This Instant Pot Texas Cowboy Stew is incredibly easy to make and is satisfying with every mouthful. The ideal family meal that you can whip up with minimal effort. Texas Cowboy Stew is rich in fantastic flavors from the chili and cumin and has hearty ingredients including tender ground beef, sausage, luscious potatoes, filling pinto beans, and sweet kernels of corn to name a few.
If you love using your Instant Pot then you are going to love this recipe. If you struggle to get your kids to eat healthy and balanced meals then this recipe is worth a try.
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But while it all sounds great, what exactly is a cowboy stew?
A Texas Cowboy Stew is a chunky and hearty meal that is common in the American Southwest areas. Perfect to make a big batch of delicious stew for a big family to enjoy.
Typically you will find meat, potatoes, and vegetables that are combined with a flavorful sauce or thick broth that brings it all together. It is a hug in a mason jar, that is for sure.
And the Instant Pot just makes it super simple to make. This delicious Texas Cowboy Stew is perfect for those colder months ahead along with the other easy soup recipes you may be searching out.
If you haven’t already tried it, this Chicken Pot Pie Soup recipe that is also made in the Instant Pot is also what we like to call comfort food. You won’t be disappointed!
💚 Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Texas Cowboy Stew Recipe
- The Instant Pot does all of the hard work. Perfect for busy moms.
- It is super tasty and delicious, full of healthy ingredients.
- An affordable option using a lot of pantry ingredients.
- Very kid-friendly. We think this could become a huge family favorite in your household.
Ingredients Needed
- Ground beef
- Kielbasa Sausage
- Garlic
- Onion
- Diced tomatoes
- Pinto beans
- Whole kernel corn
- Peas
- Beef broth
- Ground cumin
- Chili powder
- Salt and black pepper
Helpful Tools
Instant Pot
- 7-IN-1 FUNCTIONALITY: Pressure cook, slow cook, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan and food warmer.
Measuring Cups and Spoons
- HIGH QUALITY DURABLE AND STURDY – These Laxinis World Measuring Cups and Spoons are made of highly satin brushed with best quality stainless steel which will never rust! They are durable and attractive looking, easy to clean, and can be placed in the dishwasher safely after using.
Mason Jar for Storing
- MULTIPURPOSE & VERSATILE - 4 PACK REGULAR MOUTH 32 OZ MASON JARS are great for many different uses, including canning, fermenting, preserving, pickling, storage, drinking and even decorating.
Wooden Spoon for Stirring
- 【HEALTHY ACACIA SPOONS】Our wooden spoon for cooking is made of one-piece hardwood, no splicing, no deformation, high heat resistance, sturdiness, and food-safe material. Wooden spoons tableware used in cooking is healthier than other materials. Due to natural wood's unique texture and color, no two spoons are the same.
How To Make The Instant Pot Texas Cowboy Stew
- Use the sauté function on the Instant Pot. Once it gets hot, add oil and onions and sauté for 5 minutes or until translucent and fragrant.
- Add ground beef to the pot and brown.
- Once the beef Is browned, add sliced sausage to the mix and cook for 2 minutes.
- Press the cancel function on Instant Pot to stop saute mode.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot, and stir to mix. Close the lid and seal the pressure valve. Press the HIGH function to cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.
- Perform a quick release of pressure and enjoy the stew.
Recipe Variations
Do I have to use my Instant Pot for this recipe? No, not at all. The Instant Pot gives the intensity of flavors quickly and has the meal ready in a matter of minutes with everything cooked to perfection.
But if you have the time, cook the ingredients in the same way and saute in a pan, then let it simmer for a couple of hours on low so that all the flavors combine.
Can I use a slow cooker? Of Course. Similar to the suggestions above, just add everything to the slow cooker and then let it do its thing on low for 8 hours.
Do I have to use ground beef? This recipe calls for ground beef as one of the main ingredients and that is traditionally what is used.
But if you prefer to use different ground meat you could use ground turkey and change the beef broth to chicken broth. It will still taste delicious.
Can I use a different sausage? This recipe will work well with any sort of sausage. Just use what you can get your hands on at the store.
Want some heat? If you like extra heat then you could add some green chile peppers. You could also add more teaspoons chili powder if needed.
All about Cowboy Stew
A traditional cowboy stew would be made with beef, venison or both. You will also find the addition of potatoes and vegetables served up on a skillet.
To make it a cowboy dinner, you would serve it with Cornbread.
It gets its name because of the southwestern spices it includes and also how it is a very complete dish.
In some recipes, you might also find the addition of beef chunks, black beans, and even ranch style beans.
Tips & Tricks
- If you need to thicken the sauce then you could add a little cornstarch to it. Although in our opinion, it should be perfectly fine to serve straight away as it will be a thick broth.
- Remember that the cook time does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker) to come to pressure or the time it takes for your pressure to be released.
- This is an easy recipe to “hide” extra veggies in. If your family likes other mixed vegetables, feel free to chop them up into inch pieces and toss them in. Some ideas we suggest are green beans, bell pepper, broccoli, cauliflower/ cauliflower rice, and zucchini. Any root vegetables would also work well.
Storage
If you have any leftovers or you have made this recipe ahead of time then you will need to let it cool completely and then store it in a sealed mason jar or an airtight container.
It will last in the fridge for 3 days.
Additionally, you can freeze this Cowboy Stew for later. Once it has cooled completely, transfer it to a freezer safe container or bag and store it for up to 3 months.
What is cowboy stew made of?
Cowboy stew traditionally is made with ground beef or venison, sometimes both kinds of meat, as well as the addition of sausages, potatoes and vegetables.
They are combined with a rich beef broth to make the cowboy stew. While it is traditionally made with these key ingredients, you can get creative and add a few things to it.
A stew is such a warming meal and perfect for kids to enjoy different flavors.
What should I serve with my cowboy stew?
Traditionally it would be served with corn bread or cornbread muffins.
However, potatoes or rice will work well to make this stretch further.
You could also add a dollop of sour cream on the top to cool it a little for the kids.
Other Instant Pot recipes
Instant Pot S’mores Popcorn – If you are looking for the perfect movie snack then this instant pot recipe is for you.
Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup – One of the best soups that you can make in the Instant Pot. You have to try it.
Instant Pot Chicken and Gnocchi – This is a healthy and no-fuss dinner option when you are looking for something the whole family will love.
Instant Pot Apple Pie Filling – The perfect recipe for fall.
Instant Pot Texas Cowboy Stew
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 package kielbasa sausage sliced
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ onion diced
- 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 can Rotel
- 2 medium baking potatoes diced
- 1 15 ounce can pinto beans, drained
- 1 15.2 ounce can kernel corn, drained
- 1 can peas drained
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Use the sauté function on the Instant Pot. Once it gets hot, add oil and onions and sauté for 5 minutes or until translucent and fragrant.
- Add ground beef to the pot and brown.
- Once the beef Is browned, add sliced sausage to the mix and cook for 2 minutes.
- Press the cancel function on Instant Pot to stop saute mode.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot, and stir to mix. Close the lid and seal the pressure valve. Press the HIGH function to cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.
- Perform a quick release of pressure and enjoy the stew.
Notes
- If you need to thicken the sauce then you could add a little cornstarch to it. Although in our opinion, it should be perfectly fine to serve straight away as it will be a thick broth.
- Remember that the cook time does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker) to come to pressure or the time it takes for your pressure to be released.
- This is an easy recipe to “hide” extra veggies in. If your family likes other mixed vegetables, feel free to chop them up into inch pieces and toss them in. Some ideas we suggest are green beans, bell pepper, broccoli, cauliflower/ cauliflower rice, and zucchini. Any root vegetables would also work well.
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