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When I think comfort food, this dish often comes to mind. Fideo con Carne is made up of vermecilli noodles, ground beef, and potatoes all swimming in a savory tomato sauce.
It’s a winning combination for anyone’s tastebuds.
- Toast the fideo in oil until golden brown. About 2-3 minutes.
- Next, remove the toasted fideo from the pot and set aside until ready to use.
Is Vermicelli the same as fideo? Yes.
Vermicelli is a type of pasta. It is used in some of Mexico’s most beloved dishes like Sopa de Fideo and Fideo Seco.
In all of these recipes, the fideo is toasted lightly in oil. This helps develop the flavors in this dish.
We love our pasta dishes in Mexico! Also see: Espagueti a la Crema and Espagueti Verde.
- Add oil and ground beef. Cook until brown. About 4-5 minutes.
- Add potatoes, oregano, garlic, and onion to the pot.
- Add jalapeno, if using.
The jalapeno is completely optional. It will only provide flavor in this dish, not necessarily spice.
To make this dish spicy, add more jalapeno or add a diced chipotle pepper in adobo. Another spicy option, serve with Chile de Arbol Salsa or Chipotle Salsa.
What part of the cow is ground beef?
Ground beef is ground round steak. It is lean and tender.
80/20 ground beef is recommended for this recipe. That means, 80% lean beef to 20% fat.
- Stir to combine.
- Cook this for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
How to thicken this ground beef stew?
The starch in the potatoes will help thicken the sauce.
Don’t worry about the potatoes not being fully cooked either. They will cook completely after the liquid gets added.
Fideo con Carne is a hearty, Mexican beef stew similar to Birria de Res, Caldillo Durangueño, Frijoles Charros
- Next, add the oregano, tomato sauce, water, and beef bouillon.
- Cook for 10 minutes.
Swap out options:
- Use beef broth instead of water and bouillon.
- Instead of the tomato sauce, use water and tomato bouillon.
How to make Homemade Tomato Sauce: 2 tomatoes, 1 cup water, ¼ onion, 1 garlic clove, ½ teaspoon salt. Blend until smooth.
Can you use chicken broth with beef stew?
Beef broth is ideal, but if you don’t have it, you can use chicken broth in a pinch. It’s also much better to use chicken broth over water.
- Return the toasted fideo to the pot.
- Cook 8-10 minutes. The sauce will thicken up.
For a thicker sauce, cook 10 minutes.
For a thinner sauce, cook 7-8 minutes.
If you are left with leftovers, the Fideo con Carne will get thick.
Word to the Wise: Make sure the potatoes are done before serving. Poke the potatoes with a fork. If the fork goes through the potato, they are ready.
It means the exact same thing.
How Long Does Fideo con Carne Last?
It lasts up to 4 days in the fridge. Fideo loses its texture in the freezer. That’s why freezing this Mexican recipe is not recommended.
Fideo con Carne is a satisfying and tasty stew. Top with sour cream, cheese, avocado slices, and/or pickled jalapenos. Hope you enjoy!
Table of Contents
Fideo con Carne
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon olive oil (divided)
- 1 7oz fideo package
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 ½ tspn salt
- ¼ tspn pepper
- 1 large russet potato peeled and diced
- ¼ onion diced
- 1 garlic clove finely minced
- 1 diced jalapeno (optional)
- ½ tspn oregano
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 4 cups water
- 2 tablespoon beef bouillon
Instructions
- In a large stock pot, heat 2 tablespoons of oil.
- Add the fideo pasta.
- Toast the pasta, stirring constantly. About 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the pasta from the pot. Set aside until ready to use.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil to the same stock pot.
- Add the ground beef, salt, and pepper.
- Cook the beef. About 4-5 minutes.
- Add the potato, onion, garlic, jalapeno (if using)
- Cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the oregano, tomato sauce, water, and beef bouillon.
- Cover and cook 10 minutes.
- Return the toasted fideo to the pot.
- Cover and cook for 7-8 minutes for a thinner stew.
- Or cook for 10 minutes for a thicker stew.
Video
Notes
- Use beef broth instead of water and bouillon.
- Instead of the tomato sauce, use water and tomato bouillon.
It lasts up to 4 days in the fridge. Fideo loses its texture in the freezer. That’s why freezing this Mexican recipe is not recommended.
Nutrition
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Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.
Made this tonight for the first time. I’m from south Texas and my mother used to make this for us growing up My husband never had fideo before. It was a HIT! I added some dashes of cayenne pepper and cumin too. Ate with corn tortillas. Wonderful recipe! Thank you 💛
It’s always heartwarming to hear when a recipe brings back fond memories from childhood. Eating Fideo con Carne with corn tortillas sounds like the perfect pairing!
I realized too late that I did not have tomato sauce, so I used the Knorr’s tomato bouillon with 2 cups of water instead. Otherwise, I followed recipe exactly and very happy with it. Next time I’ll have tomato sauce. Thanks for this recipe. I’ve made fideo seco numerous times, but I never made it this way – with meat and potatoes. It was a very good meal. And easy.
Glad you enjoyed this! It’s easy and delicious to make
Can’t count the times I am coming back to this recipe. Absolutely delicious. My Hispanic husband says it is the real deal.
Thanks! So glad you enjoyed this recipe
It was so delicious! I made it for dinner! It was a bit!
Glad you liked it! Delicious indeed!
This looks so good! I need to make this next week for dinner! The video is very helpful.
Thanks! Hope you try it!
This looks like the perfect thing for dinner tonight! I’ve been shoveling snow for days and I’m craving comfort food.
Glad you liked it! It’s delicious
This soup sounds perfect for a day like today. It’s cold and rainy outside. I’ll have to give this one a try.
This soup is perfect for that kind of weather!
I’ve never heard of this before. Looks really good too. I’m always up for something new to try out. Looking forward to it.
Hope you try it! It’s amazing!
All of my favorite things in one place. I love a hearty comfort food meal in winter.
Glad you enjoyed this Heather!
Its my first time to encounter this dish and cant wait to try it out.
It’s delicious. Hope you try it!
Hey this is just a dish made in heaven. I just fell in love instantly. Love this!!
Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed it!
Mexican Food are all really delicious! This Fideo con Carne looks really scrumptious. I wish I could have a bowl right now. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Thanks, Chef! This recipe screams Mexican comfort food. lol.
I can imagine the taste already, it looks and sounds so savory. I will definitely try this as soon as I can, thanks for sharing.
Hope you do. It’s an amazingly delicious dish, if I say so myself. lol.
I’ve never heard of this recipe before. It looks absolutely delicious. I’m going to have to give it a try for sure. Saving for this weekend.
Glad you liked it! It’s delicious.
I’ve never seen or tried this before, but it looks like something I would like! Especially if you serve it with avocado and sour cream!
I like your options! Hope you try it!
This looks so good and easy to make too. Thanks for sharing.
Right? So easy and delicious
Oh now this looks scrumptious! I haven’t ever had it before, so I’m excited. I tend to love all stews!
This in particular is delicious. Hope you try it!
That spice blend sounds amazing. I would love this dish, especially now in this very cold season.
Glad you enjoyed it Terri!
That dish looks so good and I love food with a Mexican flare. I know everyone who reads this will try out this recipe so soon.
So good right? We love this one too