Chile Colorado – this rich and hearty stew recipe is lip-smacking good! Beef stew meat simmered in a Mexican style red chile sauce until fall-apart tender.
Chile Colorado is delicious served by itself, with tortillas or rice and perfect for making shredded beef tacos and beef burritos! I am providing instructions so you can make this tasty Chile Colorado on the stove top, in the oven or in the slow cooker!
This easy beef stew recipe starts with whole dried chiles, tomato and spices that are blended into a flavor-packed red chile sauce. Yes, this Chile Colorado is the real deal! No canned sauce here! But, don’t let that stop you or intimidate you. I have a few shortcuts and simple instructions that will make this delicious Authentic Mexican dish a breeze to make!
My oldest son and I used to go to a Mexican restaurant in Moorpark, California that in our opinion makes the best Chile Colorado! The beef stew meat was melt in your mouth tender, incredibly tasty and the sauce was thick and full of flavor! Not really spicy but bold like a good homemade chili.
Since moving out of state, we’ve been looking for a way to recreate the experience. After trying different Mexican restaurants, we decided it was time to make this (and other) Mexican dishes at home. After a few trials and some errors we think this is the best beef stew!
Ingredients To Make Chile Colorado
- Dried Chiles: You can use a combination of dried chiles (see recipe below) or simply use one or two types of chiles. If using only one type, I suggest using New Mexico chiles or Dried Ancho Chiles (not in the recipe but it makes a great sauce!). Dried chiles are found in bags either in the Ethnic or spice isle of most supermarkets.
- Broth: I prefer using chicken broth. Beef broth or water can be used.
- Roasted Tomato: Instructions for roasting tomatoes can be found in the recipe card below. However, you can use canned roasted tomatoes also.
- Beef chuck: Cut into 1-inch pieces or buy stew meat.
- Masa Harina: This gluten free product is used as a thickening agent. It has a very authentic Mexican corn flavor.
- Other Ingredients: Onions, garlic, ground cumin, oregano, allspice, apple cider vinegar, chicken or beef bouillon (optional).
DID YOU KNOW? Ancho Chiles are whole Poblano Peppers that have been dried. They are also referred as Pasilla Chiles. They are mild in flavor and have very little heat (if any).
How To Make Chile Colorado
Authentic Mexican Chile Colorado is all about the red chili sauce. The depths of flavors cannot compare to anything you buy in a can. If you’ve never made red chile sauce from scratch, don’t worry! The process is simple and I have a few shortcuts to make things easier! Making this Mexican sauce is as easy as soaking and blending chiles!
How To Make Red Chile Sauce (Colorado Sauce):
- Use gloves if you have very sensitive skin.
- Grab a dry chile and remove the stem by pulling it.
- Open up the chile (use kitchen shears, if needed) and scrape off the seeds and any ribs.
- If the chile is small (like chile de arbol), after pulling the stem, turn the opening down and squeeze the seeds out by gently massaging the chile.
- Toast the chiles in the microwave – yes! you heard me right! I learned this method from serious eats. Place the chiles on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high for 30 seconds total (do it in two 15 second intervals). They should be toasty and pliable.
- Microwave water (or broth) until warm. Submerge the chiles into the liquid, cover and microwave again for about 2 minutes.
- Add the chiles and liquid into the blender and process until smooth.
- If you do not like using the microwave, you can toast the chiles on a dry cast iron skillet over medium heat, turning the chiles as needed. Also you can boil water (or broth) and soak the chiles in the liquid for 30 minutes. At this point, you are ready for blending!
After making the red chile sauce:
- Brown the beef over medium high heat. Remove from the pot and set aside.
- Saute the onions, garlic and add the spices.
- Return the beef and any collected juices to the pot. Add the red chile sauce, remaining broth and simmer until the beef is tender.
- Make a Masa harina slurry by using some of the cooking liquid (beef juices) and mixing it with the masa harina.
- Pour the masa harina slurry and the apple cider vinegar into the chile colorado beef stew and simmer for 5 minutes.
Tips and Notes For Making the Best Chile Colorado
- You may need to brown the beef in batches to prevent over crowding the pot. You want to get a nice sear on the beef instead of steaming the meat.
- If making this beef stew recipe in the slow cooker, you should brown the beef first.
- I am not a big fan of canned beef broth. I don’t think it has any beefy flavor. I use canned chicken broth instead.
- When blending hot liquids, make sure you hold the blender’s lid down with a kitchen towel to prevent a big messy blow out! Also, always start blending in the lowest setting.
- Do you love beef stew? Check out my recipe for Spicy Chipotle Shredded Beef Barbacoa (my copycat version of Chipotle) and this classic and delicious Beef Stew in Red Wine.
- I love making all beef stew recipes in an Enamel Cast Iron Dutch oven. Although I love Le Creuset brand, this budget friendly Dutch Oven is excellent and one I use often.
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Chile Colorado Beef Stew
Ingredients
For The Chile Paste
- 3 dried Guajillo chiles *see notes about chiles
- 4 dried New Mexico Chiles
- 2 dried Chile de Arbol chiles
- 4 cups chicken broth or beef stock, divided
- 1 tomato roasted *see notes
For the Chile Colorado Beef Stew
- 4 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch chunks *see notes
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, vegetable oil or canola oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground all spice
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons masa harina
- 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To Make the Red Chile Sauce
- Remove the stems and seeds from the chiles.
- Place the chiles on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high for 30 seconds total - in 2 intervals of 15 seconds each.
- Heat 2 cups of chicken broth until warm - you can do this in the microwave. Submerge the chiles into the broth, cover and microwave for about 2 minutes.
To Make the Chile Colorado Beef Stew
- Season the beef with salt and ground black pepper to taste.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef to the pot in a single layer and sear on all sides until the beef turns golden brown. You may need to do this in batches to prevent over crowding the pot. Remove the seared beef to a plate and set aside.
- When you are done searing all the beef, add the onions to the pot (add more oil if needed), and saute for about 3 to 4 minutes or until the onions become soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 additional minute. Add the spices and cook for 1 minute stirring constantly.
- Return the beef and any collected juices back to the pot. Add the red chile sauce and the remaining broth and stir to combine. Bring to a boil.
(If cooking in the oven or in the slow cooker, you can follow the instructions below). - Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and cook stirring occasionally for about 1.5 hours or until the beef is tender.
If Cooking In the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 320 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the covered pot in the oven and cook for 1.5 hours or until the beef is tender.
If Cooking In the Slow Cooker:
- Place the seared beef, saute onions, garlic and spices into the slow cooker. Add the chile paste and broth. Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours or until the beef is tender.
After The Beef Is Tender (for all methods)
- Make a Masa Harina Slurry: In a small bowl, mix the masa harina with 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid (beef juices) until the mixture is smooth. You can also use broth or water, if preferred.
- Stir the masa harina slurry mixture and the vinegar into the beef stew and simmer on the stove top for 5 minutes. (If using a slow cooker, set the crockpot to high and simmer for 10 - 15 minutes).
- Check for seasoning and add the chicken bouillon (optional) or salt and pepper, if needed. Serve,
Video
Notes
- You can use a combination of dried chiles or just one or two types. If using only one type of chile, I suggest using New Mexico chiles or dried ancho chiles (not in the recipe but it makes a great sauce!)
- You can use stew meat.
- You can use a 15-ounces can of roasted tomatoes instead.
- How To Roast a Tomato: Heat a small cast iron skillet over high heat. Add the tomato and cook, turning often until lightly charred. You can also charred the tomato in the oven under the broil, turning it often.
Nutrition
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If you’ve tried this or any other of my recipes, don’t forget to rate the recipe and to leave me a comment. I love hearing from you!
This looks SO GOOD! I have been craving Mexican foods lately and can’t wait to try it out, yum!
Thank you!!! It is one of our favorite Mexican meals!
This is comfort food with a capital C! Love this for fall!
Thank you so much!! It’s so good!
We made this recipe on the weekend. It was absolutely perfect! The stew was delicious and the meat was very tender. I never prepared the chiles in the microwave before so I was a bit skeptical. It worked. No more soaking chiles for hours. This is quick and easy. Thank you for the recipe. I will be making it again.
So glad to hear!! Thank you
Hi Kathy,
I grew up in the Moorpark area and also loved the Chile Colorado I ate in local Mexican restaurants. How clean se do you think your recipes matches what you ate there?
Thanks for posting this recipe.
Bruce
Should have said.
How close do you think your recipe matches what you ate there?
Hi Bruce! Glad to find a friend from Ventura County. I would say my recipe is pretty close in taste, It definitely has an authentic vibe. Hope the recipe finds its way to your table soon! Let me know how you like it!
Best chile colorado beef stew I ever had. So tasty. Thank you!
Thank you! 🙂
This recipe is delicious! I am curious as to which recipe in Moorpark makes the best chili Colorado, I live near Moorpark, in Camarillo and would love to try that as well!
Hi Michael! Thank you. We loved Don Cucos in Moorpark. It MUST be the one in Moorpark.
Glad I found this recipe. It was excellent! I will be making this again.
Thank you Lauren.
This looks perfect for the COLD spring weather. Love the Mexican spices here. That beef looks SOOOO tender. Comfort food that fits into a bowl is the best kind.
Thank you Gloria! It’s so tender and delicious!
I have some dried chilis at home and this recipe is yelling at me to give it a go! I never put actual chilis into my beef stews before. This will definitely keep me warm on a cold day!
Go for it! You won’t regret it!!
This looks mouth watering! I have never made chile-colorado and only my grandma has made something like this. I love your tips on the chiles because I have never cooked with chiles before and I wouldn’t know where to start. I am definitely giving this a try. Do you think the stew would freeze well?
Dried chilis can be intimidating but the process is just so simple. Just make sure you blended all very well. Yes, it does freeze well.
I love recreating meals from my favorite restaurants! And I’m always so impressed with recipes with chiles like this. I need to tackle more dried chili recipes- thanks for the tips- they’re intimidating!
Your chile Colorado looks so good! Some of my favorite recipes have been inspired by restaurants and wanting to make it at home. And I’m completely with you on making sauces for Mexican/Southwestern food from dried chiles. The flavor is so much better. Thanks for the dinner idea!
Thank you!
Love those gorgeous chunks of beef! I can imagine how flavorful they must be cooked in that gorgeous sauce. Dried chilis really do make such a difference…I couldn’t believe the depth of flavor when I first made Texas Red with them. Once you cook with them, there’s no going back! It’s already 9:00 at night and I want to dive into this bowl of stew with my spoon! 🙂
Thank you! Yes, there’s no going back!! 🙂
Dang Kathy, you are killing it with this chili colorado. I super love and admire you for your from scratch approach because it makes a huge difference in the depth of flavor in something like this. I’m really looking forward to making this for my family!
Thank you Amy! It is so delicious! Definitely worth it.
I absolutely love the color of this stew! Growing up in my house, stew was always the usual beefy potato-y stew with the usual herbs and spices. I would have loved to have tried something like this in my beef-eating days. I am super inspired by the flavor profile in this sauce, though. I might just have to make something pescetarian-friendly with it! It looks and sounds SO good!
Thank you. It’s all about those chilis!
I love all of the rich red color of the dried peppers. This is just the type of stew that Hubby and I crave. Usually this time of year we are making light springy type foods. It’s so cold outside we’re still craving wintery comfort food and this Colorado beef Stew fits the bill.
Thank you. I can eat stews all year round. I used to live in California where we were able to grill in December… sunny and warm most of the time!
Can vegetables be added to this recipe
Absolutely! Vegetables that cook fast I would add at the end of the cooking. Diced potatoes are a common addition as well.
This dish is a crowd pleaser – delicious truly – I added a 1 tbs Agave sweetener and needed 3 hours time to achieve the richness of the sauce in the photo. I.served with rice and roasted mini yukon potatoes as side selections. Thank you – looking forward to making this dish all winter long.
Thank you!!
Okay… this is so amazingly easy to make, compared to my Alton Brown recipe! I whipped this up last night making 2 substitutions.
I used Pork as my wife doesn’t eat beef and second I didn’t want to buy a huge bag of Masa Harina, I crushed up some corn tortilla chips.
Luved the fact you included microwaving the chilies, I’ve dry pan roasted them before and have burned them in a matter of seconds!!
Amazing flavors, might even try this in a pressure cooker next time so we can eat sooner!!
Many thanks!
I am so glad you like it! Love Alton Brown but I try to simplify things a bit for us busy people while getting amazing flavors 🙂
Using pork is a great idea and crushing tortilla is genius!
Thanks for the feedback. Pressure cooking works beautifully!
Lovely recipe and so easy to follow!! Thank you for sharing. I just made it in my Instant Pot…about one hour from chili prep to completion.
Can’t wait to enjoy it for tonight’s dinner!!!
Thank you!
I too am originally from So. Cal. I have been searching for a recipe with the right combination of chiles and spices that fit my tastes. THIS IS IT!!! I will have to search no further. This recipe is DELICIOUSS!!!! Thank you.
I’m also searching for a recipe that is my taste for red enchilada sauce. Do you have one??
Hi Lani! Hello fellow SoCal friend! Thank you so much. I am glad you like it. I don’t have a recipe for red enchilada sauce but I guess I have to work on one! 😉
PLEASE DO work on a recipe for red enchilada sauce !! 🙂
🙂 will do!
Is this recipe really spicy and hot or mild?
Hi Smily – it is hard to control each dried chili’s heat level, however in my experience it usually has a bit of a kick but it’s not hot. I wouldn’t even say it’s medium. That type of dried chile usually has the taste of ground chili powder NOT the heat of ground cayenne pepper. I hope that makes a bit of sense 🙂