Texas Cowboy Stew is a hearty dish loaded with ground beef, smoked sausage, bacon, potatoes, corn, beans and diced tomatoes all in a flavourful beef broth.
Texas Cowboy Stew is the perfect comfort food for cold weather.
Cowboy stew is a rustic one dish meal loaded with meat and veggies.
This stew recipe takes about forty-five minutes from start to finish and serves up to eight people.
Printable Recipe Card with a Full List of Ingredients and Instructions is Located at the Bottom of the Post.
Be sure to read through the entire post so that you don’t miss out on any important tips and tricks!
To make this stew, I started by cooking and crumbling some bacon, slicing smoked sausages and chopping some onion and potatoes.
I added some ground beef to a large Dutch oven over medium heat.
I added the diced onions and some minced garlic to the pot.
I crumbled the ground beef well as it cooked.
Once the ground beef was fully browned, I drained the grease from the pot.
I added the sliced smoked sausage and crumbled bacon to the pot.
I stirred well and continued cooking until the sausage was heated through.
I added the diced potatoes to the pot.
I stirred the ingredients together well.
I added some kidney beans, black beans, corn and diced tomatoes to the pot.
I stirred all of the ingredients together.
Then I added some beef broth, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper to the pot.
I stirred well again.
I brought the mixture to a simmer, then reduced the heat to low and placed a lid on the pot.
I let the stew simmer for about twenty minutes until the potatoes were tender.
I added some shredded cheddar to the pot.
I stirred the cheese into the stew.
Then the cowboy stew was ready to serve.
I served my stew with some cornbread.
Saddle up for a taste of the Wild West with this hearty Cowboy Stew.
This iconic American frontier dish brings together tender chunks of ground beef, slices of smoked sausage, a medley of beans, corn and a blend of smoky southwestern spices.
Simmered to perfection in a savory tomato and beef broth, this stew is a rustic and soul-warming delight.
This ground beef and sausage stew is perfect for a fall or winter dinner.
If you are looking for an easy ground beef stew recipe, then you need to try this Texas Cowboy Stew!
More Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes You’ll Love…
PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE RECIPE CAN BE FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make This Texas Cowboy Stew:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 package (14 ounces) skinless smoked sausage, sliced
- 4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 ounces) corn kernels, drained
- 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 2 1/2 cups beef broth
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, optional
How to Make Texas Cowboy Stew:
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef, onion, and minced garlic over medium heat until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the sliced smoked sausage and crumbled cooked bacon to the pot. Stir and cook for a few minutes until the sausage is heated through.
- Add the diced potatoes to the pot and stir to combine.
- Stir in the kidney beans, black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes (with their juice).
- Add the beef broth, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the stew simmer for about 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the flavors are well combined.
- Optional step: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Serve and enjoy!
FAQS:
How should I store my cowboy stew?
To store your Cowboy Stew, allow it to cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerate the stew within 2 hours of cooking, and it can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. If you’d like to store it for a longer period, portion it into individual servings, place them in airtight containers, and freeze for up to 2-3 months. When reheating, thaw frozen stew in the refrigerator overnight before reheating on the stove or in the microwave until heated through.
What substitutions could I make?
- Beef: I prefer to use 80/20, but any fat content will work. Just drain any excess grease off after cooking.
- Onion: I used a yellow onion, but feel free to use white.
- Garlic: You can use garlic powder instead. I would use 1/2 teaspoon.
- Smoked sausage: I used Eckrich Skinless Smoked Sausage in this recipe, but if you want to switch up the sausage, you can use other types of sausages such as chorizo, kielbasa, or Italian sausage. Choose a variety that matches your flavor preferences.
- Bacon: I prefer cooking bacon myself, but feel free to purchase store bought
cooked and crumbled bacon. - Potatoes: Feel free to substitute the potatoes with sweet potatoes, butternut
squash, or turnips for a different flavor profile. - Kidney beans: You can use other types of beans such as pinto beans, navy beans, or cannellini beans if you prefer.
- Corn: If you’re not a fan of corn, you can omit it.
- Diced tomatoes: Instead of canned diced tomatoes you can use a can of Rotel
instead. - Beef broth: Swap beef broth for chicken or vegetable broth if you prefer. For a richer flavor, you can use beef or vegetable stock.
- Paprika: I love using smoked paprika in this recipe, but regular works fine.
- Cheese: This is an optional ingredient, if you wish to leave it out, it will not affect the recipe.
What should I serve with cowboy stew?
Cornbread: Classic cornbread is a perfect partner to the stew, offering a slightly sweet and crumbly contrast.
Crackers or Bread: A basket of crackers or rustic bread slices provides a simple
accompaniment for dipping and scooping.
Biscuits: Fluffy biscuits are great for sopping up the flavorful broth of the stew.
Coleslaw: A refreshing coleslaw with a tangy dressing balances the rich flavors of the stew.
Green Salad: A crisp green salad with fresh vegetables and a light vinaigrette adds a refreshing element to the meal.
Texas Cowboy Stew

Texas Cowboy Stew is a hearty dish loaded with ground beef, smoked sausage, bacon, potatoes, corn, beans and diced tomatoes all in a flavourful beef broth.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 package (14 ounces) skinless smoked sausage, sliced
- 4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 ounces) corn kernels, drained
- 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 2 1/2 cups beef broth
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, optional
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef, onion, and minced garlic over medium heat until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the sliced smoked sausage and crumbled cooked bacon to the pot. Stir and cook for a few minutes until the sausage is heated through.
- Add the diced potatoes to the pot and stir to combine.
- Stir in the kidney beans, black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes (with their juice).
- Add the beef broth, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the stew simmer for about 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the flavors are well combined.
- Optional step: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 402Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 967mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 5gSugar: 7gProtein: 28g
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