This Texas cowboy stew is exactly what you need when the weather turns cool and you want something that’ll stick to your ribs. I made this last week when my kids were asking for “real food” after school, and let me tell you – they practically licked their bowls clean! The combination of ground beef, kielbasa, and all those hearty vegetables creates this amazing one-pot meal that tastes like it’s been simmering all day.
If you love comforting soups like my white chicken chili, this cowboy stew is going to be your new favorite.
Table of contents
Texas Cowboy Stew with Ground Beef & Kielbasa
Hearty one-pot cowboy stew loaded with ground beef, kielbasa, potatoes, and beans that's perfect for cold nights.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 pounds kielbasa sausage, sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 4 cups water
- 2 (15.2 ounce) cans whole kernel corn, with liquid
- 2 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans, with liquid
- 2 (14.5 ounce) cans peeled and diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, with liquid
- 1 (10 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables
- 4 medium baking potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crumbly, about 5 minutes.
- Add kielbasa, onion, and garlic to the beef. Cook until meat is no longer pink and onion is translucent, 5-7 minutes.
- Drain grease and transfer mixture to a large pot over medium-low heat.
- Add water, corn with liquid, pinto beans with liquid, drained diced tomatoes, tomatoes with green chiles, frozen vegetables, and diced potatoes.
- Season with cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
- Cover and simmer for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender and flavors have melded.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 485Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 184mgSodium: 1441mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 8gSugar: 7gProtein: 32g
Nutrition info is an estimate based on typical ingredients and portions - I calculate these to give you a helpful starting point! For specific dietary needs or accurate counts, I recommend double-checking with your favorite nutrition app or talking to a health professional. You can read more about my approach to nutrition info at notetherecipe.com/disclaimer
What You’ll Need
This cowboy stew comes together with ingredients you probably already have on hand. I love recipes like this because there’s no fancy shopping trip required!
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 pounds kielbasa sausage, sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 4 cups water
- 2 (15.2 ounce) cans whole kernel corn, with liquid
- 2 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans, with liquid
- 2 (14.5 ounce) cans peeled and diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, with liquid
- 1 (10 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables
- 4 medium baking potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Large skillet
- Large stockpot or Dutch oven
Detailed Cooking Instructions
Time needed: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Hearty one-pot Texas cowboy stew with ground beef, kielbasa, and vegetables.
- Brown the meat
Cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crumbly but not fully done, about 5 minutes. Don’t worry about cooking it completely – it’ll finish in the stew.
- Add aromatics
Toss in the sliced kielbasa, chopped onion, and garlic with the beef. Cook everything together until the meat is no longer pink and the onion turns translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Drain and transfer
Drain off the grease – trust me, you want to do this step or your stew will be too greasy. Transfer the meat mixture to your large pot.
- Add all ingredients
Pour in the water, both cans of corn with their liquid, pinto beans with liquid, drained diced tomatoes, tomatoes with green chiles, frozen vegetables, and diced potatoes.
- Season and simmer
Stir in the cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cover and let it simmer on medium-low heat for at least 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes or so. The longer it cooks, the better it gets!
Tips & Tricks
- Don’t skip draining the grease after browning the meat – I learned this the hard way when my first batch turned out way too oily!
- Use your slow cooker for this cowboy stew if you want to throw everything in and forget about it. Just brown the meat first, then dump everything in your crockpot for 6-8 hours on low.
- Double the chili powder and cumin like I do if your family likes things with more kick – my kids actually prefer the spicier version now.
- Add a small can of tomato paste and a splash of Worcestershire sauce to make it extra rich and thick, especially if you want leftovers that reheat well.
- This freezes beautifully for up to 3 months, so I always make a double batch and freeze half for those weeknight dinners. It pairs perfectly with my roasted tomato basil soup if you want to serve both at a dinner party!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Cowboys ate hearty, one-pot meals made with whatever they had on hand – usually beef, beans, potatoes, and canned vegetables. This cowboy stew captures that same spirit with affordable ingredients that fill you up.
The key spices are cumin and chili powder, which give it that southwestern flavor. I also add salt, pepper, and sometimes smoked paprika for extra depth.
Absolutely! Brown the meat first, then add everything to your crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. It’s perfect for busy days when you want dinner ready when you get home.
Cowboy stew is the ultimate comfort food because it’s warm, filling, and tastes like home. It’s the kind of meal that brings families together around the table on cold nights.
Variations & Add-Ins
- Make a spicy version by adding a diced jalapeño with the onions and doubling the chili powder – my husband loves it this way but I have to make regular for the kids!
- For a low-carb variation, skip the potatoes and corn, then add extra green beans and bell peppers instead. It’s still just as filling.
- Try a vegetarian cowboy stew by swapping the meat for extra beans – use kidney beans, black beans, and maybe some plant-based sausage if you can find it.
- Add more protein with a can of ranch-style beans or some leftover pulled pork if you’ve got it in the fridge.
- Turn it into a southwestern version by throwing in a packet of taco seasoning instead of the individual spices – sometimes I use this shortcut when I’m in a hurry.
- For a creamy twist, add some butter and herbs at the end – kind of like how I make my cowboy butter chicken linguine but in stew form!
Dietary Notes
| Diet | Friendly? | Adjustments |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-Free | Yes | Double-check your sausage label – most kielbasa is naturally gluten-free |
| Dairy-Free | Yes | Already dairy-free as written |
| Vegan | No | Replace both meats with extra beans and plant-based sausage |
| Keto | No | Skip potatoes and corn – add cauliflower and extra green veggies instead |
| Nut-Free | Yes | No nuts in this recipe |
Storage, Freezing & Reheating
- Fridge: This cowboy stew keeps for 4-5 days in the fridge and honestly tastes even better the next day when all those flavors have had time to get to know each other.
- Freezer: I always make a double batch because it freezes beautifully for up to 3 months – just use freezer-safe containers and leave about an inch at the top for expansion.
- Thawing: Move it from the freezer to the fridge the night before you want to eat it, and it’ll be perfectly thawed by dinnertime.
- Reheat: Warm it on the stove over medium heat, stirring occasionally, or microwave individual bowls for about 2 minutes – just add a splash of water if it seems too thick.
- Make-ahead tip: You can brown all the meat and chop your vegetables the day before, then just dump everything together and simmer when you’re ready to eat.
Save This Recipe for Later
This cowboy stew has become one of my go-to winter meals because it makes the whole house smell amazing and keeps everyone happy and full. Save this recipe so you can make it when you need that perfect comfort food dinner.
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