You’re going to want seconds after you try this Cowboy Stew! Three kinds of meat, potatoes, beans, and corn, simmer together with spices to make this thick stew. 

It costs approximately $14.72 to make this Cowboy Stew. The recipe serves eight for around $1.84 per serving. 

A bowl of stew on a chilly night is pure comfort food. So I make it often during the cooler months. In addition to this Cowboy Stew, I enjoy making this Slow Cooker Beef Stew and this Southwest Quinoa Stew.

The finished Cowboy Stew in a white pot garnished with cilantro.

When you need a hearty meal to feed a crowd and fill them up, this Cowboy Stew is perfect. This one-pot wonder contains delicious meats, veggies, potatoes, and Southwest spices.

In about an hour, you will have this meal ready to go. There are a lot of ingredients, but most of them you probably already have on hand. And even with the list of ingredients, the recipe itself is not complicated.

When those colder nights start rolling in, there is nothing better than a warm bowl of stew. This Cowboy Stew checks all the boxes and is one I make on repeat throughout the Fall and Winter months.

The finished Cowboy Stew recipe in bowls.

Ingredients and Estimated Cost

Per Serving Cost: $1.84

Recipe Cost: $14.72

  • 1 pound lean ground beef – $3.33
  • 6 slices bacon – $1.26
  • 1 pound smoked rope sausage – $2.86
  • 1 small yellow onion – $0.62
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic – $0.12
  • 2(10.5 ounces) cans Rotel – $2.48
  • 2 (15 ounces) cans pinto beans – $2.00
  • 1 (15 ounces) can whole kernel corn – $0.72
  • 2 large Yukon gold potatoes – $0.46
  • 2 cups beef broth – $0.66
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder – $0.03
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika – $0.03
  • ½ teaspoon cumin – $0.01
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper – $0.04
  • ½ teaspoon cumin – $0.01
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper – $0.04
  • 2 Tablespoons cilantro – $0.10

NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have.

An overhead picture of all of the ingredients needed to make this recipe.

How to make Cowboy Stew

  1. First, using a large pan, cook the hamburger meat, drain the grease, and then remove the meat. 
  2. Next, cook the bacon in the pan and remove it once it is crisp. Then brown both sides of the sausage in the bacon grease.
  3. Add in the onions and saute them for about three minutes. 
  4. Next, add the remaining ingredients into the pan, except for the cilantro. Simmer for thirty minutes. 
  5. Finally, remove the stew from the heat and sprinkle with cilantro before serving.

***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.

A picture collage showing how to make this recipe.

Recipe Variations

  • Serve these with cornbread or cornbread muffins.
  • This also makes a great crock pot meal. First, Cook the meats according to the directions, then add everything to the crock pot. Cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 5 hours.

Storage Tips

SERVE: Serve with chopped fresh cilantro. You can keep the stew out for no more than two hours before it needs to be covered and refrigerated.

STORE:  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

FREEZE: Once cooled, place the soup in a freezer-safe container or zipper top bag and freeze for up to three months.

DEFROST: Defrost at room temperature for 4-5 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

REHEAT: Place the stew in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat and heat until warmed through.

Recipe FAQs

What is cowboy stew made of?

This stew is a hearty filling dish with three different types of meat, potatoes, beans, and corn. It has protein, veggies, and carbs all in one dish.

Where did cowboy stew originate?

It first became popular in the American West. Hence, the Cowboy name in the title and the classic Southwest spices and flavors.

A wooden ladle picking up some of the finished Cowboy Stew with Ground Beef.

More Soup Recipes

A close up overhead picture of the finished Texas Cowboy Stew in a white pot.
5 from 5 votes

Cowboy Stew

Recipe Cost $ $14.72
Serving Cost $ $1.84
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
8 people
You’re going to want seconds after you try this Cowboy Stew! Three kinds of meat, potatoes, beans, and corn, simmer together with spices to make this thick stew.

Equipment

  • large pot
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • chef's knife
  • cutting board
  • mixing spoon

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 6 slices bacon chopped
  • 1 pound smoked rope sausage cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
  • 2 10.5 ounces cans Rotel
  • 2 15 ounces cans pinto beans
  • 1 15 ounces can whole kernel corn with liquid
  • 2 large Yukon gold potatoes peeled and cubed
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • Salt as needed

GARNISH:

  • 2 Tablespoons cilantro chopped

Instructions

COOK MEATS:

  • Cook the hamburger in a large pan and drain the grease. Remove the hamburger and cook the bacon in the pan.
  • When the bacon is crisp, remove and brown both sides of the sausage in the bacon grease.

COOK ONIONS:

  • Add the onions and saute for 3 minutes.

SIMMER SOUP:

  • Add the remaining ingredients to the pan, except the cilantro.
  • Simmer for 30 minutes. You can simmer longer for a thicker stew, use a potato masher, and mash some of the beans and potatoes to thicken the soup.

TO FINISH:

  • When the stew is ready, remove it from the heat.
  • Sprinkle with cilantro before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 2cups | Calories: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 739mg | Potassium: 621mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 256IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 3mg

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Recipe Rating




4 Comments

  1. Gina Abernathy says:

    This is my kind of meal. This stew was delicious and filling. The vegetables made this a very hearty stew. I added cornbread for an added side.

  2. Love this filling soup with lots of veggies ! Really made it a meal

  3. This is a great stew with all the goodies in a pot! Love this idea and I’m sure my family will too!

  4. I love easy meals like this where you literally dump it all in and get a delicious dinner (plus browning the meat and bacon first). SO good!