TEXAS COWBOY STEW (Quick and Easy Recipe)

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Sometimes you need to feed a crowd and this cowboy soup recipe is perfect for that. Full of flavor and different textures, it’s a crowd pleaser. Weather is getting cold fast, and cowboy stew is just what you need to warm up on these cold nights.

It is a complete meal in itself and ready in just over an hour. No need to worry about cooking anything extra because this cowboy soup has everything. Meat, veggies and potatoes in a tomato based broth with just the right amount of spices to make everyone happy. Try it out and tell me which are your favorite cowboy recipes!

WHAT IS TEXAS COWBOY STEW?

It is a delicious and hearty stew, or soup, that is a complete meal in itself. Made with ground beef, kielbasa, veggies, beans, and potatoes cooked in a tomato based broth infused with Southwestern spices such as cumin, chili powder, oregano, red pepper flakes and paprika. I guarantee it will satisfy the appetites of everyone in your family. No family member will go hungry with this meal!

INGREDIENTS IN COWBOY STEW

• Ground beef. I like to use 90-93% lean ground beef, but you can use ground chicken or turkey for a lower calorie version.

• Kielbasa: you can use your favorite flavor, mild or spicy.

• Onion and garlic. Chopped finely so you don’t bite into a big chunk. These two are, in my opinion, an essential part of almost all recipes. They provide so much flavor and aroma to every meal.

• Diced tomatoes. I use canned diced tomatoes for convenience, but you can use freshly diced tomatoes if you have them on hand.

• Pinto beans. I like pinto beans the best, but you can use red beans, black beans or your favorite beans. If you are using black beans, I recommend you rinse them before adding them to the stew.

• Potatoes. Peeled and diced, I use Yukon gold.

• Diced tomatoes with green chiles. These provide just a slight amount of heat to the dish. Rotelle is the brand I use.

• Whole kernel corn and frozen veggies. It is so convenient to use frozen veggies. Peas and carrots are my favorites. They add such amazing color to the stew as well!

• Southwestern spices. Cumin, oregano, paprika, chili powder and red pepper flakes add  amazing flavor and smokiness to this dish.

HOW TO MAKE TEXAS COWBOY STEW?

The great thing about this recipe is that everything is cooked in one big pot. 

    1. Start by browning the ground beef with the chopped onion and garlic. Make sure to break down the meat as you cook it.

    2. Once the meat is cooked through, add the kielbasa, water, diced potatoes and drained diced tomatoes.

    3. Next add the pinto beans, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and whole kernel corn, all undrained.

    4. Mix in the frozen veggies and add the spices. Simmer for one hour.

    5. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.

RECIPE TIPS:

    1. For a leaner version, use ground chicken or turkey instead of beef

    2. If you want a thicker broth, add a tablespoon of tomato paste or use half water, half tomato sauce.

    3. If feeding this to children, I recommend not adding the diced tomatoes with green chiles or the red chili flakes.

    4. Serve it with sliced avocado on top or shredded cheddar cheese for added flavor.

    5. You can double this recipe if you need to feed a lot of people.

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CAN I MAKE TEXAS COWBOY STEW IN THE CROCKPOT?

You can, but you need to brown the ground beef with the onion and garlic first. Once you do this, you can add it to the crockpot with the rest of the ingredients and cook on low for 4 hours, or on high for 2.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH TEXAS COWBOY STEW?

This is a very hearty dish, so it may need something cold and fresh to counterbalance the richness of the meal. A side salad is perfect with this dish. Caesar salad is my favorite because it doesn’t have any tomatoes in it. The stew is very “tomatoey”, so I feel this is the perfect salad for it. Crusty bread is also amazing with stew so you can dunk it into the delicious broth.

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT:

• Dutch Oven
• Cast Iron Skillet

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