Cowboy Stew
Cowboy stew is the heartiest of dinners with ground beef, smoky sausage, and bacon, plenty of beans, tender potatoes, loads of veggies, and Tex-Mex seasonings.
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- ½ pound thick cut bacon, chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ pound smoked sausage, cut into ¼ inch slices (kielbasa or your favorite variety)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 large green pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 4 cups beef broth
- 3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½ -inch cubes
- 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (10 oz.) diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained (like Rotel)
- 1 can (15 oz.) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (15 oz.) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (15 oz.) corn kernels, drained
- optional garnishes: green onions or chopped white onions
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside. Drain off all but about 1 tablespoon (you don’t have to measure!) of bacon fat.½ pound thick cut bacon, chopped into 1 inch pieces
- Add the ground beef to the pot with the bacon fat and cook over medium-high heat until it’s no longer pink, breaking it apart as it cooks.1 pound lean ground beef
- Add the sliced sausage and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Drain excess fat if desired.½ pound smoked sausage, cut into ¼ inch slices
- Add the onion and green pepper to the pot and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic, flour, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring.1 medium yellow onion, diced, 1 large green pepper, diced, 3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed, ¼ cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- Add the beef broth and scrape any brown bits off the bottom of the pan.4 cups beef broth
- Add the potatoes, both types of tomatoes, pinto beans, kidney beans, and corn. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½ -inch cubes, 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained, 1 can (10 oz.) diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained, 1 can (15 oz.) pinto beans, rinsed and drained, 1 can (15 oz.) kidney beans, rinsed and drained, 1 can (15 oz.) corn kernels, drained
- Increase heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let the stew cook for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the cooked bacon just before serving. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or chili powder as desired.
- Ladle into bowls and garnish with toppings such as sliced jalapeños, shredded cheese, or sour cream.
Video
Notes
- Storage & reheating: Refrigerate leftover cowboy stew for up to 4 days. Freeze cowboy stew for up to 3 months (note: the potatoes will become slightly mealy). Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating. Reheat the stew in a pot on the stovetop over medium heat or individual bowls in the microwave. Add extra broth or water to thin it out a bit if necessary.
- Potato alternatives: If you plan on freezing cowboy stew, consider using sweet potatoes or butternut squash instead of potatoes. Alternatively, you could simply omit the potatoes. The stew could be served on mashed potatoes or rice instead.
- Make it spicy: Add diced jalapeños when you’re sautéing the onions and green peppers OR add cayenne with the seasonings OR add hot sauce at the end of the cooking time OR all three if you like it really spicy!
Nutrition
Serving: 1.75cup | Calories: 529kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 1184mg | Potassium: 1449mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 326IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 5mg
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