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    Home » Recipes » Slow Cooker

    Easy Cowboy Stew Recipe (Slow Cooker)

    Published: Dec 23, 2022 · Modified: Oct 28, 2024 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. 14 Comments

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    This easy cowboy stew recipe with chunks of beef, potatoes, beans, and vegetables in tomato sauce makes a tasty, hearty and satisfying one pot meal.

    Cowboy beef stew in a white colored bowl with a spoon on a wooden table.

    My grandmother used to cook this old-fashioned cowboy stew all day on low and it was always so yummy!  I didn't realize how easy this satisfying meal was until I was much older. 

    I do remember how wonderful the house smelled when my grandmother would make this stew. You could smell it from the street!

    I also have to mention that including baked beans in tomato sauce adds so much flavor, and it tastes even better the next day! 

    If you love the flavors in this hearty, satisfying dish you might also enjoy this spicy beef stew, Guinness beef stew or Pork Stew in the Slow Cooker.

    Why You Will Love Cowboy Stew Crockpot

    • Cowboy stew crockpot is a hearty, rustic beef stew that's loaded with flavor.
    • It's the perfect meal to feed a family, especially during the fall and winter.
    • It's loaded with beef and vegetables, and it has a great kick of flavor and heat.

    Ingredients You Need

    This super easy slow cooker cowboy stew recipe only uses a few simple ingredients. You'll find them all easily at your local grocery store.

    Ingredients to make slow cooker cowboy stew on the table.
    • Stewing beef: An inexpensive cut of beef that's perfect for cooking beef stew with beans in the slow cooker. It's a tougher cut of meat which makes it so budget-friendly but cooking it in the slow cooker makes it tender and succulent.
    • Baked beans in tomato sauce: Found in the canned beans aisle of the grocery store, it adds more flavor than plain cooked beans.
    • Baby or mini potatoes: Simplifies the prep as they only need to be cut in half.
    • Veggies: We will be adding corn, carrots, onions, and canned tomatoes to our cowboy beef stew.
    • Barbecue sauce: This transforms our stew into a traditional Texas cowboy stew slow cooker with it's tangy, sweet flavor.
    • Spices: Chili powder and black pepper is all you need!

    See the recipe card at the end of the post for exact quantities.

    How to Make Cowboy Beef Stew

    This delicious slow cooker cowboy beef stew recipe couldn't be easier to make. The entire recipe is basically a matter of pouring and letting the slow cooker do its thing. That's it!

    1. Place the beef in the bottom of the slow cooker.
    2. Add the beans over the top.
    3. Add the tomatoes, corn, carrots and onion to the pot.
    Beef placed in the crockpot to make cowboy stew.
    Beans are added on top of the beef stew meat inside the slow cooker.
    Veggies are added to the slow cooker.
    1. Add the sauce and seasoning to the slow cooker.
    2. Top with the potatoes cut into bite sized pieces.
    3. Mix everything together.
    The sauce and seasonings are added to the other ingredients inside a slow cooker.
    Potatoes are added to the other cowboy stew ingredients inside a slow cooker.
    Ingredients for slow cooker cowboy beef stew are mixed together for cooking.
    1. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. If your meat still seems a bit chewy after the allotted time, allow stew to simmer another 15 to 20 minutes and check it again. Keep checking every 15-20 minutes and have some patience, eventually your beef will transition from tough to tender.

    TOP TIP: It's important to give this stew plenty of time to cook in the slow cooker. Don't rush it, or you won't have beef that's nice and tender.

    Closeup overhead photo of cooked cowboy stew in the slow cooker.

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Spicy: Add some smoked paprika, cayenne pepper or fresh sliced jalapenos (or your favorite hot pepper) for a spicy kick. Our jalapeno powder, chipotle powder, or dried jalapenos are also a fabulous addition.
    • Fresh Herbs: Consider adding some fresh herbs once your stew is cooked. Aside from thyme, fresh herbs lose flavor as they simmer and that's why we add dried spices at the beginning and fresh spices at the end of recipes. Try a sprinkling of diced, fresh, parsley, tarragon, oregano or rosemary right before serving, if desired.
    • Beef: It's important to use beef cuts suitable for a stew to ensure the stewed beef is tender. If you can't find a package of stew meat, choose cuts like any chuck roast or chuck shoulder, Brisket, Bottom Round, Eye or Rump Roast, Top Round, or Round Tip Roast.
    • Add Sausage: Some versions of crockpot cowboy stew add sliced kielbasa sausage using two kinds of meat.
    • Added Savory Flavor: Add a little worcestershire sauce or soy sauce.
    • Add Sweetness: A little brown sugar or honey can go a long way.

    If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this creole steak stew, my grandma's beef stew or pork stew in the slow cooker.

    Storage

    Refrigerator: Store leftover stew in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

    Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container.

    Reheat: Place the stew in a pot and heat on medium-low until heated through.

    Make Ahead: The stew is even better the next day. Feel free to make it the day before you plan to serve it.

    What to Serve with Cowboy Beef Stew

    Beef stew is a wonderful dish that pairs well with so many things and should not be served all by itself.

    Fresh crusty bread or baguette work great to soak up all the gravy or sauce on the bottom of your bowl or plate. We often make these amazing corn muffins that are so good and were made for this stew.

    Some other great ideas include:

    • Garlic bread
    • Broccoli cornbread
    • Mashed potatoes
    • No bake chocolate pie (I had to include this pie, I just love it!)

    Check out even more great ideas on this list of what to serve with beef stew.

    Tips

    • Choose the right meat. Use tough, leaner cuts with minimal fat from the cow's front shoulder or rear end with connective tissue for juicy and tender meat that also naturally thickens and enhances the flavor of your stew.
    • Don't rush this stew. It needs plenty of time to cook and the longer the better.
    • Add hearty root vegetables like parsnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, winter squash or potatoes at the start and save less sturdy vegetables for the end of the recipe's cook time so you don't end up with mushy vegetables.
    • Cook this cowboy beef stew with the lid on top to keep all of the liquid inside the stew and the flavors and heat evenly distributed. If your stew looks too watery, remove the lid for the last hour or so to allow some of the liquid to evaporate and create a stew with a thicker consistency and more concentrated flavor.
    • Taste before serving to see if it needs anything else added to it to create the perfect stew for you.
    Overhead photo of cooked cowboy stew in the slow cooker. The stew is topped with freshly chopped parsley.

    FAQ

    What is stew?

    Stew is essentially thicker, chunkier soup. While soups have a thin liquid and bite-size vegetables, stews have a very thick liquid and chunky ingredients.

    Is it safe to put raw meat in a slow cooker?

    Absolutely. Slow cookers were designed to cook raw food.

    Why is my beef tough?

    If the beef in your stew is tough, you likely either didn't cook it long enough or you used a cut of beef that didn't have enough fat or connective tissue.

    More Slow Cooker Beef Recipes

    • Slow Cooker Beef Tacos
    • Slow Cooker Balsamic Beef Roast on plate with mashed potatoes.
      Slow Cooker Balsamic Beef Roast
    • Slow Cooker Beef, Beer and Onion Stew
      Slow Cooker Beef, Beer and Onion Stew
    • Guinness Beef Stew

    Check out our video below so you can see just how easy this supper sensation is to prepare! 

    Grandma's Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Beef Stew Video

    YouTube video

    Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

    A bowl of cowboy stew on the table ready to eat.

    Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Stew

    Karin and Ken
    This easy cowboy stew recipe with chunks of beef, potatoes, beans, and vegetables in tomato sauce makes a tasty, hearty and satisfying one pot meal.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 4 hours hrs
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 571 kcal

    Equipment

    • large slow cooker
    • can opener
    • wooden spoon
    • ladle
    • Sharp knife
    • cutting board

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 pounds stewing beef
    • 2 cans baked beans in tomato sauce 14 ounce cans
    • 1 ½ pounds potatoes baby or mini, cut in half
    • 12 ounce can of corn drained
    • 1 cup carrots sliced, chopped or diced
    • ¾ cup onions chopped
    • 1 cup barbecue sauce
    • 28 ounce canned diced tomatoes
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
    • 1 teaspoon pepper optional
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Spread stewing beef across bottom of your slow cooker. 
    • Pour beans on top and stir to combine. 
    • Add tomatoes, corn, carrots, onions, garlic, chili powder, barbecue sauce and potatoes. 
    • Stir until blended. 
    • Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.  Serve and enjoy! 

    Notes

    • Choose the right meat. Use tough, leaner cuts with minimal fat from the cow's front shoulder or rear end with connective tissue for juicy and tender meat that also naturally thickens and enhances the flavor of your stew.
    • Don't rush this stew. It needs plenty of time to cook and the longer the better.
    • Add hearty root vegetables like parsnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, winter squash or potatoes at the start and save less sturdy vegetables for the end of the recipe's cook time so you don't end up with mushy vegetables.
    • Cook this cowboy beef stew with the lid on top to keep all of the liquid inside the stew and the flavors and heat evenly distributed. If your stew looks too watery, remove the lid for the last hour or so to allow some of the liquid to evaporate and create a stew with a thicker consistency and more concentrated flavor.
    • Taste before serving to see if it needs anything else added to it to create the perfect stew for you.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 571kcalCarbohydrates: 86gProtein: 40gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 1428mgPotassium: 1819mgFiber: 16gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 3281IUVitamin C: 35mgCalcium: 196mgIron: 8mg
    Keyword cowboy beef stew, cowboy stew, slow cooker cowboy stew
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
     

    This post was originally published December 2017. It has been republished with new images and content.

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    Comments

    1. David J Leedy says

      May 18, 2024 at 8:20 pm

      5 stars
      I am 66 years old and never considered myself to be a great cook. I've made meatloaf, spaghetti, steak (so, so), but this meal rocked! I would eat this this almost every day. Thanks to whomever created and posted this.

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        May 18, 2024 at 8:21 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for letting me know. You made my day. All the best. Karin

    2. Melanie E. says

      February 15, 2022 at 10:53 am

      5 stars
      We absolutely loved the stew! We have made it twice now. It was a little sweet for us, so substituted canned dark kidney beans for the baked beans and it worked out great! Thank you for the best stew recipe I have ever tried!

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        February 18, 2022 at 10:56 am

        You made my day! I'm so glad you enjoy this stew too! 💕 Take care. Karin

    3. India says

      August 25, 2020 at 7:07 pm

      5 stars
      I have made this stew three or four times now and we always love it. Great for church potlucks. Thank you

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        September 22, 2020 at 1:35 pm

        Glad to hear you're enjoying this stew! We love it too! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! All the best. Karin

    4. Anonymous says

      September 05, 2019 at 7:40 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        September 05, 2019 at 7:58 pm

        I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to let me know! So happy you enjoyed it! I love this stew and am happy I am not the only one! ? Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! Take care and all the best to you! Karin

    5. Lauren says

      September 05, 2019 at 2:39 pm

      I have a picky toddler who doesn't like the texture of tomatoes. Can I sub tomato juice/sauce? if so, how much do you think?

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        September 05, 2019 at 3:55 pm

        You bet you can! I think both will work. Your Stew will be thicker with a tomato sauce and less soupy if you know what I mean. I think this dish will taste great both ways. I would add 2 cups to start with and check the stew periodically to make sure there is enough liquid. I suspect there definitely will be! Please if you don’t mind let me know if this stew works out for you. I am dying to hear how everything went! Regardless take care and all the best. Karin

    6. Sandra says

      April 01, 2019 at 1:26 am

      5 stars
      My daughter made this for dinner tonight and it was absolutely delicious.

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        April 01, 2019 at 10:57 am

        So happy to hear you enjoyed it as much as we do! I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to let me know! It always makes my day when I hear that someone likes a recipe that I put on our site! Hopefully you will find some other recipes that you enjoy just as much! Take care and all the best! Karin

    7. Ellie says

      November 11, 2018 at 10:16 am

      5 stars
      It looks good. Can I do it on stove

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        November 11, 2018 at 11:03 am

        You bet you can. Do everything the exact same way but the stew will be ready sooner and you will have to stir more frequently. Depending on how high of a temperature you cook it on and at the rate the stew simmers at. This is a favorite around here. Please let me know what you think when you try it. I would love to hear! Take care and all the best. Karin

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    Welcome!

    We are the kitchen divas: Karin and my partner in life, Ken.

    We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

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