Cowboy Stew
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Cowboy Stew is a one-pot wonder packed with savory meats, tender vegetables, and a perfectly seasoned broth. It’s a hearty, flavorful dish that’s easy to make and satisfies the whole family. The best part? It’s incredibly adaptable to fit your taste and pantry!
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Hearty Cowboy Stew Recipe
You’ll love this Cowboy Stew! It combines beef, sausage, tender potatoes, and flavorful spices for the ultimate comfort food to warm you up after a long day, whether feeding a crowd or meal-prepping for the week.
Its rich, smoky flavor and thick, stewy texture will quickly earn a place on your go-to recipe list. Plus, you can adapt it to suit your taste—just another reason to give this recipe a try!
If you love the hearty flavors and rustic simplicity of this Cowboy Stew, you’ll definitely want to try my Cowboy Hash and Cowboy Skillet recipes—they’re equally easy to whip up and packed with the same down-to-earth, satisfying goodness!
Why We Love Cowboy Stew
- One-Pot Convenience: Minimal cleanup means more time enjoying your meal.
- Customizable Ingredients: Swap meats, veggies, or beans to suit your preferences or what you have on hand.
- Perfect for Leftovers: This stew tastes even better the next day, and it freezes beautifully.
- Crowd-Pleasing Flavor: With bold spices and a rich broth, it’s a guaranteed hit with family or friends.
Ingredients + Substitutions for Cowboy Stew
(Ingredients at a glance; you can find the full recipe with ingredient amounts in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
- Ground Beef can be substituted for ground turkey, chicken, or pork if preferred.
- Yellow Onion adds a savory depth, but you can also use red or white onion if that is what you have on hand.
- Ranch-style Beans are called for, but you can use pinto, chili, or any canned beans.
- Frozen Mixed Vegetables are a time-saver in this recipe, but you can also use fresh veggies (just adjust the cooking time).
How to make Cowboy Stew
1 Brown the Meat: Cook ground beef and diced onion in a large skillet or soup pot until the beef is almost done. Drain grease if necessary.
2 Add Sausage and Garlic: Toss in the kielbasa and garlic, cooking for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
3 Add the rest of the Ingredients: Mix in chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Then add diced tomatoes, Rotel, potatoes, beans, mixed vegetables, and beef broth.
4 Simmer: Cover and bring to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are tender, about 20-30 minutes. Garnish with parsley, and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Brown meats for depth: Don’t skimp on browning the ground beef and kielbasa. This step develops a lovely crust on the meats that translates to depth of flavor in the finished dish.
- Drain excess fat – If you’re using regular ground beef, drain the grease to prevent excess oil in the stew.
- Simmer for flavor – Give the stew time to simmer so the flavors can meld beautifully.
- Cut potatoes evenly – Evenly sized potato cubes ensure they cook at the same rate.
Ideas to change up the recipe
- Add Grains – Bulk it up with rice, quinoa, or barley. Adjust the liquid levels as needed.
- Make it Saucier: Prefer a stew that’s more about the sauce than the chunky bits? Blend part of the stew before serving to achieve a richer, creamier consistency.
- Add Extra Spice – Add a minced jalapeño or a splash of hot sauce if you like heat.
- Add Cheese – Sprinkle shredded cheese on top right before serving.
- Extra veggies – Add corn or any other stew veggie you enjoy. I like to stir in spinach or kale during the last few minutes for added nutrients
Storage Suggestions
Cool your leftovers to room temperature, transfer them to an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
For longer storage, freeze it in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or broth if needed.
Recipe FAQs
Can I make Cowboy Stew ahead of time?
Yes! It’s even more flavorful the next day. Cook it, cool it, and refrigerate for reheating when ready to serve.
Can this recipe be made in the slow cooker?
Yes, to make it in the slow cooker:
- In a large pot, cook the ground beef, onions, and garlic until brown. Drain the grease and transfer the beef to the crockpot.
- Brown the sausage on both sides and add to the crockpot.
- Add spices and stir everything together.
- Add diced tomatoes, baked beans, green chilies, sweet corn, potatoes, and water to the crockpot.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
Can it be made in a pressure cooker?
Yes:
- Start by cooking the ground beef, onions, and garlic in the Instant Pot on the sauté feature. Add the sausage and cook for a few more minutes, stirring to ensure the garlic does not burn.
- Add all the other ingredients into the Instant Pot, then cover and secure the lid in place.
- Set the pressure release valve to seal, then cook on high pressure for 4 minutes.
- Do a quick release, then check the potatoes to make sure they are tender before serving.
Can I use fresh vegetables instead of frozen?
Absolutely. Just note that fresh-cut vegetables might need a bit more time to cook, so adjust accordingly.
How do I thicken the stew?
If you prefer a thicker consistency, simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes or stir in a cornstarch slurry (one tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with two tablespoons of water).
More Hearty Soups and Stews to Enjoy
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Did You Make This Cowboy Stew?
Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or a review in the comments section below. If you share an image on Instagram or Facebook, be sure to tag me and use #scatteredmomrecipes!
Print
Cowboy Stew
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: main dish
- Method: stovetop
Description
This Cowboy Stew is packed with savory meats, tender vegetables, and a perfectly seasoned broth.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 12 oz. kielbasa, or smoked sausage, sliced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 10 oz can Rotel tomatoes
- 2 cup potatoes, peeled, and diced
- 1 15 oz can pinto beans
- 2 cups frozen, mixed vegetables
- 2 cups beef broth or water
- Fresh parsley for garnish
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Instructions
- Brown ground beef with onion in a large skillet or soup pot
- When beef is nearly done, drain excess grease, place in soup pot, and add garlic and kielbasa, and cook, stirring another 30-60 seconds
- Stir in chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper
- Next, add tomatoes, Rotel, potatoes, pinto beans, mixed vegetables, and beef broth
- Stir together, cover, and bring to a simmer
- Simmer until potatoes are tender
- Remove from heat and serve, garnished with parsley
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