Description
Texas Cowboy Stew is a hearty and flavorful one-pot dish perfect for Christmas dinner, featuring ground beef, kielbasa sausage, potatoes, beans, and a blend of tomatoes and spices, delivering a rich and satisfying meal with a Tex-Mex twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Sausage
- 2 lb ground beef
- 2 packages kielbasa sausage, sliced into ½ inch pieces
Vegetables and Beans
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 medium baking potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 (10oz) package frozen mixed vegetables
- 2 (15oz) cans pinto beans, with liquid
- 1 (15.2oz) can whole kernel corn, drained
Tomatoes
- 2 (14.5oz) cans peeled and diced tomatoes, drained
- 2 (14.5oz) cans diced tomatoes with green chile pepper, with liquid
Liquids and Seasonings
- 4 cups of water
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Brown the Meat: In a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, add the ground beef and kielbasa slices. Cook until the beef is fully browned and the kielbasa is slightly caramelized, about 8-10 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the minced garlic and chopped onion to the pot with the meat. Cook together until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
- Add Vegetables and Beans: Stir in the peeled and diced potatoes, frozen mixed vegetables, pinto beans with liquid, and drained corn. Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients well.
- Incorporate Tomatoes and Seasonings: Pour in the drained peeled and diced tomatoes and the cans of diced tomatoes with green chile pepper, including their liquid. Add 4 cups of water along with the ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together to blend flavors evenly.
- Simmer the Stew: Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover the pot with a lid and let the stew simmer for about 45-60 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and all flavors meld beautifully. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Adjust Seasonings and Serve: Taste the stew and adjust salt, pepper, or spices as needed. Serve hot, ideally with warm crusty bread or over rice for a comforting Christmas dinner.
Notes
- For a thicker stew, mash some of the potatoes after cooking and stir them back in.
- Use low-sodium canned beans and tomatoes if watching salt intake.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors continue to develop.
- Add a dash of hot sauce or smoked paprika for extra heat and depth.
- Can be made a day ahead and reheated gently on stovetop or microwave.
Keywords: Texas Cowboy Stew, Christmas dinner recipe, kielbasa stew, hearty stew, Tex-Mex stew, ground beef stew, easy Christmas dinner