Description
This hearty Cowboy Stew is a flavorful and filling one-pot meal featuring a mix of smoky bacon, kielbasa sausage, ground beef, vegetables, and beans. Slow-simmered to meld all the savory ingredients together, this stew is perfect for a comforting dinner that feeds a crowd with its rich, robust taste and satisfying textures.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 2 (12-ounce) packages kielbasa sausage, cut into 1/2 inch slices
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, 80/20
Vegetables & Beans
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, with liquid
- 2 (16-ounce) cans baked beans or ranch beans, with liquid
- 1 (7-ounce) can chopped green chilies, with liquid
- 1 (15-ounce) can sweet corn, with liquid
- 2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
Seasonings & Other
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook Bacon: In a large pot, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until it becomes brown and crispy. Once done, transfer the bacon onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain the excess fat and set aside.
- Brown Kielbasa: Using the bacon drippings left in the pot, brown the kielbasa sausage slices on both sides. After they are nicely browned, remove them from the pot and set aside with the bacon.
- Brown Ground Beef with Aromatics: In the same pot, add ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic. Cook until the beef is browned and the onions are softened. Sprinkle the flour, salt, black pepper, and chili powder over the beef mixture and stir well, cooking for about 1 minute to combine flavors and thicken slightly.
- Add Remaining Ingredients and Simmer: Pour in the diced tomatoes (including liquid), baked beans, chopped green chilies, sweet corn, peeled and cubed potatoes, cooked bacon, browned kielbasa, and water. Stir to combine all ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and cover the pot. Let the stew simmer gently for 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and to ensure even cooking. Add more water as needed to maintain your desired stew consistency.
- Garnish and Serve: Once the potatoes are tender and the stew is thickened to your liking, remove from heat. Sprinkle chopped parsley over the stew as a fresh garnish before serving. Enjoy warm.
Notes
- If preferred, substitute baked beans with ranch beans for a slightly different flavor.
- Adding more chili powder or a dash of cayenne pepper can spice up the stew.
- For thicker stew, reduce the added water slightly or let it simmer uncovered for the last 10-15 minutes.
- This stew keeps well and tastes even better the next day after flavors have melded.
- Serve with crusty bread or over rice for a complete meal.
