Easy Texas Cowboy Stew Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

Get ready for a hearty and comforting meal with this Cowboy Stew recipe. This stew combines tender chunks of beef, an assortment of beans, and a medley of vegetables, all simmered in a rich and flavorful broth. It’s a delicious and satisfying one-pot meal that’s perfect for any occasion.

Who doesn’t love a nice hearty stew recipe? It’s the perfect comfort food! Just like our easy Instant Pot Beef Stew or Irish Guinness Beef Stew, this Texas Cowboy Stew definitely delivers when it comes to hearty! This stew combines 3 types of meat along with beans, veggies, and potatoes all in a rich, savory broth flavored with southwestern spices. It is a family-friendly and filling meal all made in one pot for easy cleanup.

Ingredients

• Meat: bacon, ground beef, and smoked kielbasa sausage
• Beans: pinto beans and black beans
• Veggies: russet potatoes or yukon gold potatoes, carrots, onion, sweet corn, and diced tomatoes
• Seasonings: garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper
• Beef broth

Instructions

1. Dice the bacon into half-inch pieces and place them in a large pot or large Dutch oven. Cook over medium-high heat until crispy.
2. While the bacon is cooking, chop the onions, carrots, potatoes, and smoked sausage.
3. Once the bacon is done, remove it from the pot and drain the excess bacon drippings.
4. In the same pot, add the ground beef and cook it until it’s partially browned. Add the sliced sausage, onions, and carrots, and continue cooking until the beef is fully browned and the onions are tender.
5. Stir in the minced garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, and paprika.
6. Incorporate the diced tomatoes, pinto beans, black beans, corn, potatoes, and beef broth. Don’t forget to reintroduce the crispy bacon.
7. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce it to low heat. Let it simmer for approximately 40 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
8. Season with salt and pepper to your liking, then serve, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.

Variations & substitutions

There are so many flavors in this easy recipe, you can really play with the ingredients depending on your taste and what you might have on hand.

• use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of hamburger meat
• use any smoked sausage in place of the kielbasa, even smoked chicken sausage will work
• add extra spice with a can of chopped green chiles
• add in frozen mixed vegetables in place of the corn and carrots
• use chicken broth (or homemade chicken stock) or vegetable broth instead of the beef broth
• you can try adding chili beans, baked beans, or ranch style beans instead of one of the other types of canned beans
• if you add frozen peas, they come already blanched and only need to be added for the last 5 minutes of cooking

Slow cooker instructions

To make in the slow cooker cook ingredients on the stovetop as instructed up to step 6 then transfer all ingredients to a slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.

Serving suggestions

This is a thick stew that is very filling but it would be delicious served alongside bacon jalapeño cornbread, cornbread muffins, easy drop biscuits, Texas toast, or garlic bread for dipping.

Storage

Store leftover stew in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

This soup can be frozen for up to 3 months but the potatoes don’t freeze and thaw well, I recommend leaving them out if you plan on freezing the soup. You can always add in canned baby potatoes when you thaw and reheat it.

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!

Print