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HomeHealthy FoodHearty Cowboy Stew (Packed With Protein!)

Hearty Cowboy Stew (Packed With Protein!)

Cowboy Stew

Mosey on as much as the kitchen desk and dig into this hearty Cowboy Stew! With floor beef, kielbasa, beans, tender potatoes, and veggies simmered in a seasoned tomato base, it’s received chili vibes however packs in much more satisfaction. Yee haw!

Hearty Cowboy Stew (Packed With Protein!)

A hearty dinner your entire household will love!

cookbook author erin clarke of well plated

Cowboy stew has a enjoyable title, however this can be a recipe with some SERIOUS satisfaction.

What makes it so darn good? Let’s dig in!

  • Hearty and Packed With Protein. With 28 grams per serving (and leftovers so you possibly can have a protein-packed lunch tomorrow!), this can be a recipe that fills you up with out weighing you down.
  • Simple Sufficient for Weeknights. Cowboy stew comes collectively in below an hour and each a part of the method is straightforward—just like Wholesome Turkey Chili, Vegetarian Chiliand different chili recipes. It’s additionally a whole meal in a single pot, which suggests fewer dishes to wash!
  • Child-Pleasant Dinner. I imply, the title alone just about ensures this recipe will probably be a success with the kiddos—and though cowboy stew is spiced, it’s not spicyso it has a light taste good for choosy eaters. (Try this Cowboy Rooster recipe too.)

5 Star Evaluate

“This stew was completely wonderful! I cherished the way it all got here along with easy components however nonetheless tasted like I had spent hours cooking. The sausage offers it a pleasant kick, and the potatoes absorb all that great taste.”

— Belinda —

Overhead view of cowboy stew in bowl with spoon

Key Elements

You’ll discover the total record of components within the recipe card under, however listed below are some notes to bear in mind.

  • Sausage. Kielbasa is a smoked Polish sausage. You might use one other sort of sausage you want, though kielbasa is the go-to for cowboy stew. Swap turkey sausage for a lighter model.
  • Floor Beef. I exploit lean floor beef (90/10) on this recipe.
  • Greens. Yellow onion, carrots, crimson bell pepper, and garlic cloves kind the bottom of taste.
  • Seasonings. Chili powder, floor cumin, and kosher salt give cowboy stew a style paying homage to chili.
  • Low-Sodium Beef Broth. I want low-sodium broth as a result of it offers me extra management over the completed taste. For those who solely have common, that’s high-quality however cut back on the salt.
  • Crushed Tomatoes. Crushed tomatoes give the bottom extra texture than tomato sauce, however they’re extra damaged down than diced tomatoes. In different phrases: a cheerful medium!
  • Butter Potatoes. Potatoes are one of many key variations between chili and cowboy stew. They add additional heartiness to this dish!
  • Beans. You should use kidney or pinto beans. 
  • Frozen Blended Peas and Corn. Protecting the stew fast and straightforward! For those who’re not a fan of one of many two, you possibly can simply use all peas or all corn.
  • Cilantro. For garnish; it provides a pop of colour and punches up the flavour.

Easy methods to Make Cowboy Stew

Prepare dinner the Kielbasa. Get it browned and crispy on each side.

Brown the Beef. Add the remaining oil and brown the bottom beef.

Sauté the Veggies. Prepare dinner the onions, carrots and bell pepper till softened, then stir within the garlic and seasonings. 

Deglaze. Add a cup of broth and scrape up the browned bits from the underside of the pan. Then add the remaining broth and tomatoes.

Simmer. Prepare dinner for 12 to fifteen minutes over low warmth.

End. Stir within the frozen peas and corn. Ladle the cowboy stew into bowls and serve with cilantro for garnish. ENJOY!

Recipe Variations

  • Make It Spicy. For extra warmth in your cowboy stew, add sizzling sauce, cayenne, or jalapeño pepper.
  • Add Bacon. Some variations of cowboy stew are made with bacon. Sound intriguing? Prepare dinner the bacon after the kielbasa, switch it to a plate, and break it into items as soon as it cools. You possibly can cook dinner the bottom beef within the fats from the bacon. Stir the bacon into the stew with the kielbasa and beef.
  • Strive Some Completely different Garnishes. Stir in bitter cream or Greek yogurt to make it creamy, sprinkle shredded cheddar or crumbly cotija excessive, or add crushed Fritos for a crunchy topper.
Texas cowboy stew in bowl

What to Serve with Cowboy Stew

  • Salad. Cowboy stew is a whole meal in a bowl, however you possibly can stretch it a bit additional by pairing it with kid-friendly Fruit Salad on the aspect.
  • Bread. Serve your stew with Home made Dinner Rolls for absorbing the broth.
  • Cornbread. If you wish to stick to the Southwestern theme, serve your cowboy stew with a aspect of Jalapeno Cornbread or Mexican Cornbread.
  • Rice. For a good heartier meal, serve the stew over white rice or brown rice.
Cowboy stew in pot

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Cowboy Stew

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With floor beef, kielbasa, beans, potatoes and veggies, this hearty cowboy stew recipe is tremendous satisfying! A one pot meal filled with taste!
Course Dinner, Major Course, Soup
Delicacies American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Prepare dinner Time 40 minutes
Whole Time 50 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Energy 445kcal

Elements

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil divided, plus extra as wanted
  • 13 ounces sausage minimize into ¼-inch-thick cash
  • 1 pound lean floor beef 90/10
  • ½ medium yellow onion diced, about 1 cup
  • 2 medium carrots diced into ¼-inch items, about 1 cup
  • 1 crimson bell pepper diced, about 1 cup
  • 3 garlic cloves minced, about 1 tablespoon
  • 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 cups low-sodium beef broth divided
  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 cups diced butter potatoes about 7 small potatoes
  • 1 (15-ounce) can kidney or pinto beans
  • 1 (13-ounce) bag frozen blended peas and corn
  • Chopped recent cilantro for garnish

Directions

  • Warmth 1 tablespoon of the oil in a big inventory pot or Dutch oven over medium warmth. Add the kielbasa and cook dinner, undisturbed, till browned and crisp, about 2 minutes per aspect. Switch to a plate.
    Kielbasa cooking in pot
  • Warmth the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the identical pot over medium warmth. Add the meat in a single piece and sear, undisturbed, till browned, about 3 minutes. Flip and sear the opposite aspect till browned, about 2 to three minutes. Break the block into 4 items and proceed to cook dinner for one more minute or so, then break into small crumbles. Switch the meat to a plate–don’t fear if it’s not cooked via.
    Ground beef cooking in pot
  • If the pot is dry, add one other drizzle of olive oil. Add the onions, carrots, and bell pepper and cook dinner, stirring sometimes, till softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, and salt, and cook dinner for 1 minute, till aromatic.
    Vegetables cooking in pot
  • Add about 1 cup of the broth and scrape up any browned bits on the underside of the pot. Add the remaining broth and tomatoes, together with the meat and any juices which have collected, the kielbasa, potatoes, and beans.
    Pouring tomatoes into pot of cowboy stew
  • Deliver to a simmer, scale back the warmth to low to take care of a simmer, and cook dinner for 12 to fifteen minutes, till the potatoes are tender.
  • Add the frozen peas and corn and cook dinner till shiny inexperienced, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve sizzling, garnished with cilantro.
    Peas and corn added to cowboy stew

Notes

  • TO STORE: Switch cowboy stew to an hermetic container and retailer within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
  • TO REHEAT: Reheat the stew on the stovetop over medium warmth, stirring sometimes, till warmed via. You can even reheat within the microwave.
  • TO FREEZE: Switch the stew to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. Freeze for as much as 3 months; thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating. (Notice that potatoes don’t freeze very nicely, so they are going to be a bit mealy afterwards. Since they’re not the principle ingredient right here, it’s not that noticeable.)

Diet

Serving: 1(of 8) | Energy: 445kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 28g | Fats: 21g | Saturated Fats: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 10g | Trans Fats: 0.2g | Ldl cholesterol: 67mg | Potassium: 1.462mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 3.52IU | Vitamin C: 53mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 5mg

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