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Cowboy Stew Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 53 reviews

Cowboy Stew is a hearty, flavorful dish brimming with smoky bacon, savory kielbasa, ground beef, and a medley of beans and vegetables. Perfect for a comforting meal, this stew combines the richness of meat with the sweetness of baked beans and the warmth of chili powder, simmered to perfection in a single pot.

Ingredients

Scale

Meats

  • 4 slices bacon, chopped
  • 2 (12-ounce) packages kielbasa sausage, cut into 1/2 inch slices
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (80/20)

Vegetables & Vegetables Canned

  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, with liquid
  • 2 (16-ounce) cans baked beans (sweeter) or ranch beans (more savory), with liquid
  • 1 (7-ounce) can chopped green chilies, with liquid
  • 1 (15-ounce) can sweet corn, with liquid
  • 2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
  • 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

Pantry & Seasonings

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

  1. Cook Bacon: Cook the chopped bacon in a large pot over medium heat until brown and crispy. Once done, remove the bacon using a slotted spoon and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat.
  2. Brown Sausage: In the same pot with the bacon drippings, add the kielbasa slices. Brown them on both sides over medium heat, taking care to adjust the heat so that the fond (brown bits) forming on the bottom does not burn. Remove the browned sausage and set aside with the bacon.
  3. Sear Beef and Aromatics: Add the ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic to the pot. Brown the beef until no longer pink. Sprinkle the flour, salt, black pepper, and chili powder evenly over the beef mixture. Stir well and cook for 1 minute to help develop flavor and thicken the stew later.
  4. Add Remaining Ingredients and Simmer: Pour in the diced tomatoes (with liquid), baked beans (with liquid), chopped green chilies (with liquid), sweet corn (with liquid), cubed potatoes, cooked bacon, browned sausage, and 1 cup water. Stir everything together and bring the mixture to a boil. Immediately reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 1 hour. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and encourage even cooking.
  5. Garnish and Adjust Consistency: After simmering, check the stew’s thickness. If it’s too thick, add additional water to reach desired consistency. Garnish the stew with freshly chopped parsley before serving.

Notes

  • Use either sweeter baked beans or savory ranch beans depending on your taste preference for the stew.
  • Cooking the flour with the beef helps thicken the stew without clumping.
  • Simmering the stew for an hour enhances the blend of flavors and softens the potatoes perfectly.
  • Adjust seasoning after cooking to suit your taste; additional salt or chili powder can be added if desired.
  • This stew can be made a day ahead and reheated; flavors improve overnight.

Keywords: cowboy stew, kielbasa stew, hearty stew, beef stew, bacon stew, one pot meal, comfort food

Find it online: https://nataliereeve.com/cowboy-stew-recipe/