This easy Cowboy Stew is loaded with ground beef, smoky sausage, crispy bacon, tender potatoes, baked beans, corn, tomatoes, and green chiles. Everything simmers together in one pot, creating a thick, hearty stew filled with bold, comforting flavor.
It’s the kind of satisfying meal that’s perfect for chilly evenings, busy weeknights, casual family dinners, or feeding a hungry crowd. Serve it with warm cornbread, crusty bread, or crackers for an easy dinner everyone will look forward to.
Why You’ll Love This Cowboy Stew
- It’s an easy, filling one-pot dinner.
- Ground beef, smoked sausage, and bacon provide layers of savory flavor.
- Baked beans give the stew a slightly sweet, smoky richness.
- Potatoes and vegetables and make it a complete meal.
- Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch or dinner the next day.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 (12-ounce) package smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 (32-ounce) can baked beans
- 1 can sweet corn, drained
- 1 can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
- 1 (7-ounce) can diced green chiles
- 2 russet potatoes, peeled if desired and diced
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, optional, for garnish
How to Make Cowboy Stew
In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook the chopped bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and place it in a small bowl. Set it aside.
Add the ground beef to the bacon drippings and cook until it is almost completely browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. If there is a large amount of grease in the pot, carefully drain off the excess.
Add the diced onion and minced garlic. Cook for 2–3 minutes, or until the onion begins to soften and the garlic is fragrant.
Add the sliced smoked sausage and cook for another 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Sprinkle the flour, salt, black pepper, and chili powder over the meat mixture. Stir until everything is evenly coated, then cook for 1–2 minutes.
Add the diced potatoes, baked beans, corn, Rotel tomatoes, green chiles, reserved bacon, and water. Stir everything together thoroughly.
Reduce the heat to low and allow the stew to simmer for 35–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are fork-tender and the stew has thickened.
Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving, if desired.
Jessie’s Tips for the Best Cowboy Stew
Cut the potatoes into small, evenly sized pieces so they cook at the same rate. Pieces around ½ inch work especially well.
There is no need to drain the Rotel tomatoes—the liquid adds flavor and helps create the stew’s broth. The corn should be drained before adding it.
If the stew becomes thicker than you prefer, stir in a little additional water until it reaches your desired consistency. If you would like it thicker, let it simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes.
The saltiness of bacon, sausage, and baked beans can vary by brand. Taste the finished stew before adding any additional salt.
Variations and Substitutions
For a spicier Cowboy Stew, use hot Rotel, spicy smoked sausage, or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
For a milder version, use mild diced tomatoes with green chiles and reduce or omit the additional green chiles.
You can substitute Yukon Gold or red potatoes for the russet potatoes. Ground turkey may also be used in place of the ground beef.
What to Serve with Cowboy Stew
Cowboy Stew is hearty enough to serve by itself, but it’s even better with cornbread, warm dinner rolls, garlic bread, or a loaf of crusty bread. A simple green salad also makes a fresh side for this rich and comforting meal.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Allow leftover stew to cool before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerate it for up to 3–4 days.
Reheat individual servings in the microwave or warm the stew in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Because the stew will thicken as it sits, you may want to add a splash of water while reheating.
A Hearty One-Pot Family Dinner
With three kinds of meat, tender potatoes, flavorful vegetables, and smoky baked beans, this easy Cowboy Stew delivers serious comfort without requiring complicated preparation. It’s warm, filling, and full of the big flavors that make everyone eager to come back for another bowl.
Easy Cowboy Stew
Ingredients
Method
- How to Make Cowboy Stew
- In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook the chopped bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and place it in a small bowl. Set it aside.
- Add the ground beef to the bacon drippings and cook until it is almost completely browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. If there is a large amount of grease in the pot, carefully drain off the excess.
- Add the diced onion and minced garlic. Cook for 2–3 minutes, or until the onion begins to soften and the garlic is fragrant.
- Add the sliced smoked sausage and cook for another 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Sprinkle the flour, salt, black pepper, and chili powder over the meat mixture. Stir until everything is evenly coated, then cook for 1–2 minutes.
- Add the diced potatoes, baked beans, corn, Rotel tomatoes, green chiles, reserved bacon, and water. Stir everything together thoroughly.
- Reduce the heat to low and allow the stew to simmer for 35–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are fork-tender and the stew has thickened.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving, if desired.
Did you make this Cowboy Stew? I’d love to hear how it turned out! Leave a comment below and let me know what you thought—or tell me about any special touches you added to make it your own.
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