Description
Rich, hearty Cowboy Stew embodies rustic Western comfort with robust beef, tender vegetables, and a soul-warming broth that echoes campfire traditions. Hungry cowboys and weekend warriors will savor this one-pot meal that delivers classic frontier flavors in every satisfying spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats:
- 1.5 pounds ground beef (80/20)
- 2 (12-ounce) packages kielbasa sausage, cut into 0.5 inch slices
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
Vegetables and Beans:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 0.5 inch cubes
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, with liquid
- 1 (7-ounce) can chopped green chilies, with liquid
- 1 (15-ounce) can sweet corn, with liquid
- 2 (16-ounce) cans baked beans, with liquid
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Render the bacon in a spacious pot over medium heat until golden and crisp. Transfer the crispy pieces to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving the rendered fat.
- Sear the kielbasa sausage in the bacon drippings, achieving a rich caramelized exterior. Remove and set aside with the bacon.
- Sauté ground beef, onions, and garlic in the same pot until the meat loses its raw appearance and the onions become translucent.
- Dust the beef mixture with flour, salt, black pepper, and chili powder. Toast the spices briefly to eliminate the raw flour taste and enhance the aromatics.
- Introduce diced tomatoes, baked beans, green chilies, sweet corn, and cubed potatoes into the pot. Combine the reserved bacon and sausage with the mixture, adding water to create a cohesive base.
- Elevate the temperature to initiate boiling, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover and allow the stew to meld and tenderize for approximately one hour, stirring periodically to prevent scorching.
- Verify the potato tenderness and overall flavor integration. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve this robust, rustic stew piping hot.
Notes
- Swap out ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to create a leaner, lighter version of this rustic stew.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium beans and choosing reduced-fat bacon and kielbasa for a heart-healthy adaptation.
- Enhance vegetable content by adding diced bell peppers, carrots, or zucchini during the cooking process for extra nutrition and color.
- Prepare this stew in a slow cooker by browning meats first, then transferring everything to the slow cooker and cooking on low for 6-8 hours for deeper, more developed flavors.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 1180 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg