Description
This hearty Cowboy Stew is a flavorful one-pot meal combining kielbasa, lean ground beef, vegetables, beans, and potatoes in a savory tomato and beef broth base. It’s a satisfying and robust dish perfect for a family dinner, featuring a blend of spices like chili powder and cumin with fresh herbs for garnish.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (divided, plus additional as needed)
- 13 ounces kielbasa (cut into ¼-inch-thick coins)
- 1 pound lean ground beef (90/10)
Vegetables
- ½ medium yellow onion (diced, about 1 cup)
- 2 medium carrots (diced into ¼-inch pieces, about 1 cup)
- 1 red bell pepper (diced, about 1 cup)
- 3 garlic cloves (minced, about 1 tablespoon)
- 2 cups diced butter potatoes (about 7 small potatoes)
- 1 (13-ounce) bag frozen mixed peas and corn
Pantry
- 1½ teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 cups low-sodium beef broth (divided)
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can kidney or pinto beans
Garnish
- Chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Brown Kielbasa: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the kielbasa slices and cook undisturbed until browned and crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the browned kielbasa to a plate and set aside.
- Sear Ground Beef: Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the same pot and heat over medium. Place the ground beef in a single piece and sear undisturbed until browned, about 3 minutes. Flip and sear the other side for 2 to 3 minutes. Then break the beef into four pieces and continue cooking for about another minute. Break it further into small crumbles and transfer to a plate; it does not need to be fully cooked at this stage.
- Sauté Vegetables and Spices: If the pot is dry, add a drizzle of olive oil. Add the diced onions, carrots, and red bell pepper to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, and kosher salt, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Deglaze and Combine Ingredients: Pour in about 1 cup of beef broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits. Then add the remaining broth and the canned crushed tomatoes. Return the seared ground beef with its juices and the cooked kielbasa to the pot along with the diced potatoes and canned beans.
- Simmer Stew: Bring the mixture to a simmer, reduce the heat to low to maintain a gentle simmer, and cook for 12 to 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
- Add Frozen Vegetables and Finish: Stir in the frozen peas and corn, cooking for an additional 1 to 2 minutes until they are heated through and bright green. Serve the stew hot, garnished with chopped fresh cilantro.
Notes
- This hearty cowboy stew combines ground beef, kielbasa, beans, potatoes, and vegetables, making it a filling one-pot meal packed with flavor.
- Using a Dutch oven or large stock pot ensures even cooking and good browning of meats and vegetables.
- You can substitute kidney beans with pinto beans or your preferred legume.
- For a spicier stew, consider adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or a diced jalapeño in the sauté step.
- Leftovers store well and taste even better the next day as flavors meld.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (of 8 servings)
- Calories: 445 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 67 mg
