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Cowboy Stew

Cowboy stew is a hearty ranch-style American main dish simmered until the potatoes turn tender and the broth tastes smoky. It’s built with browned ground beef and smoked sausage, plus beans, corn, and Rotel for bold flavor.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 560
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cowboy stew base
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 12 oz smoked sausage
  • 1 lb baby potatoes
  • 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans drained
  • 1 can (15 oz) corn drained
  • 1 can (10 oz) Rotel tomatoes
  • 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 1 onion diced
  • 3 garlic minced
  • 4 cup beef broth
  • 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 salt to taste
  • 0.5 pepper to taste
  • 0.25 shredded cheddar for serving
  • 0.25 jalapeños for serving
  • 0.25 green onions for serving

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Brown the meat
  1. Brown the ground beef in a large pot until cooked through, then drain the fat. Brown the smoked sausage slices briefly, then remove to a plate.
  2. Sauté the onion for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Build the stew
  1. Add the chili powder and smoked paprika, and cook for 1 minute to bloom the spices. Stir in the Rotel tomatoes, diced tomatoes, beef broth, ranch seasoning, baby potatoes, and pinto beans, then bring the mixture to a boil.
  2. Simmer for 15-18 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender. Add the corn and the browned sausage.
  3. Simmer for 5 more minutes, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with shredded cheddar, jalapeños, and green onions on top.

Notes

Pro tip: drain the beef fat for a cleaner flavor and to keep the stew from feeling greasy. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 4 days; freeze up to 3 months (thaw overnight and reheat gently). For a lighter option, use lean ground beef and reduce the cheese topping amount, while keeping the ranch seasoning and smoked paprika for the same smoky ranch flavor.