted green chiles (like Anaheim, Pueblo or Hatch). Green chiles add a whole other taste to the stew and it's also great.
Add 6 cups of hot water and one teaspoon of chicken bouillon. For a healthier, Whole30 alternative use 3 cups of compliant chicken broth and 3 cups of hot water.
Taste for salt and adjust seasoning as necessary.
After that, add two medium potatoes (or one large potato) diced into ½" pieces and stir.
Bring to a simmer. Let the stew simmer until the potatoes are fork tender, about 10-15 minutes.
Serve in a soup bowl with the broth. You can also serve it with less broth in a shallow bowl with a side of delicious rice or beans.
It is also so easy to double the ingredients for more servings, which I often do to save myself from making lunch or dinner the next day.
Such a simple recipe but it makes a great dinner. I hope you enjoy!
Do you have any easy ground beef recipes you always turn to? I'd love to know in the comments below.
Click here for another ground beef soup I just absolutely love, Mexican Meatball Soup.
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Recipe
Ground Beef Stew with Jalapeño
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ diced onion
- 1 diced garlic clove
- 1 diced Roma tomato
- 1 diced jalapeño (*see notes)
- 2 diced medium potatoes (or 1 large potato)
- 3 cups hot water
- 2 tsps chicken bouillon (or 3 cups of Whole30 compliant chicken broth)
Instructions
- Begin by adding a tablespoon of olive oil to a dutch oven or large pot. Add in the ground beef, 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper.
- Brown the meat and break it up as it cooks using a wooden spoon. Continue to cook until the meat is almost completely cooked through.
- Add the onion and garlic. Cook until fragrant.
- Next, add the tomato and jalapeño. Cook for another minute.
- Add 6 cups of hot water and 2 teaspoons of chicken bouillon. For a healthier, Whole30 alternative use 3 cups of compliant chicken broth and 3 cups of hot water.
- Taste for salt and adjust seasoning as necessary.
- Dice two medium potatoes (or 1 large potato) into ½" pieces. Add to the stew and stir.
- Bring to a simmer and let the stew simmer until the potatoes are fork tender, about 10-15 minutes.
- Serve in a soup bowl with the broth. You can also serve it with less broth in a shallow bowl with a side of rice or beans.
Notes
- Instead of jalapeños, you can substitute 5-6 diced roasted green chiles (like Anaheim, Pueblo or Hatch). Green chiles add a whole other taste to the stew and it's also great.
AZlady
So good and easy to make. You suggest pairing it with beans. What kind of beans do you recommend?
Gemma
I usually pair it with refried beans or freshly made pinto beans. Here is a recipe for the pinto beans in the Instant Pot http://everydaylatina.com/simple-instant-pot-pinto-beans-no-pre-soaking/
Sarah
This came out delicious! Thanks for such a simple, yummy recipe! I will definitely be making this again.
everydaylatina
Hi Sarah, that's great! I do love how easy this is too. Thank you!
Desiree
Made a vegetarian version and a ground turkey version using Anaheim chilies. This will be a regular rotation for sure. Thank you!!
everydaylatina
Dez, that is so great to hear! Thank you for trying it and for leaving me a comment and star rating. I love this with Anaheim chiles, that's how I tend to make it more often than not. So easy and good!
Caroline
I actually make this at least twice a month.. so simple and delicious 😋 I Make a big pot for my lunch preps, this a great when your on a diet.
everydaylatina
Hi Caroline, I love that! I make it often too, it’s just so easy, affordable and delicious! Thank you for trying it and for the comment!
Brittany Limberakis
Uhm yes! I’m all about adding jalapeños to everything! I’ll try to remember this for stew season!
everydaylatina
Jalapeños do make foods so much better!
Rach
Yum! What a great way to use ground beef!
everydaylatina
This is a very common dish in Mexico.
Jordyn
sounds simple and delicious! perfect for the Rainy spring weather we get where I live. Thanks for sharing!
everydaylatina
Yes, it is so great for rainy weather.
Mama Writes Reviews
Oooh, yummy! I'll bet this has a good deal of HEAT to it. Yum.
everydaylatina
It is so good, and you can add as much heat as you want depending on the amount of jalapeños you use.
Kimmy Ripley
Looks like a wonderful, simple recipe my family could enjoy!
everydaylatina
It is very simple which is why I love it, and my picky kids always eat it (I just leave off the jalapeños for theirs).
Alexandra
I absolutely love jalapeno, so this sounds like an ideal dish for me 🙂
I will make it soon!
everydaylatina
I hope you do. It is so easy and so good.