Your son tells you his football buddies will stay for dinner, your daughter’s friends are over or your husband’s friends from work are watching a game and you need something that will feed a crowd and make them happy.
Texas Cowboy Stew
This is the recipe for you! A no-fuss, big meal packed full of flavor that you can whip up in no time and with minimal effort, that can satisfy even a bunch of hungry teenaged boys. This meal has everything.
Meat, sausage, and veggies in a spicy mouth-watering sauce.
The best part of, you only need to raid your pantry and freezer to make it.
HOW TO MAKE COWBOY STEW FROM SCRATCH?
Follow the simple recipe below to make this delicious Texas Cowboy Stew from scratch.
- Step 1. In a dutch oven over medium heat, sauteé onion. Add ground beef and cook until there’s no pink left
- Step 2. Add sliced sausage
- Step 3. Pour in tomatoes, pinto beans, corn, potatoes, diced tomatoes with chiles and veggies
- Step 4. Mix everything until well combined, add spices
- Step 5. Add water, bring to a boil, and simmer for one hour.
WHAT CAN I ADD TO COWBOY STEW FOR FLAVOR?
In this recipe, spices make all the difference. Don’t hesitate to add more spices if you want a bit more kick.
A pinch of cinnamon, a dash of paprika as well as cumin and chili powder can render a very delicious stew.
I usually add chopped jalapenos to make it a bit spicier. Sometimes I even add cheese on top, throw it in the oven, and broil it until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH COWBOY STEW?
To add a bit of freshness to this dish, I generally serve it with a simple mixed greens salad or coleslaw and a big slice of sourdough bread.
PRO TIPS FOR COWBOY STEW;
- This recipe is so easy, you really don’t have to be a pro to make it. But if you want to make it even more special,
- Place cooked stew on a casserole dish, put cheese on top, and bake until bubbly
- After cooking the ground beef and adding the kielbasa, cook it for a couple more minutes and drain the excess fat from the meat and the sausage.
- Add chopped jalapenos for an added kick, If you want to make it a bit less “soupy” add one cup of less water and cook until desired consistency.
OTHER RECIPES YOU MIGHT ENJOY
- CRACK CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
- TOMATO HAMBURGER VEGETABLE SOUP
- SLOW COOKER CHICKEN AND WILD RICE SOUP
- CHEESY CAULIFLOWER SOUP
Texas Cowboy Stew
Ingredients
- 2 lb ground beef
- 2 packages kielbasa sausage sliced into ½ inch pieces
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 (14.5oz) cans peeled and diced tomatoes, drained
- 4 medium baking potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 (15oz) cans pinto beans, with liquid
- 1 (15.2oz) can whole kernel corn, Drained
- 2 (14.5oz) can diced tomatoes with green chile pepper, with liquid
- 1 (10oz) package frozen mixed vegetables
- 4 cups of water
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a dutch oven over medium heat, sauteé onion. Add ground beef and cook until there’s no pink left
- Add sliced sausage
- Pour in tomatoes, pinto beans, corn, potatoes, diced tomatoes with chiles and veggies
- Mix everything until well combined, add spices
- Add water, bring to a boil, and simmer for one hour
We used cubed chuck roast instead of ground beef and God almighty! It was good!!!
My family loves this recipe. It’s one of our favorite meals. It’s quick, easy, and tasty. We are a family of 6 and there’s always plenty of leftovers. I usually leave out the potatoes which saves me time washing, peeling, and cutting. So it’s mostly just dumping cans. There’s hardly an easier meal.
Fantastic recipe! I used kidney instead of pintos and it still tasted great! 10/10 will make again
My 11 yr old’s favorite stew. If made this so many times because he always requests that I make this for dinner
I made this today. Delicious! However, I did not realize 8 servings were TEXAS size servings. I opted for a crock pot to make this so needless to say I had to use 2! But that allowed me to really spice up my wife’s crock pot! (3 tbs of chili flake and extra rotel). I used fire roasted diced tomatoes in both. And 2 tsps of sugar to help with heart burn. YUMMY!
Sounds good. I haven’t made it yet. 🤙🏾
at meal Made this again! I had to take my son up to Duke so made it, put it in the freezer, got it out and thawed it. The only change I made was a used a pkg of cornmeal muffins, made that and dropped the meal on top of the stew. Now just waiting. It was so wonderful to have a great meal and only had to thaw it and put muffin mix on the top. So very yummy and we greatly enjoyed it!
Thank you so much for this great stew!
Should the garlic be sautéed with the onion? Or added when spices are added?
Yes. You don’t want the heat too high or it will scorch & taste bitter.
This is a keeper! My hubby loved it. I made a couple alterations: added a finely chopped jalapeno, used my homemade taco blend seasoning (it’s what I had), beef stock instead of water and added a little barley just because I’m trying to add more grains to our diet.
That’s awesome! So glad everyone enjoyed it. 🙂
I tried this recipe and added a little more cumin and a pinch of cayenne and it was awesome!!! I highly recommend this recipe! Thank You!!
Yay!! That’s so nice to hear, Gary! I appreciate your 5-star review! 🙂
Fantastic! Made the stew today and absolutely love it. Thank you!😊
Thank you so much! So glad you two enjoyed it, Angie! 🙂
This recipe looks good. I’m not big on potatoes can I substitute with elbow noodles
Just got it all in the pot, can’t wait to try it out. Thank goodness this is an easy recipe to halve, it would take the two of us a month to eat the full amount.
That’s wonderful!! 🙂 You’re welcome!
Made this for our Valentine’s Day dinner. My boyfriend and I loved it. It was absolutely delicious! Thanks for sharing your recipes!
I’m so glad you all enjoyed it! 🙂
This was Very Very Good!
That’s awesome, Greg!! 😀
Normally I always have hamburger in the freezer but of course, I had none today! So I found two pounds of ground pork which I used instead. I too used broth instead of water, and I also used some barley as we all love beef barley stew added in some diced celery. I kept the rest of it with no changes. It was fantastic. I have a BIG stew pot that was filled to the brim and was afraid I would have to remove some in order to cook the whole thing. I just cooked it low and slow so I wouldn’t have to do that. Thank you for the great recipe!
I’m so happy you liked it, Sharon!! 😀 Appreciate your review! XO
Absolutely the best stew/soup ever! I used kidney beans in place of the pinto beans and beef broth in place of water. I also added two beef bouillon cubes for added flavor. This will be a keeper in my home.
Yay!! That’s so nice to hear, Victoria! I appreciate your 5-star review! 🙂
This was fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
I love that!! 🙂 That makes me happy. Thanks for your review!
I’ve made this quite a few times & change it up if I’m out of ingredients. This recipe is even better after it’s been frozen and reheated later.
It’s so delicious! Hope you love it, Cindy 🙂
I made this into a hotdish (casserole). I used canned fire roasted tomatoes w/garlic. Used alot of extra chili powder, some cinnamon and onion powder. I used a bag of frozen mixed veggies mixed veggies and a bag of frozen corn. I transferred to 2 9×13 pans, added sharp cheddar and added one box of prepared cornbread mix to the top. Baked at 375 for 30 min. Turned out great! Will probably half next time so I only have one 9×13.
Do I need to drain the corn, tomato’s, etc? Or pour them all in with the liquid?
Made this tonight. It was delish. I cut the recipe in half but still have leftovers. Didn’t have kielbasa so used “little wieners” & Fiesta beans. My hubby loved it once he added hot sauce. He’s now sitting in his chair with no sweatshirt cause he’s hot. Thanks for the recipe.
Excellent recipe and is j6st as good if you freeze it and reheat it. Score for me!
This is my 3rd.. Time making.. It’s hands down one of the best stew’s I’ve ever had, easy to make.. I do slice my sausage in half.. & add a can of Green Chilies.. I Love that extra favor.. Make It Your Own..
Great recipe!!
How long is it good for?
Store it in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze it for up to 4 months.
This reminds me of a meal that my mother use to make years ago. I cannot remember what she called it but something maybe like…jailhouse bake? What she did different was she poured I believe bisquick over top and baked it for a bit. Very very good with or without the bisquick
Really good! I added Worcestershire sauce, slap yo’ mama spice blend & lots of garlic pepper. Made sure to add all of the suggested spices (cinnamon etc). I made this in the crockpot on high for 4 hrs. It’s a very customizable recipe. I only used potatoes, corn & carrots for veggies & used black beans in place of pinto beans. Ground elk & kielbasa for meat. Great recipe!
Absolutely fabulous. I made it and my wife went nuts for it. I will be making it a second time again
I’m making this recipe again, for what seems the 20th time since I discovered it, and I have never changed a thing. And everyone who has ever eaten from my stewpot agrees. All the flavors blend together to create this wonderful comfort food called Texas Cowboy Stew. Thanks ever so much for this recipe.
Looks delicious did not realize how MUCH I made definitely will need to freeze it for later even after serving it and having leftovers for the week.
I’ve made this similar recipe but substitute Smoked Brisket for the burger. Obviously take a bit longer to make with the 20 hour smoke on the brisket but well worth it. Great recipe if you have leftover Brisket from a previous meal.
This recipe is great! My family loved it! I halved it for a week night and still had plenty for the four of us. I just can’t say how much we like it
I have made this several times and added shrimp in and its always a big hit. Since we are now empty nesters though, is there a way to pressure can this as well?
I would pressure can it like you would can ground beef. Pints for 75 min and quarts for 90 at 10 psi for 1000 alt and under, 15 psi for 1000 and above alt..
Great idea!
I have made this twice now and it has been added to my favorite recipes. First time I made half the recipe but used the full amount of vegetables. The second time I used a 24 ounce package of mixed vegetables for the full recipe and 6 potatoes. I did add the juice of the tomatoes and cut back on the water. I also waited to add the corn and vegetables until the potatoes were cooked because I don’t care for overcooked vegetables. Very good. Thanks for the recipe.
Absolutely delicious!! My family loved it! I added 1 bouillon cube and jalapeno slices, served up with biscuits! Definitely will be a keeper on the menu!❤
The meal itself was amazing! Only thing I did not like about the recipe was it did not say what size dutch oven to use. And I will definitely cut this recipe in half next time. Lol Biggest plus is my kids loved it too!! Ages 7 and 4!
I have made this recipe no less than 5 times over the last year. I halve the recipe and love that I can still feed a crowd. My very picky young kids LOVE this soup. Literally the only soup I can get them to eat. I make pretty much as written except more garlic. Very very good recipe. I’m going to try it in the crockpot. I’m not sure what other weirdos make soup in July, but I guess I am one!
I’m making this tomorrow 🤗🤗🤗 Rainy days in July sometimes call for SOUP!
This recipe is the best that I have ever made from online searches. I cut the recipe in half and it makes 8 servings. Thanks for sharing!
This sounds so yummy and can’t wait to make it for my fiancé. Could I use frozen hash brown potatoes or would they get too mushy?
This is a winner for sure! The only change I made was substituting the kielbasa sausage with beef hot links. I also used fire roasted tomatoes instead of the regular ones and added a little ‘better than bouillon’. Everyone loves this dish❤️
I made this for a Sunday family get together. It was a HUGE success! Everyone loved it! Even my grandchildren loved it and had 2nds! Definitely will make again!
I made a half recipe on a snowy day with what I had in the house. Thought I had some hot links but didnt so had to make it without. Oh my, this is delish! Can’t wait to make it again with some sausage! Thanks! 👏🏻
Venison sausage and ground venison. Super easy and good. Fed my wife and my daughter’s family of 4 with a serving or 2 left over. Making it for the second time today.
This recipe is fantastic! I made adjustments like using ground chicken and turkey sausage (I don’t eat beef) and used Mexican corn and spicy beans. I have added this to my rotation now. Yummy!
How wonderful, Milli! So glad you were able to customize it to your liking!
Do you need to drain the Hamburger meat?
Oh I love the corn idea, this is a huge hit in my house, even my non loving soup husband, really likes it!
I halved this recipe and used even less water for a fam of 4 and still have left overs for tomorrow’s lunch or dinner. I added andouille sausage to the dish and served it with cornbread muffins. The fam enjoyed but our mouths were on fire! DELICIOUS!! So glad I found this recipe. Needed something new to add to the mix of weekly dishes.
Made half of the recipe and it was still a lot. Great meal and it was well received! Even better for leftovers.
Very easy to make and filling! Great on a cold winter night! Will be making again and you’re right, the seasoning makes it!
What type of kielbasa sausage did you use? I have polish would that work?
Definitely! You can use your favorite.
How many servings does this make?
8 big hefty servings
This will be a great addition to our regular soup choices.
I have my pot of stew simmering now. So far it looks and smells amazing. I wish I would have used beef broth instead of water. I did add some Goya brand beef bouillon instead of adding the salt after taste testing along with a pinch of cinnamon and Italian seasoning as suggested. I also added double the amount of garlic because we love the flavor of garlic. I did not use pinto beans because I am not of fan of them. I used a can of black beans and a can of kidney beans instead. I also used 2 cans of canned potatoes instead of fresh only because it’s what I had on hand. I believe this will be a regular meal in our home from now on. Thank you!!
Oh my goodness you are so kind Megan. So glad you were able to customize it to your liking!
I made this today, only I used 3 large sweet potatoes instead of regular ones. And still Yummy!!!
I made it last night. Came out excellent!!
Made for dinner tonight, it’ll be done shortly then I’ll get to taste it. Super easy. I’d normally use fresh veggies but forgot to run to the store so we did use frozen but it’ll still turn out amazing.
So glad you loved it! Thanks so much for the 5-star rating!
I’ve made this three time in the month of December for family and friends and served it at a Christmas party. Everyone asked for the recipe. You can’t eat just one bowl. Serve with your favorite cornbread recipe.
Oh my goodness you are so kind john. Thank you for coming back to leave a review!
I’ve made this on the stove top, but wanna make it in the crock pot.. how long do I cook it for?
I would do it for 4 hours in low
Hey there! Just one thing if you plan on making this in a crockpot (like I thought I was going to), make sure you have a larger than average crockpot or it won’t all fit! I would say my crockpot is “average sized” and I had to transfer to a gumbo pot and just cook it as the recipe calls instead of the crockpot. Still so yummy and still so easy!
May be a silly question, but is your nutrition facts per serving or for the whole pot? It’s delicious by the way!
Per serving!
The total recipe makes 8 servings, but how much is a serving? 1 cup, 2 cups, etc. Thanks for any insight you can offer.
I haven’t made this yet but since I am trying to downsize, I wonder if I could can this and if so, should i prepare and cook then can it or can it then cook it as I am ready to use it?
I would cook it and then can it.
I made this in my crock pot for dinner tonight. The potatoes took a while to get tender, but it was well worth the wait. So delicious and hearty, I cut the recipe in half because there is only me and my husband and we still have leftovers after two servings each. We both loved it. I added a pinch of cinnamon as suggested, and a pinch of Italian seasoning and a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce. So flavorful and yummy. Next time I think I will add a bay leaf for even more flavor. This one is definitely a keeper, especially on cold, winter evenings!
Hi Judy! So glad you decided to try it again and customize it to your liking. Thank you for coming back to leave a review!
Do you remember how long you had this in the crockpot for ?
After making this for the 4th time, it’s time to thank you for this recipe. I’ve made it with ground beef & ground turkey, whichever is already in the freezer and both are delicious. It’s such a bonus to find a recipe that uses pantry staples. Everyone loves this stew, including our young grandchildren and our neighbors. Many thanks, for all of your recipes. I’ve been following you for a while now.
Oh my goodness you are so kind. Thank you for coming back to leave a review!
What are your thoughts on using beef broth instead of water?
Beef broth would be even better!
Gave it a go this evening. Wife and I loved it! We added 3 corn tortillas to thicken it a bit. Delicious!
Ohhh so glad you loved it! Thanks so much for the 5-star rating!
Do you cover this while it is simmering for an hour?
Yes. But don’t put the lid totally on. Leave a little space for vapor to escape.
This was very good. I’m using this for meal prep this week. I cut the portions in half. Now just needs some crusty bread.
Thank you. So glad you decided to try it again and customize it to your liking. 🙂
How would I make this in a crockpot?
Just add the sautéed beef and onions to the slow cooker and all the other ingredients and cook on low for 5 hours. If your crockpot isn’t one of the largest ones, make half of the recipe.
This will be my first time making this. Do you add the 4 cups of water before you freeze it? Or after you thaw it, if you freeze it?
You can do it either way. I guess you save space adding the water after, but you would have to let it simmer before serving
What is the serving size please (how many ounces or cups per serving)? Planning to make this for a lodge dinner and want to adjust accordingly. Made a half recipe to test it out and it’s very tasty. Excellent as written, but also nearly endlessly customizable, which I love. Thanks!
Depending on how much you will be serving, you can stretch get up to 16 – 12oz servings.
I cut recipe in half, because it is only my husband and I eating. I also added canned carrots, instead of mixed veggies, since I don’t like peas. We both loved!
So glad you were able to customize it to your liking!
I just made it, I cut the meat in half and left the rest the same since I prefer the vegetables but live with carnivores. I want to freeze 1/2 but not sure if the potatoes will hold or become mush. Is there a suggested way to freeze?
It would be too much of a hassle to fish out the potatoes. Freeze it as it is. They will be softer but I don’t think they will be too soft. Please let me know how it thaws for you.
Do you really use 4 cans of tomatoes? 2 regular and 2 Rotel? Seems like a lot.
Hi Barbara, this recipe feeds a crowd. You can make half
It said two cans of tomatoes with green chili pepper. Or you can use two cans of rotel cans. Not four cans yes too much
I did one diced tomatoes and one can green chilies mild very good
I don’t have a Dutch oven, so I used my soup pot. Other than that followed the recipe it is amazing. LOTS of leftovers
Thanks for the suggestions Adam. So glad you decided to try it again and customize it to your liking. 🙂
My family loved this!! And I have picky eaters. 🙂
I used ranch style beans bc I didn’t have pinto beans, used beef broth instead of water, and left out the mixed veggies except corn, and this was perfect for a bunch of teenage boys. Thank you! This will probably be a go to for us on the regular.
Thanks for the suggestions. So glad you decided to try it again and customize it to your liking. 🙂
I made the EXACT same changes (adding ranch style beans, leaving out veggies except corn, and beef broth)! Lol my teenage boys and their friends loved this too!! Im making again today 🙂
Making this tonight sure smell good with some hot cornbread!! I agree it make a lot
So glad you were able to customize it to your liking!
Plan to make this week. Please tell me more about how you use the cinnamon and paprika. Sounds delicious!
Just a pinch of cinnamon (1/8 tsp) adds a lot of flavors. You wouldn’t believe how it makes all the other spices pop! Paprika too
Can I can the soup. It make a lot love to can it for winter .
I’ve never done it, but if you try, please let me know how it goes! I don’t see why not
How would you use a dutch oven when camping?
You can cook with your Dutch oven over any source of heat. Whether you use a camping stove or over an open fire.
How would I make this in an instant pot?
Hi Claire, first turn your instapot to the sauté setting and cook the meat and onions until there’s no pink left in the meat. Add the sliced sausage and cook for a couple of minutes. Then add all of the other ingredients, seal the lid making sure the release valve is on seal and press manual setting cook to 30 minutes on high. When it is donde cooking, let the Instapot release steam naturally or turn the valve to release the pressure. Make sure the amount of ingredients fits in your Instapot or make half the recipe.
Can this be made in a crockpot?
I know this question has been asked, but did not see a reply.
Thanks for the recipe!
Yes. You definitely can. Cook on low for 5 hrs or high for 3 hours. I would cook the beef before adding it to the crockpot
Could you make this in a crockpot?
So sorry Jennifer, this comment got snared in the spam filter!
Yes. You definitely can. Cook on low for 5 hours or high for 3 hrs.
Does this reheat well? Taste as good reheated?
It tastes just as good reheated!
Can it be frozen
Yes, it can. Place it in a freezer bag once it is cooled and freeze it for up to 3 months.
Do you freeze after the meat is browned but before cooking the final ingredients? Brown Hamburger, mix all ingredients together, and freeze? Thaw and cook?
Exactly Kristin!!
Can i make this in a instapot?
And how long to cook
Yes, you can. But you have to make half the recipe. I don’t think this amount will fit into your Instapot.
First turn your Instapot to sauté and add the beef, onion, and sausage and cook until there is no pink on the beef. Add all other ingredients and cook for 25 mins on high. When finished cooking, be sure to let the instapot release all the pressure before opening, and be careful not to burn yourself with the steam.
We made thos on game day. It was simple enough that my husband, who never cooks, was able to put it together. We added diced celery & carrots and it was great. It makes A LOT; we shared with another family and put some in the freezer for later. Thanks!
That’s so sweet of you, Susan! So glad you all enjoyed them.
I haven’t tasted it yet but am optimistic that it is going to be great! However, the quantities in this recipe don’t fit in a standard Dutch oven. I ended up having to split it between 2 pots halfway through putting it together.
I am making this for my husband for dinner, I was asked if it is gluten free if not!! how to make it gluten free version?
This has no added flour. Just be sure to check the ingredients of the sausage you buy to make sure that it has no flour added. The rest is gluten-free. Always check your labels!
Do you drain the grease from the hamburger meat before adding the flour or leave it in?
I try to use lean ground beef, but yes, drain the fat if you feel you have too much. Let’s try to eat healthy!
I did not see anywhere that flour was mentioned.
Yes this recipe has no flour.
Where can I find the nutritional info
Hi Misty, check the recipe card below!
What size Dutch oven did you use? I have a 6 quart Dutch oven and it wasn’t big enough hold all of the soup.
Hi Denise, I have use a big 7 qt Dutch oven,
Made this tonight and it was yummy! Made some changes, though. Instead of pintoes, I used two cans of mixed chili beans. Meat was 1 lb of ground beef and a 1 lb of hot links. I used a bag of frozen mixed vegetables AND a bag of frozen corn (in the pictures, but left out of the ingredients). Instead of the water, I used beef broth. They said four cans of tomatoes…I used 1 can each of diced tomatoes, salsa tomatoes and Rotel. Once boiling, I added a can of refried beans that dissolved into the broth.
Thanks, Joe! I’m so glad you thought my recipe was worth the cleanup!
Making this for the first time in the crockpot. Looks amazing already. Seems to need a little more sauce. Should I add tomato sauce or more water? I don’t want to take away from the original taste.
Sure! I would add water and tomato paste and adjust the salt. I think tomato sauce would make the broth too heavy!
Can I use black beans instead of the other beans?
Hi, Debbie,
Yes, you can, but rinse them out very well under running water first, or your stew will turn a very dark color.
Followed the recipe exactly. I added carrots and it made it even better, My family really enjoyed this recipe
So glad you enjoyed them Gracie!
So when do you add the minced garlic?
Oops! You add it with the minced onion when browning the beef. Thank you for pointing that out.
Loved this, definitely making it again. Added some cayenne pepper and a serano pepper for a little kick.