This Cowboy Stew is one of our favourite camping recipes. Made with simple, easy to source ingredients, it tastes good cooked on a gas stove at home, but even better over a campfire. All would-be cowboys are going to love it!
This recipe has been in my blogs archives since way back in 2013. It started off as a campfire cowboy stew recipe, but as you’ll see, we’re such big fans of it that it’s been reinvented for the slow cooker, hob and even the oven! It’s on regular menu rotation, and doesn’t matter if we’re at home or camping!
The recipe below uses fresh butchers sausages, but it’s just as tasty when made with good vegetarian sausages. (I’m currently loving the Cauldron Cumberland Sausages. Not sponsored, just really impressed with them!).
If you’re at the end of a camping trip and don’t have access to fresh, simply substitute with a tin or jar of hotdog sausages. I swear this, cowboy stew has been reinvented time and time again!
Cowboy Stew: Campfire Recipe
Now this is hands down my favourite way to cook a cowboy stew. There’s something about cooking over the embers of a campfire that permeates food with more than just a touch of smoke. Cooking, and eating, outdoors brings adventure to your meal and encourages jaded appetites.
As with cooking on a BBQ, be sure to let the flames of your campfire die down before starting to cook. Alternatively, you can always scrape some embers out from the bulk of your campfire to create a smaller cooking area. This way you can still feed the main fire with wood. But not have to worry about flaring the flames too much for cooking on.
A cast iron skillet is the absolute best pan for campfire cooking. Thin metal can warp or create uneven hot spots that can cause your food to burn. Whereas heavy cast iron will produce an even heat, even when placed directly on the coals.
If the embers have turned grey and ashy, you can cook directly onto the embers. However, if they are still glowing bright orange, then ideally use a trivet or some rocks to elevate the skillet a couple of inches above the coals.
Next, heat the pan up before throwing in the sausages. This will create an extra flavour boost by creating a delicious caramelisation on the bottom of the pan.
Cowboy Stew: Slow Cooker Recipe
Just because camping season is over, doesn’t mean you need to retire this recipe until next spring! By making it in the slow cooker you can come home from a long day at work to a piping hot meal that the entire family will love.
Brown your sausages first in a skillet or heavy bottomed pan. Chop into bite sized pieces and throw into the slow cooker. Add all the other ingredients, stir well, then leave to cook for 4 hours on high, or 6 hours on low. Don’t panic if you’re out longer than this, the beauty of a slow cooker is that it won’t dry out or burn your food.
Once you’ve made this recipe once, and threreby know your family are big fans, why not double the quantities and freeze the leftovers for another night. A zero effort win win ;)
Cowboy Stew: Oven Recipe
Yep, this recipe can even be adapted perfectly to make in the oven too! Simply brown your sausages on the hob. Then pile everything into a casserole dish with a tight fitting lid. Bake at 180C for 1 hour for a no hassle dinner treat any time.
What to Serve with Cowboy Stew?
The proper answer would be fire baked jacket potatoes or a simple flatbread recipe. However, we’ve served it with everything from rice to French baguette. Mind you, I’m more than happy with just a big bowl of cowboy stew. No need for sides.

- 8 sausages
- 1 onion
- 4 garlic cloves chopped
- 1 chilli pepper
- 1 tin baked beans
- 1 tin mixed beans drained
- 1 tin chopped tomatoes
- Salt & pepper
-
If cooking over an open fire, wait until the flames have died down. Raise the pan above the embers to avoid burning the food.
-
Slowly cook the sausages in a large frying pan, until caramelised and dark brown. Chop into chunks.
-
Add the onion and garlic and fry until the onion is soft.
-
Add the chilli pepper, and all the cans and stir well.
-
Let the dish simmer until the sauce thickens and serve.
Debs says
This reminds me of my Girl Scout days. : ) Have a great time camping. I am off to the pantry to see if I can make this for lunch!
Jane Sarchet says
Ooh, enjoy it Debs. A real dose of comfort food!
Janie x
Alan Goodger says
All Very Nice ? But where’s the Mushrooms & the Cow Steak
Hardly a Cowboy Stew without the Cow Steak Is it Now But Joking apart Look’s very Tasty However ?? Don’t fancy doing it in this Wintery Conditions… Only after 60 Press ups in the Snow…..Ha ha
Jane Sarchet says
Hehe, to be fair this is an English girls take on a cowboy stew ;)
Janie x
Becky Lloyd says
Mmnnn looks delish, I usually take veggie chilli when we go camping, I struggle to cook rice though (even at home), so usually buy tortilla wraps. Enjoy your trip.
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks Becky, we had a fab time :)
It’s always good to have a few warming favourites ready for any out of season camping trip, and you’ve reminded me I haven’t made a good veggie chilli for ages.
Janie x
Helena bliss says
This was really really yummy
Jane Sarchet says
Awesome, really glad you enjoyed it Helena :)
Janie x