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You are here: Home » Recipes » Beef

Steak Ranchero

Published: Nov 26, 2017 · Updated: Aug 16, 2019 by Mely Martínez

JUMP TO RECIPE

Many Tex-Mex restaurants offer a dish similar to this Steak Ranchero. Some slice the meat into strips or cut it into cubes, and some serve it like in this recipe, with the steak whole and covered with the sauce. I’m sure you’ve seen this dish before when eating out at Mexican places.

Steak Ranchero, My Way

Steak Ranchero | recipe authentic mexican

This mouthwatering meal means home to me; it's comforting food at the highest level. I think I could eat steak ranchero 3 times a week and wouldn’t get tired of it! Plus, the leftovers (if any) taste better the next day when you eat them with a warm crusty French roll and some refried black beans.

There are two recipes that are very similar but often confused: “Steak Ranchero” and “Steak a la Mexicana”. They are both very similar because they use the same ingredients, but what changes is the process used when cooking them. When making steak “Ranchero”, the ingredients are ground in a molcajete or a blender, and when making steak “a la Mexicana”, the ingredients are simply chopped or diced. Nevertheless, there are many places that confuse the two terms and name something “Ranchero” or “a la Mexicana” incorrectly.

I called this recipe Steak Ranchero My Way because the ingredients for the sauce are neither chopped nor ground, but the end result is just as delicious.

Enjoy!

How to make Steak Ranchero Recipe

JUMP TO FULL INSTRUCTIONS

DIRECTIONS:

Steak ranchero seasoning | Authentic Mexican recipe
  • Grind the garlic and peppercorns in your molcajete until you have a fine paste. Add the 2 tablespoons of water and stir. Rub this paste all over the steaks and season with salt. (Please check the ingredients list below)
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet (make sure the skillet is big enough for the two steaks). Once it is hot, add the steaks and cook for about 3 minutes per side.
Steak Ranchero | Authentic Mexican recipe
  • Add the onion and peppers to the skillet and cook for 3 more minutes, until the sliced onion starts looking transparent. Stir to make sure everything is cooking evenly.
  • Now, place all the tomato slices on top of the meat, as shown in the picture. Cover the skillet and let it cook for about 5 minutes. After this time, the tomatoes will start releasing their juices. Pour in the beer, season with salt, and keep cooking for 5 more minutes, stirring from time to time. Serve with fried beans, rice, and warm corn tortillas.
Steak Ranchero | Recipe Authentic Mexican

Provecho!

Mely,

Check my other recipe for Beef Tip Mexican Style

Steak Ranchero recipe authentic mexican

Steak Ranchero

Mely Martínez
Many Tex-Mex restaurants offer a dish similar to this Steak Ranchero. Some slice the meat into strips or cut it into cubes, and some serve it like in this recipe, with the steak whole and covered with the sauce. I’m sure you’ve seen this dish before when eating out at Mexican places.
5 from 9 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Course Beef, Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 2
Calories 649 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Pound Rib Eye steak* 2 steaks, each ⅓ or ½ – in. thick
  • 1 Large garlic clove or 2 small garlic cloves**
  • 6 peppercorns
  • 2 tablespoons of water
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
  • ½ large medium white onion sliced
  • 2 jalapeño peppers or 4 Serrano peppers sliced
  • 4 Large Plum tomatoes cut into slices
  • ⅓ cup beer pale lager

Instructions
 

  • Grind the garlic and peppercorns in your molcajete until you have a fine paste. Add the 2 tablespoons of water and stir. Rub this paste all over the steaks and season with salt.
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet (make sure the skillet is big enough for the two steaks). Once it is hot, add the steaks and cook for about 3 minutes per side.
  • Add the onion and peppers to the skillet and cook for 3 more minutes, until the sliced onion starts looking transparent. Stir to make sure everything is cooking evenly.
  • Now, place all the tomato slices on top of the meat, as shown in the picture. Cover the skillet and let it cook for about 5 minutes. After this time, the tomatoes will start releasing their juices. Pour in the beer, season with salt, and keep cooking for 5 more minutes, stirring from time to time. Serve with fried beans, rice, and warm corn tortillas.

Notes

* Other cuts of meat to use for the steaks include Chuck or Sirloin.
** You can substitute the fresh garlic cloves and peppercorn for the powered versions, but believe me, using the fresh ingredients will take the dish to a whole new level of flavor! It’s worth your time to grind those ingredients.
*** The Tex-Mex version has cumin and oregano.

Nutrition

Serving: 8ozCalories: 649kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 47gFat: 46gSaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 138mgSodium: 128mgPotassium: 976mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1220IUVitamin C: 36.1mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 4.2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. CindiMendez

    June 07, 2021 at 8:04 pm

    5 stars
    Hello ! I stumbled on to your web site by accident/. I was looking on google for a recipe for albondigas. This was about 6 months ago but I never made them/. But just recently my sister in law was talking about her carne de Rez con Chile negro. My husband is from Guanajuato and I am a born in Texas white girl fwithout any previous Hispanic meal influence. I have tried several r Thank you s ecipes and they have been a big hit with my husband every time! Something else the recipes are easy to follow with easy to find ingredients. Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Mely Martínez

      June 08, 2021 at 2:41 pm

      Hello Cindi,
      Thank you for visiting the blog and trying the recipes. It is so glad to know the recipes have been helpful for you.
      Happy cooking!

      Reply
  2. Myriam

    December 27, 2020 at 8:29 am

    5 stars
    I made this last night, and it was so delicious ! I made it with black beans, guacamole, quesadillas, and pickled red onions. This is just like what we can get at the restaurants here, but made at home ... even better! I had a very happy husband ! Saludos de Guanajuato !

    Reply
    • Mely Martínez

      December 27, 2020 at 9:18 am

      Hola, Myriam,
      That sounds like an amazing dinner. Buen Provecho! Thank you for coming back to comment.

      Reply
  3. Kristi Burrus

    December 05, 2020 at 3:40 pm

    I want to try this but what can I sub for the beer?

    Reply
    • Mely Martínez

      December 05, 2020 at 4:26 pm

      Hello Kristi,
      Just skip the use of the beer. It will still come out very tasty, may cooks in Mexico do not add it.

      Reply
    • Farrell

      August 25, 2021 at 9:29 pm

      If I am not wrong alcohol cooks out of beer and wine when used in cooking

      Reply
  4. Monica Van Rickley

    May 07, 2020 at 6:09 pm

    5 stars
    Outstanding dish! Very simple to Fokker the recipe and quite flavorful served over Mexican rice and retried beans with a dollop of guacamole. Followed directions and ingredients exactly; except I used wagyu top sirloin very tender.

    Reply
  5. leslie

    April 20, 2020 at 4:05 pm

    i just love your dishes i am a new follower but i am so impressed ! I really like you show that its so easy to make some great mexican home cooking . Follower for LIFE

    Reply
    • Mely Martínez

      April 21, 2020 at 9:52 am

      Thank you, Leslie!
      Happy cooking!

      Reply
  6. leslie rosa

    April 20, 2020 at 4:04 pm

    5 stars
    I just love your dishes I am a new follower but I am so impressed! I really like that you show that it's so easy to make some great Mexican home cooking. Follower for life

    Reply
  7. LIsa

    November 30, 2017 at 5:38 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you Mely, so wonderful of you to share your recipes with us all! So grateful, plus I love mexican food and have learned some things on my own, and your recepes are delicious!

    Reply
    • mmartinez

      November 30, 2017 at 11:09 pm

      Hello Lisa,
      I hope you enjoy the dish. Happy cooking and thank you for your kind comment.

      Reply
  8. JOHN.R. WALL

    November 27, 2017 at 4:49 am

    Looks good, it's different than I make it...but I wanna try this version!

    Reply

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ABOUT ME

Mexico in my kitchen | Mely Martinez

Hi, I'm Mely Martinez, a former Mexican school teacher, home cook, and food blogger. I moved to the United States about ten years ago, after living in Mexico my whole life. Now I love to share home-style recipes for authentic Mexican food.

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