The short answer: Cowboy stew is a thick, smoky one-pot dinner loaded with ground beef, smoked sausage, potatoes, beans and corn in a tomato and green chile broth. It's ready in about 45 minutes, feeds a crowd and uses mostly pantry staples.
Our picks for cowboy stew
Starter pickPrintables
Meal Planner & Grocery List
Weekly meals, a grocery list sorted by aisle, and pantry and freezer inventories so you shop once and waste less.
Printables
Budget Planner Printable
Twelve undated pages you can print every month: budget, bills, spending, savings and debt.
Printables
Family Recipe Binder
Section dividers, four recipe page layouts with room for the family story, 4x6 and 3x5 cards and a conversion chart - print it or type into the fillable version.
Prep time: 15 minCook time: 36 minTotal time: 51 minServings: 6 to 8 servings
Below is the full recipe, slow cooker and Instant Pot options, easy swaps, sides and how to store leftovers.
I love cooking the kind of dinner where everyone pitches in, and this stew has a job for every helper: browning, chopping, opening cans and stirring.
Cowboy stew at a glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Serves | 6 to 8 |
| Prep time | 15 minutes |
| Cook time | 30 to 35 minutes |
| Pot | One large Dutch oven or soup pot |
| Flavor | Smoky, savory, mildly spicy |
| Freezer friendly | Yes, 2 to 3 months |
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 12 to 14 ounces smoked sausage, sliced into coins
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ pounds russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into ¾-inch cubes
- 2 cans (10 oz each) diced tomatoes with green chiles
- 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) ranch-style or kidney beans, with liquid
- 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained, or 1½ cups frozen
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Short on chili powder? Our chili seasoning blend works here too.
How to make cowboy stew
- Brown the meat. In a large pot over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it up, until no pink remains. Drain most of the fat.
- Add sausage and vegetables. Add sausage, onion and pepper and cook 5 to 6 minutes until the sausage browns at the edges. Stir in garlic and spices for 1 minute.
- Simmer. Add potatoes, tomatoes, beans, corn and broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer partly covered for 25 to 30 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.
- Season and serve. Taste, add salt and pepper, and thicken by simmering uncovered a few minutes if needed.
Ground beef is safe at 160°F, per the FoodSafety.gov temperature chart. USDA's ground beef guide recommends using a food thermometer to check that it has reached 160°F.
Cowboy stew vs. chili vs. beef stew
| Cowboy stew | Chili | Beef stew | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meat | Ground beef and smoked sausage | Ground beef or chunks | Beef chuck cubes |
| Potatoes | Yes | Rarely | Yes |
| Beans | Yes | Often | No |
| Broth | Tomato and green chile | Thick tomato and chili | Brown gravy |
| Cook time | About 45 minutes | 45 minutes to 2 hours | 2 to 3 hours |
Cowboy stew sits right between chili and beef stew: it has the smoky spice of chili and the potatoes of a classic stew, but it's done in under an hour.
Stovetop, slow cooker or Instant Pot
| Method | Time | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Stovetop | 25 to 30 min simmer | Stir now and then so potatoes don't stick |
| Slow cooker | Low 6 to 8 h or high 3 to 4 h | Brown the beef and sausage first |
| Instant Pot | 5 min high pressure, 10 min natural release | Layer tomatoes on top to avoid a burn warning |
Find more set-and-forget dinners in our slow cooker recipes.
Easy swaps and variations
- Lighter: use ground turkey and turkey sausage.
- Bacon: cook 4 slices of chopped bacon first and use the drippings for the onions.
- Brisket: swap in 2 cups of chopped leftover brisket for the ground beef.
- Extra veggies: add zucchini, green beans or a diced carrot.
- More heat: add a diced jalapeño or a chipotle in adobo.
- Sweet potato: replace half the potatoes with sweet potato cubes.
What to serve with cowboy stew
- Warm cornbread or biscuits
- Tortilla chips or crackers
- Coleslaw or a crisp green salad
- Shredded cheese, sour cream and green onions on top
Storing and reheating
- Cool and refrigerate within 2 hours, then eat within 3 to 4 days, per USDA's leftovers guide.
- Freeze in labeled containers for 2 to 3 months for best quality.
- Reheat on the stove until steaming hot, 165°F, adding a splash of broth.
- Log frozen portions on a freezer inventory list.
Plan a one-pot dinner night
- Meal Planner & Grocery List, $3.99. Plan cowboy stew around sale-priced beef and pantry cans.
- Budget Planner Printable, $5.99. Track how stretch meals lower your grocery spending.
- Family Recipe Binder, $6.99. Save your family's version, swaps and all.
Browse all our Printables.
More hearty dinners
Want another budget ground beef dinner? Our sloppy joes use pantry staples and freeze well.
Frequently asked questions
What is cowboy stew? Cowboy stew is a hearty Tex-Mex style one-pot stew made with ground beef, smoked sausage, potatoes, beans, corn and tomatoes with green chiles. It's thick, smoky and filling, and it cooks in under an hour.
What meat goes in cowboy stew? Most cowboy stew recipes use ground beef plus sliced smoked sausage. Some cooks add bacon, leftover brisket or stew beef; ground turkey works for a lighter version.
How long does cowboy stew take to cook? Cowboy stew takes about 45 to 50 minutes: 15 minutes to brown the meat and onions and 25 to 30 minutes of simmering until the potatoes are tender.
What temperature should ground beef reach in cowboy stew? Cook ground beef to 160°F, the safe minimum for ground meat. Browning it fully before adding the liquid gets you there and builds flavor.
Do you drain the grease for cowboy stew? Yes, drain most of the fat after browning the ground beef. Leave about a tablespoon in the pot to cook the onions and peppers.
Can you make cowboy stew in a slow cooker? Yes, you can make cowboy stew in a slow cooker. Brown the beef and sausage first, then add everything to the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours, until the potatoes are tender.
Can you make cowboy stew in the Instant Pot? Yes, you can make cowboy stew in the Instant Pot. Brown the meat on Sauté, deglaze with broth, add the rest with tomatoes layered on top, and pressure cook for 5 minutes with a 10-minute natural release.
How do you thicken cowboy stew? Simmer cowboy stew uncovered for the last 10 minutes, or mash a few potato chunks into the broth. A slurry of 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water also works.
Is cowboy stew spicy? Cowboy stew is mildly spicy from chili powder and diced tomatoes with green chiles. Use mild tomatoes for kids, or add jalapeños or chipotle for more heat.
What do you serve with cowboy stew? Cornbread is the classic side for cowboy stew. Biscuits, tortilla chips, a green salad or coleslaw also work well.
How long does cowboy stew last? Cowboy stew keeps 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator and about 2 to 3 months in the freezer for best quality. Refrigerate it within 2 hours of cooking.
Is cowboy stew a budget-friendly meal? Cowboy stew stretches a pound of ground beef with potatoes, beans and pantry cans, so it feeds 6 to 8 people for little cost. The Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) from HomeBase Paper Co. helps you plan it around sales and pantry staples.
Sources
- FoodSafety.gov: Safe minimum internal temperatures foodsafety.gov
- USDA FSIS: Ground beef and food safety fsis.usda.gov
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety fsis.usda.gov