15 Cowboy Recipes That Fill You Up Like a Chuckwagon Supper
If cowboy soup is new to you, you are about to find out why the whole internet is talking about it. Cowboy recipes are hearty, cheap and made for feeding a hungry crowd, from bubbling pots of beans to steak bites dripping in cowboy butter. Here are the ones worth making this fall, plus a few sweet treats to finish the night. Saddle up and tell us which one you are making first..
Cowboy Soup, Where All the Cowboy Recipes Start
Ground beef, potatoes, beans and corn in one pot. It is the kind of supper a chuckwagon cook would be proud of, and it costs about as much as a drive thru meal. Cowboy soup took off on social media this year because it tastes like chili and vegetable beef soup had a baby. Make a big pot on Sunday and eat well all week. Do you serve it with cornbread or crackers?
You will need: 1 1/2 lb ground beef; 1 onion, diced; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 3 cups diced potatoes; 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained; 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained; 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles; 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes; 4 cups beef broth; 2 teaspoons chili powder; 1 teaspoon cumin; salt and pepper
How to make it: Brown the beef with the onion in a Dutch oven and drain. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in the potatoes, beans, corn, both cans of tomatoes, broth and spices. Bring to a boil, then simmer covered 25 to 30 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Season with salt and pepper.
Cowboy Casserole With a Tater Tot Crust
Ground beef, corn, beans and cheese on the bottom, a crunchy blanket of tater tots on top. Cowboy casserole is the kind of dinner kids ask for by name, and it comes together with pantry staples in about 15 minutes of hands on time. It is also a great potluck dish because it stays hot and reheats well. Poll: A) extra cheese, B) extra tots?
You will need: 1 1/2 lb ground beef; 1 onion, diced; 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained; 1 cup corn; 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 2 cups shredded cheddar; 1 bag (28 oz) frozen tater tots
How to make it: Heat the oven to 400 F. Brown the beef with the onion and drain. Stir in the beans, corn, tomatoes and chili powder. Spread in a 9×13 dish and top with 1 1/2 cups cheese. Arrange the tater tots on top. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until crisp. Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese and bake 3 minutes more.
Cowboy Butter Steak Bites, the Most Viral of the Cowboy Recipes
These bite size pieces of steak get a hard sear in a hot skillet, then a bath in cowboy butter: melted butter with garlic, mustard, lemon, herbs and red pepper flakes. This combo became one of the most shared cowboy recipes on Instagram this year, and one bite tells you why. Serve them with toothpicks for game day or over rice for dinner.
You will need: 1 1/2 lb sirloin, cut into 1 inch cubes; salt and pepper; 1 tablespoon oil. Cowboy butter: 1/2 cup butter, melted; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 2 tablespoons chopped parsley; 1 tablespoon chopped chives
How to make it: Stir together all the cowboy butter ingredients. Pat the steak dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a cast iron skillet until very hot. Sear the steak in one layer 2 minutes per side. Lower the heat, pour in half the cowboy butter and toss 30 seconds. Serve with the rest for dipping.
Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans
A big pot of beans has fed cowboys on the trail for generations. This version is sweet, smoky and loaded with ground beef and bacon, and the slow cooker does all the work. It is perfect next to cornbread, or as a side for a cookout. Leftovers are even better the next day.
You will need: 1 lb ground beef; 6 slices bacon, chopped; 1 onion, diced; 2 cans (15 oz) pork and beans; 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained; 1 can (15 oz) butter beans, drained; 1/2 cup ketchup; 1/3 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons molasses; 1 tablespoon mustard; 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
How to make it: Brown the beef, bacon and onion together and drain. Add to the slow cooker with all the beans. Stir together the ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, mustard and vinegar and pour over. Stir well. Cook on low 4 to 6 hours or high 2 to 3 hours.
Cowboy Chili for a Cold Night
Chuckwagon cooks made chili with whatever beef they had, dried chiles and a long, slow simmer. Our home version uses chunks of beef chuck and ground beef for a thick, meaty bowl. Love a big pot of red? Our chili recipes so good you will want a second bowl are a fun next stop.
You will need: 1 lb ground beef; 1 lb beef chuck, cut in small cubes; 1 onion, diced; 4 garlic cloves; 3 tablespoons chili powder; 1 tablespoon cumin; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes; 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained; 1 1/2 cups beef broth; salt
How to make it: Brown the chuck and ground beef in a Dutch oven. Add the onion and garlic and cook 5 minutes. Stir in the spices for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, beans and broth. Simmer covered 1 1/2 hours, stirring now and then, until the chuck is tender. Season with salt.
Cowboy Caviar (No Cooking Needed)
Despite the fancy name, cowboy caviar is a bright, crunchy bean and corn salad from Texas. Black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, peppers, tomatoes and avocado get tossed in a tangy lime dressing. Scoop it with tortilla chips, spoon it over tacos or eat it straight from the bowl. It feeds a crowd for very little money.
You will need: 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed; 1 can (15 oz) black-eyed peas, rinsed; 1 1/2 cups corn; 1 red bell pepper, diced; 2 tomatoes, diced; 1/2 red onion, diced; 1 jalapeno, minced; 1 avocado, diced; 1/4 cup chopped cilantro. Dressing: 1/4 cup olive oil; 1/4 cup lime juice; 1 tablespoon honey; 1 teaspoon cumin; salt
How to make it: Add all the beans and vegetables except the avocado to a large bowl. Whisk the dressing ingredients and pour over. Toss and chill at least 30 minutes. Fold in the avocado just before serving.
Grilled Chicken With Cowboy Butter
Cowboy butter is not just for steak. Brush it over grilled chicken in the last minutes of cooking and pass more at the table. The garlic and lemon soak into the juicy chicken, and the red pepper flakes add just enough warmth. It turns a plain weeknight chicken into something people talk about.
You will need: 2 lb boneless chicken thighs or breasts; 1 tablespoon oil; salt and pepper; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 batch cowboy butter (see steak bites slide)
How to make it: Season the chicken with oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Grill over medium high heat 5 to 7 minutes per side until it reaches 165 F inside. Brush with cowboy butter during the last 2 minutes. Rest 5 minutes and serve with extra butter spooned over.
Cowboy Pasta in One Skillet
Of all the cowboy recipes here, this one is the grown up take on boxed skillet pasta. Ground beef, smoky spices, tomatoes, corn and black beans simmer right in the pan with the pasta, then everything gets a creamy, cheesy finish. One skillet means only one pan to wash. Question: do you add jalapenos for heat?
You will need: 1 lb ground beef; 1 onion, diced; 2 teaspoons chili powder; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles; 3 cups beef broth; 8 oz penne; 1 cup corn; 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed; 1/2 cup cream; 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
How to make it: Brown the beef and onion in a large skillet and drain. Stir in the spices, tomatoes and broth and bring to a boil. Add the penne, cover and simmer 12 to 14 minutes, stirring often, until tender. Stir in the corn, beans and cream. Top with the cheese, cover and let it melt.
Cowboy Burgers With Crispy Onions
A cowboy burger is a big, juicy patty with barbecue sauce, melted cheddar, bacon and a pile of crispy fried onions. It is messy in the best way. Make the onions while the grill heats up, or grab a can of crispy fried onions on busy nights. Grab extra napkins.
You will need: 1 1/2 lb ground beef (80/20); salt and pepper; 4 slices cheddar; 8 slices cooked bacon; 1/2 cup barbecue sauce; 4 burger buns; 1 onion, thinly sliced; 1/2 cup flour; 1 teaspoon paprika; oil for frying
How to make it: Toss the onion in flour and paprika and fry in hot oil until golden. Drain and salt. Shape the beef into 4 patties and season. Grill or pan sear 4 minutes per side. Top with cheddar to melt. Build on toasted buns with barbecue sauce, bacon and crispy onions.
Cowboy Candy, the Sweet and Spicy Jar Every Pantry Needs
Among cowboy recipes, cowboy candy is the sweet surprise: sliced jalapenos simmered in a sweet vinegar syrup until glossy. The heat softens and the flavor turns addictive. Spoon it over cream cheese with crackers, top burgers with it or chop it into cornbread batter. Wear gloves when you slice the peppers! Keep the jars in the fridge and use within a few weeks.
You will need: 1 1/2 lb fresh jalapenos, sliced into rings; 2 cups sugar; 1 cup cider vinegar; 1/2 teaspoon turmeric; 1/2 teaspoon celery seed; 1 teaspoon garlic powder
How to make it: Wearing gloves, slice the jalapenos. Bring the sugar, vinegar and spices to a boil and simmer 5 minutes. Add the jalapenos and simmer 4 to 5 minutes until they turn olive green. Spoon the peppers into clean jars, boil the syrup 5 more minutes and pour it over. Cool and refrigerate.
Skillet Cowboy Cornbread
Cornbread baked in a hot cast iron skillet gets the crunchiest, most golden crust. This cowboy version adds cheddar, corn and a little chopped jalapeno or cowboy candy. Cut it in wedges and serve it with chili, beans or soup. Poll: A) sweet cornbread, B) savory cornbread?
You will need: 1 cup yellow cornmeal; 1 cup flour; 2 tablespoons sugar; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 cup buttermilk; 2 eggs; 1/3 cup melted butter; 1 cup shredded cheddar; 1/2 cup corn; 1 jalapeno, minced; 1 tablespoon bacon grease or butter for the pan
How to make it: Heat the oven to 425 F with a 10 inch cast iron skillet inside. Whisk the dry ingredients. Stir in the buttermilk, eggs and melted butter, then fold in the cheese, corn and jalapeno. Add the grease to the hot skillet, pour in the batter and bake 20 to 22 minutes until golden.
Chuckwagon Biscuits: Old Cowboy Recipes Still Rule
On cattle drives, the cook was judged by his biscuits. Flaky buttermilk biscuits baked in a Dutch oven or a hot pan are still one of the best old cowboy recipes around. Cold butter is the secret to tall, tender layers. Split them hot and fill with butter, honey or sausage gravy.
You will need: 2 cups flour; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed; 3/4 cup cold buttermilk
How to make it: Heat the oven to 450 F. Whisk the dry ingredients. Cut in the butter until it looks like coarse crumbs. Stir in the buttermilk just until it comes together. Pat to 1 inch thick, fold in half twice and pat again. Cut rounds, place close together in a pan and bake 12 to 14 minutes until golden.
Cowboy Breakfast Skillet
Potatoes, sausage, peppers and onions crisp up in one cast iron pan, then eggs and cheese go on top. It is one of those cowboy recipes that keeps you full until lunch, and it is great for feeding a houseful on a holiday morning. Serve it with hot sauce and a stack of tortillas.
You will need: 1 lb breakfast sausage; 4 cups diced potatoes; 1 onion, diced; 1 bell pepper, diced; 1 teaspoon paprika; salt and pepper; 6 eggs; 1 cup shredded cheddar; 2 green onions, sliced
How to make it: Brown the sausage in a large cast iron skillet and remove. Cook the potatoes in the drippings over medium heat 12 minutes, adding a little oil if needed. Add the onion, pepper and paprika and cook 5 minutes. Return the sausage. Make 6 wells, crack in the eggs, top with cheese, cover and cook 5 to 7 minutes until set.
Campfire Peach and Berry Crumble: Cowboy Recipes Have Dessert Too
Trail cooks loved a Dutch oven dessert, and fruit with a buttery crumb topping was a favorite because it used canned or dried fruit. Peaches and blackberries bubble under a golden oat topping. Bake it in the oven or over coals. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
You will need: 5 cups sliced peaches (fresh, frozen or canned and drained); 1 cup blackberries; 1/3 cup sugar; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Topping: 1 cup flour; 3/4 cup oats; 2/3 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed; pinch of salt
How to make it: Heat the oven to 375 F. Toss the fruit with sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon and spread in a baking dish or Dutch oven. Rub the topping ingredients together until crumbly and scatter over the fruit. Bake 40 to 45 minutes until bubbling and golden.
Cowboy Cookies, the Sweet End to Our Cowboy Recipes
Cowboy cookies are big, chewy cookies loaded with oats, chocolate chips, coconut and pecans. They are rugged enough to pack in a saddlebag, or a lunch box. They have been a bake sale and potluck favorite for decades. Which mix-in is your favorite?
You will need: 1 cup butter, softened; 3/4 cup sugar; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla; 2 cups flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 cups old fashioned oats; 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips; 1 cup shredded coconut; 1 cup chopped pecans
How to make it: Heat the oven to 350 F. Cream the butter and sugars, then beat in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir in the oats, chips, coconut and pecans. Scoop 1/4 cup mounds onto lined sheets and bake 12 to 14 minutes until golden at the edges.
