Carne en Su Jugo 🍲 is a traditional Mexican beef stew from Jalisco made with tender beef, bacon, pinto beans, and a fresh tomatillo sauce.
I first published this recipe in 2018, and it has been a favorite ever since. The beef cooks in its own juices before being simmered with the tomatillo sauce, creating a flavorful broth that’s perfect with warm corn tortillas.
If you enjoy Mexican beef stews, also try my Birria Recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe ❤️
- It’s full of flavor. Bacon, beef, fresh tomatillos, serrano peppers, and cilantro make a flavorful broth.
- It’s easy to make. Everything comes together in one pot, with very little prep.
- It cooks in its own juices. You don’t need to brown the meat. Instead, the beef releases its juices before the tomatillo sauce is added.
- It’s a complete meal. The beef, bacon, and pinto beans make this stew hearty and satisfying.
-Maggie
🥣 Instructions
Cooking the Beef
- Cook the bacon in a large stockpot over medium heat.
- With a slotted spoon, remove the bacon and place it on a paper towel to drain any excess fat.
- Season the beef with salt and black pepper.
- Cook the beef in the bacon fat until it releases its juices and is cooked through. You do not need to brown the beef.
Since this is a stew, chop the bacon and beef into bite-sized pieces that are easy to eat with a spoon.
🥩 Cuts of Beef
You can choose whatever cut of beef you like. I prefer sirloin steak or a top round. Skirt steak and flap also work. If using chuck roast, though, trim off excess fat.
Making the Tomatillo Sauce
- Remove the husks from the tomatillos and the stems from the serrano chiles.
- Rinse and place them in a pot along with the garlic and onion.
- Boil for 5 minutes, or until the tomatillos are soft.
- Discard the water used to boil the ingredients.
- Let the ingredients cool slightly, then add them to a blender with the cilantro and salt.
- Blend until smooth.
- Set aside until ready to use.
Making Carne en Su Jugo
- Next add the tomatillo sauce from the blender.
- Add the water and beef bouillon to the pot.
- Stir with a spoon to combine.
- Bring to a soft boil.
- The sauce will be bright green, but it will change colors once it is cooked.
Kinda like Caldillo but with bacon and beans.
This Mexican stew recipe calls for beef bouillon. Bouillon is a very popular ingredient in Mexican cuisine. You can substitute salt or regular beef broth if you prefer.
🙋🏻♀️ Frequently Asked Questions
Carne en Su Jugo means “meat in its own juices.” It’s a traditional Mexican stew from Jalisco made with beef, bacon, pinto beans, and a fresh tomatillo sauce.
I like to use sirloin steak or top round, but skirt steak and flap steak also work well. Chuck roast can be used, too. If using chuck roast, trim away excess fat before cutting it into small pieces.
Yes. For this recipe, the tomatillos, serrano chiles, onion, and garlic are boiled until the tomatillos are soft. The cooking water is discarded before the ingredients are blended with fresh water and cilantro.
Carne en Su Jugo has some heat from the serrano chiles. Use 2 serrano peppers for a moderate amount of heat, or add a third if you like it spicier.
To store in the fridge, place in an airtight container and consume within 4 days. Reheat on high heat in the microwave for 2 ½-3 minutes. This soup freezes very well. Place leftovers in an airtight freezable bag for up to 5 months.
🍴 More Mexican Beef Recipes
To serve Carne en Su Jugo, ladle the stew into a large bowl with a spoonful of cooked pinto beans. Top with cilantro, green onions, and the reserved bacon. Some people also add radishes, avocado, and lime wedges.
Corn tortillas are a must when eating this dish. You want to savor all that flavorful broth with every bite.
Carne En Su Jugo
Ingredients
To Cook The Beef:
To Make The Tomatillo Sauce:
- 6 tomatillos
- 2 serrano peppers if you like it spicy, add 3 serrano peppers
- ½ onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 cups water cook tomatillos
- ½ bunch of cilantro
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups water to blend sauce
To Make Carne En Su Jugo:
- 1 ½ tbsps beef bouillon (or substitute for salt)
- 4 cups water
- 2 cups pinto beans cooked
- cilantro for garnish
- lime wedges optional
- radishes optional
Instructions
Cooking the Beef:
- In a large pot, cook the bacon.
- Remove the cooked bacon from the pot and set aside.
- Season the beef with salt and pepper.
- Reduce the heat.
- Add the beef to the pot.
- (You do not want to brown the beef. You simply want the beef juices to release).
Making the Sauce:
- Remove the husks from the tomatillos.
- Remove the stems from the serrano peppers.
- Rinse the tomatillos and serrano peppers and place in a pot.
- Place in a pot along with onion, garlic, and 2 cups of water.
- Cover and boil for 5 minutes, or until the tomatillos are soft.
- Discard the water used to boil.
- Cool the ingredients slightly.
- Add the tomatillos, onion, garlic, salt, cilantro, 2 cups fresh water to a blender.
- Blend until smooth. Set aside until ready to use.
Making Carne en Su Jugo:
- Once the beef has released its juices, add the tomatillo sauce.
- Return half of the bacon to the pot.
- (Leave half of the bacon for garnish).
- Add 4 cups of water and the beef bouillon.
- Stir to combine and taste for good measure.
- Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
To Serve:
- To serve, add some of the stew into a big bowl along with a spoonful of cooked beans.
- Then, top with cilantro, green onions, and reserved bacon.
- Optional: radishes, avocado, and lime wedges.
Video
Notes
- This soup freezes very well. Place leftovers in an airtight freezable bag for up to 5 months.
- To store in the fridge, place in an airtight container and consume within 4 days. Reheat on high heat in the microwave for 2 ½ to 3 minutes.
First time making this dish, and it was a hit!
So glad to hear that!
It was a success! Everyone liked it. Can’t wait to make again 😋
So good to hear. Glad everyone enjoyed this recipe!
It’s a Family favorite! Thank you for this Great and super easy recipe to follow.
Perfect for Fall weather ❤️
Perfect for fall indeed. Glad you liked it!
This is Delicious!! Never had it before until today…wow! Thank you for sharing your delicious recipes!
This recipe is everything. Hope you try it!
New family favorite!
So glad you enjoyed this!
Made this for dinner today and we loved it! I’ve had it before just never made it myself. Thank you for sharing.
One of my favorites! Glad you liked it
I have used this recipe several times. I have realized that I have to at least double it! It is sooooo delicious!! Amazing 🙂 My husband says it is better then his mom’s…so thank you!! I will absolutely recommend this recipe to all of my family and friends!
I’m so happy to read this! Glad you guys liked it!
Tried this recipe out today and loved it! Carne en su Jugo is one of my favorite dishes and this recipe did not disappoint. Served with fresh frijoles de la olla it was a huge hit! So simple to follow and so tasty, thanks!
Another dish I grew up with! Definitely pinning this for the cooler months!
What an amazing looking soup!! I love, “meat cooked in its own juices”…that alone sounds so flavorful! I’ve never heard of this type of soup but I’m absolutely going to be making this one!!
This is something new to me. Looks so flavorful and delicious. Pinned!