This Vaquero beef stew (AKA - Cowboy Stew) slow cooks cubed chuck roast with pimento stuffed green olives, carrots, green chiles, enchilada sauce, and beef broth.
Serve vaquero beef stew as is or over rice or potatoes.
Substitutions For Vaquero Beef Stew
Vaquero beef stew is a super versatile recipe and can be used with any ingredients you have on hand.
Don't like green olives? Skip it, throw in a diced potato or black beans instead.
Can't find enchilada sauce? Skip it and use a can of diced tomatoes instead.
Can't find green chilis? Skip it and use a green bell pepper instead.
If you add more ingredients, then you may need to add a bit more broth unless you like it real thick.
Alternative Cooking Methods For Cowboy Beef Stew
Throw the beef stew in the crock-pot for 8 hours, Instant Pot ~ 45 minutes, or braise it on the stove top for 2 ½ hours.
Vaquero Beef Stew - Cowboy Stew
EatSimpleFood.com
This Vaquero beef stew (AKA - Cowboy Stew) slow cooks cubed chuck roast with pimento stuffed green olives, carrots, green chiles, enchilada sauce, and beef broth.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 35 minutes
- Yield: 5
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Crockpot / Instant Pot / Braised
- Cuisine: Spanish
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2.5 lb beef chuck roast, trimmed & cubed ~ 1 ½" chunks
- 1 cup onions, sliced
- 1 Tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 lb carrots, peeled & sliced
- 8 oz mild canned green chiles, diced
- 4 oz drained green olives
- 14.5 oz enchilada sauce
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ + teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Salt and pepper cubed chuck roast.
- Bring a heavy bottomed stockpot to medium high heat and add oil. When hot, add chuck roast and cook uncovered on at least two sides for 2-4 minutes each or until browned.
- Remove beef with slotted spoon and set aside. The beef is not cooked through yet.
- Add onions and more oil if necessary. Cook ~ 4 minutes or until translucent. Lower heat if necessary.
- Add garlic and cook 1-2 minutes or until fragrant. Add oil if necessary.
- Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer covered ~ 2 hours or until beef is very tender. Add salt to taste.
Notes
- Can't find enchilada sauce? Skip it and use a can of diced tomatoes instead.
- Can't find green chilis? Skip it and use a green bell pepper instead.
- Alternative cooking methods: Throw it in the crock-pot
for 8 hours, Instant Pot
~ 45 minutes, or braise it on the stove top for 2 ½ hours.
for 8 hours, 
~ 45 minutes, or braise it on the stove top for 2 ½ hours.Things In My Kitchen:
- Crock-pot – 6 quarts, programmable, affordable, and comes with a 2 cup “dipper” to keep your dip/sauces warm.
- Instant Pot - 6 quarts, multifunctional, electric pressure cooker, slow cooker, and much more.
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Serving Suggestion
Your imagination is the only limit when it comes to what you can serve with a hearty stew like this. Try it with fried bread to soak up the juices, corn on the cob to add some crunch, or you can add some vegetable goodness with a Succotash, or roasted sunchokes.
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