Cowboy Stew

Cowboy Stew is made from scratch and rich in flavor. It is a one pot wonder made with beans and other pantry staples like BBQ sauce, diced tomatoes and corn. Everything comes together in under 20 minutes and you can be sure this easy recipe will be a keeper for all your dinner ideas.

You will love this Cowboy Stew recipe in no time. I tell you why:

It starts all with one quick prep and everything goes in one pot. This is so delicious and flexible, really filling, budget friendly and tastes like it simmered hours and hours.

You don’t need to buy baked beans which can be pricey, because all the flavors and ingredients that you love are in the stew. I simply use pinto beans which are cheap and delicious.

Some recipes takes 90 minutes to make, but we do everything in under 20 minutes.

What is Cowboy Stew made of

I use mostly pantry staples for this stew recipe: olive oil, but any other oil will work, pinto beans for a great hearty flavor, texture and of course creaminess. 

Other recipe ingredients:

Vegan sausage and ground beef: these are important ingredients for a robust and meaty texture. You can use only one of them, but know that this will effect the final result.

BBQ sauce, vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, cider vinegar: these ingredients make an incredibly flavorful and tasty broth so amazing.

Brown sugar makes a great sweet touch into the pot creates the typical baked beans flavor.

You see I like a little bit heat and to add a bit of a kick. I find the combination of smoked paprika, mustard crushed red pepper and jalapenos adds a great balance to the other ingredients like BBQ sauce and brown sugar which are more of the sweeter side.

Corn and bell peppers give a nice crunchy contrast to our pinto beans. 

Cumin adds a earthiness and complexity.

How to make Cowboy Stew

In a large pot, heat olive oil. When hot, first add bell peppers, onions, and garlic. Cook for about 2 minutes, until lightly softened.

Then, follow up by adding the sausage and ground beef, and cook for an extra 2 minutes.

Next, add beans, vegetable broth, BBQ sauce, diced tomatoes, brown sugar, cumin, jalapenos, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, smoked paprika, mustard, corn and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Cook everything for 15 minutes in medium heat and serve.

Tips and tricks

Here is how you make the most out of this Cowboy Stew:

You can enjoy leftovers for around 4 days in the fridge. Warm on the stove or in the microwave.

For freezing: this is a great dish that freezes well. Transfer into a freezer container or bags and you’re good to go. You can freeze for 3 months.

What to serve: think about Easy Jalapeno Cornbread, Artisan Bread (one bowl, Dutch oven), or Cheddar Bay Biscuits. 

You can scale down the heat if you prefer a milder stew.

Other recipes to try

• Pomodoro Sauce
• Mujadara
• Sweet and Sour Cauliflower
• Lemon Pasta

If you try this Cowboy Stew, I always love hearing from you with a tag on Instagram or Facebook.

Enjoy, Florian.