You better come to the table with a humongous appetite because Bigger-In-Texas Stew doesn’t come in lightly! Nope, this isn’t your typical, dinky, bland soup that you still feel hungry after eating. This one comes heaping-full of smokey sausage, juicy beef, filling potatoes, a variety of veggies, and beloved bacon to make sure every spoonful is maxed out and you’re filled to the brim. It doesn’t stop there, though! You can count on big, savory flavors from this Bigger-In-Texas Stew. What did you expect?! They don’t believe in anything small or lacking in Texas. And for that, our bellies and taste buds are grateful!
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, chopped into small pieces
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 (12-ounce) packages smoked kielbasa sausage, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
- 2 (16-ounce) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 (10-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies, 1 can drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can whole-kernel corn, drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can sweet peas, drained
- 2 cups russet potatoes, peeled and diced into small chunks
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
Directions
Step 1 –In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-low heat, add the bacon pieces and cook until they are just crisp, about 4-5 minutes.
Step 2 –Discard all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon drippings.
Step 3 –Add the onion to the bacon and cook, stirring often, until it has softened, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 4 –Add the ground beef, the salt, the pepper, and the cayenne pepper to the bacon mixture and cook, while crumbling the beef, until the meat is no longer pink. Drain off the excess grease.
Step 5 –Add the sausage, the beans, the tomatoes with green chilies, the corn, the peas, the potatoes, and the beef broth and mix well. Bring to a boil.
Step 6 –Reduce the heat to low and simmer the stew, stirring occasionally, until it is heated through and the flavors are combined, about 40 minutes.
Step 7 –Transfer the pot from heat and add the basil, the cinnamon, and the paprika to the stew. Stir to combine.
Step 8 –Serve.
