Hearty Texas Cowboy Stew (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Main Proteins

01 - 1 pound of lean ground beef (look for 90-93% lean)
02 - 1 pound of kielbasa sausage, cut into slices

→ Aromatics & Vegetables

03 - Half of a medium onion, chopped into small pieces
04 - 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
05 - 2 cups of potatoes, cut into small cubes
06 - 1 package (5 ounces) of frozen mixed vegetables

→ Canned Goods

07 - 1 can (14.5 oz) of diced tomatoes, liquid drained off
08 - 1 can (15 oz) of pinto beans with their liquid
09 - 1 can (15.2 oz) of whole kernel corn with its liquid
10 - 1 can (15.5 oz) of diced tomatoes with green chiles, don't drain

→ Seasonings & Liquids

11 - 1½ cups of water
12 - 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
13 - 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
14 - 1 teaspoon of paprika
15 - 1 teaspoon of chili powder
16 - ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
17 - Salt and black pepper as needed

# Instructions:

01 - Grab a large pot and set it over medium-high heat. Add your ground beef along with the chopped onion and minced garlic. Break up the beef with a wooden spoon as it browns, cooking until there's no pink left and the onion turns soft. Toss in the sliced kielbasa and let everything cook together for another couple of minutes.
02 - Pour in your water and add the drained diced tomatoes. Now dump in the pinto beans (with their liquid), the corn (keep that liquid too), diced potatoes, frozen veggies, and those tomatoes with green chiles. Give everything a good stir to combine.
03 - Sprinkle all your spices over the top—the cumin, oregano, paprika, chili powder, and red pepper flakes. Stir everything together really well, then bring it to a gentle simmer. Let it bubble away for about an hour, stirring occasionally. Taste it toward the end and add salt and pepper until it's just right for you.

# Notes:

01 - This stew tastes even better the next day as the flavors have more time to meld together.
02 - You can easily make this in a slow cooker—just brown the meat first, then transfer everything to your crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

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