Slow Cooker Cowboy Stew is a hearty, budget-friendly comfort food all in one pot! It brings the robustness of traditional chili or beef stew, with a Tex-Mex twist, featuring beans, sliced sausage links, and corn. Serve a piping-hot bowl with a slice of cornbread or a biscuit for a delicious, ultra-filling meal!

overhead view of two bowls of cowboy stew, one on a tan placemat, one gold spoon and white slow cooker in the background

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What is Cowboy Stew?

Cowboy stew is a one-pot, western-style stew known for its heartiness and the convenience of cooking it all together over a campfire or oven.

Traditional cowboy stew blends beef, sausage links, beans, and veggies into a thick, filling stew that keeps you satisfied for hours! Unlike classic chili, cowboy stew includes more broth, sausage, and potatoes, rather than just ground meat.

Many Irish and beef stews contain similar ingredients – especially with the signature potatoes – but cowboy stew offers more of a Tex-Mex flavor profile with the addition of beans and corn.

What’s To Love About This Recipe

Even if you’re not a soup lover, you’ll love the heartiness of cowboy stew! Throw this meal together from easy pantry staples with minimal effort.
This stew includes not one, but two delicious proteins – ground beef and smoked sausage – for extra-filling nutrition and flavor.
This is the perfect dump-and-go recipe to prep in a slow cooker. After you brown the ground beef, add everything to the slow cooker and let it simmer like the old days!
This stew is naturally budget-friendly and a great option for feeding a crowd when you want something a little different than traditional large-group meals.
It’s flexible to adjust the spice level and customize with various add-ins.

Ingredients Needed

Ground beef – Brown lean ground beef for plenty of rich flavor in the stew.
Smoked sausage – Choose smoky sausage links to slice into rounds. This adds a western element and extra savory flavor.
Pinto beans – Grab a can of pinto beans for convenience, and drain and rinse to remove excess starch and sodium.
Black beans – A can of rinsed and drained black beans is another easy way to add protein and fiber to the stew.
Corn – A can of sweet corn, drained and rinsed, adds a nice balance to the smoky, savory flavors.
Potatoes – To keep it simple, use a can of drained, sliced potatoes, or if you prefer a more rustic touch, peel and dice 2 medium-sized fresh potatoes such as yellow golds or russets.
Fire-roasted diced tomatoes – Fire-roasted tomatoes add some spice and extra smokiness to the stew, replicating that open-fire aroma.
Diced tomatoes with green chilies – A can of diced tomatoes and chilies adds the southwestern appeal with a bit more spice. (Don’t drain this one – you will use the liquid, too!)
Beef broth – Create your base with rich, savory beef broth. Use regular, reduced-sodium, or bone broth for different nutritional needs.
Homemade chili seasoning – This is the key ingredient that brings all the smoky, hearty flavors together! I love mixing up this blend with only 4 ingredients for a clean, simple profile that deepens any dish.

ingredients to include bowls of smoked sausage, ground beef, pinto beans, black beans, corn, sliced potatoes, diced tomatoes, diced tomatoes with chilis, chili seasoning, and a measuring cup of beef broth

How To Make Slow Cooker Cowboy Stew

In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until no longer pink, then drain excess grease if needed.

frying pan containing browned ground beef with a wooden spatula on the side

Add ground beef, smoked sausage, beans, corn, potatoes, fire-roasted tomatoes, tomatoes with green chilies, beef broth, and chili seasoning to a 6-quart slow cooker, and stir well.

white slow cooker containing all ingredients

Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until the potatoes (if using fresh) are tender and flavors are blended.
Stir, taste, and adjust seasoning if needed before serving.

white slow cooker with completed cowboy stew

Pro Tips

This stew is thick and hearty, but you can add extra broth to thin it out to a soupier consistency if you like.
Browning the ground beef first enhances the stew’s flavor and texture. Use a lean version and drain excess grease as needed.
For a thicker broth, mash some of the beans or potatoes, or reduce the amount of liquid slightly.
Customize with toppings like shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, green onions, or tortilla chips.
Prepare the stew ahead of cooking and let it sit in the fridge for up to 24 hours so the flavors will deepen. You can leave the ground beef out until assembly, or else be sure that it has completely cooled before adding it to the other ingredients in the fridge.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Swap out your protein with ground chicken or turkey for a leaner option, or just use cooked ground sausage.
Want a spicier version? Add even more chili seasoning or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
For a smokier flavor, toss in a little smoked paprika or canned, diced chipotle peppers in adobo.
Instead of pinto or black beans, try kidney beans, or a combination of all!
Sneak some extra veggies into your meal by adding chopped bell peppers, zucchini, or jalapeños.
If you use fresh potatoes, make sure they’re diced into small pieces so that they cook evenly in the slow cooker.

overhead closeup of white slow cooker of cowboy stew with black ladle

Stovetop Cowboy Stew

Brown the meat in a large Dutch oven and prepare the ingredients as directed.
Add all ingredients to the pot and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender.

How To Serve Cowboy Stew

Serve a steaming bowl of cowboy stew as a standalone meal with a side of hot cornbread, Easy Buttermilk Drop Biscuits, or warmed tortillas.

For a heartier dish, add a scoop of stew over a bowl of rice for a filling Tex-Mex bowl.

Add a fresh green salad for balance or a plate of sliced raw veggies for crunch with a side of ranch made with my Homemade Ranch Seasoning Recipe.

overhead view of bowls of cowboy stew on checkered napkin, two gold spoons and dish of parsley

Storing and Reheating

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store leftover stew in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Freezer

Freeze in portions in sealed bags or containers for up to 3 months (be aware that the texture of the potatoes may soften when defrosted).

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

Reheat leftover stew gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, and add a splash of broth to thin if needed.