This hearty cowboy stew recipe is rich, flavorful, and so comforting on cold days. Made with ground beef, sausage, bacon, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, and simple seasonings, it’s perfect for feeding a hungry family!
I am a huge fan of hearty soups – you can’t beat a dinner that has meat, carbs, and veggies all in one pot! I found this Texas cowboy stew recipe at The Recipe Critic and just had to try it.
The first time I made it with just hamburger and bacon because we didn’t have smoked sausage on hand. My family still thought it was delicious.
But the second time I made it I made sure we had smoked sausage. It adds a smoky, rich flavor that can’t be beat! All the men in my family gave it two thumbs up.
You don’t need to be a cowboy to enjoy this stew, but you do need to be hungry! 😋
What is cowboy stew?
Cowboy stew is a hearty soup with meats, beans, potatoes, and vegetables combined in a savory, slightly spicy broth. It originated in the American west and was commonly served on cattle drives. Cowboys do love their meat!
It was usually cooked over an open fire, which gave it a great smoky flavor. Modern adaptations call for smoked paprika, hickory smoke, and other ingredients to mimic the fantastic taste.
Why You’ll Love This Cowboy Stew
- Easy to make: This is a simple one-pot meal with minimal prep.
- Hearty and filling: 3 types of meat, potatoes, beans, and corn make this stew extra satisfying.
- Smoky flavors: Bacon, smoked sausage, and smoked paprika give this stew incredible flavor!
- Great for a crowd: This recipe makes a generous pot and is perfect for family dinners.
- Perfect comfort food: A warm bowl of cowboy stew is especially delicious on chilly evenings.
How to Make Cowboy Stew
- Prep: Chop the vegetables and slice the sausage.
- Brown the meat: Brown the sliced sausage in a large dutch oven or pot over medium high heat; set aside. Brown the ground beef in the same pot, then add the onions and saute for 4 minutes.
- Add seasonings: Stir in the garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce; cook for about a minute.
- Combine: Return the sausage to the pan and add the carrots, celery, potatoes, Rotel, beans, corn, and broth.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn down the heat. Simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the veggies are tender. Stir in the bacon.
- Serve: We like this stew as is, but it’s also tasty with grated cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and green onions.
Cowboy Stew Recipe Tips
- Cut the potatoes evenly. Cutting the potatoes into similar-sized pieces helps them cook at the same rate.
- Don’t rush the simmer. Allowing the stew to simmer gives the ingredients time to develop a deeper flavor.
- Adjust the thickness. If the stew is too thick, add a little beef broth or water. If it’s too thin, simmer it uncovered for several minutes.
- Make it your own. Cowboy stew is flexible, so feel free to add extra vegetables or substitute different types of beans.
What Serve with Cowboy Stew
- Buttermilk Biscuits
- Sweet Cornbread Muffins or Jalapeno Cornbread
- Crusty Bread, Garlic Bread, or Rolls
Variations:
- Pinto beans, black beans, ranch-style beans, or chili beans can be used in place of the kidney beans. You can even add an extra can of beans to make the stew even more hearty.
- In place of the beef, you can use ground chicken or ground turkey.
- For a spicier stew, you can add hot sauce, additional green chiles, or red pepper flakes.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I Make Cowboy Stew Ahead of Time?
Yes! Cowboy stew is a great make-ahead meal. The flavors can become even better after the stew sits overnight. Store cooled stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator and gently reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Can I Freeze Cowboy Stew?
Yes, cowboy stew can be frozen. Let the stew cool completely before transferring it to freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to four months. Thaw it in the refrigerator before reheating.
More delicious recipes for soup:
- Cheeseburger Soup
- Instant Pot Classic Beef Stew Recipe
- Tuscan Ravioli Soup
- Sausage Lentil Stew
- Coconut Curry Chicken Soup
- Hamburger Macaroni Soup
Cowboy Stew Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 ounces beef smoked sausage (or kielbasa sausage)
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt (more to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup diced carrots (2-3 large carrots)
- 1 cup sliced celery (2 stalks)
- 2 cups diced russet potatoes (1-2 large potatoes)
- 10 ounce can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies
- 15 ounce can red kidney beans, drained (or other beans)
- 1 cup sweet corn
- 3 cups beef broth
- 3 slices bacon, cooked & crumbled
Instructions
- Slice the smoked sausage. (I also like to cut it in half so it's easier to eat.) Brown in a large pot over medium-high heat. Set aside.
- In the same pot, cook the ground beef until completely browned. While the meat is cooking, wash and chop the vegetables.
- Add the onion to the pot; cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Saute for about a minute, or until fragrant.
- Add the cooked sausage and all the remaining ingredients except the bacon. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to medium-low heat. Simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
- Stir in the bacon just before serving.
Notes
- Leftover stew can be transferred to an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
- To prepare in a crock pot, cook the meat, onion, and seasonings as directed through step #4. Transfer to a crockpot and use some of the broth to scrape every last bit from the pan. Add remaining ingredients and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 5-6 hours.
Nutrition
Cowboy stew is a rustic, old-fashioned one-pot meal that will satisfy even the hungriest of teenage boys! As it simmers, the flavors to blend into a rich and satisfying stew that’s perfect with warm cornbread or biscuits.
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