Poor Man's Stew (Easy Recipe for Ground Beef Stew) (2024)

Fill up your bowl with this easy and delicious Poor Man's Stew. Perfect for a cold winter night or a great way to make a budget meal. Fast and simple weeknight dinner.

Making a homemade stew or soup recipe is always fun to do. That's because not only does it create an epic comfort food for everyone to enjoy, but it's also a really good way to use up food items that you already have in the house.

This soup got its name because it's a compilation of "cheap" ingredients that come together to create something unique and delicious. I love using frozen cauliflower in place of potatoes because it adds an extra way to get more veggies in our bellies.

Using ground beef as the meat of choice also pairs really well with the other additions. This reminds me of what a combination of chili and veggie soup would taste like - and I like it!

Speaking of great soup recipes, be sure to check out myKeto Mushroom Soup for another delicious and hearty meal. And thisKeto Lamb Stew is amazing.

Ingredients

Ground beef - We normally use lean ground beef. If you use a fattier variety you may want to remove any of the excess grease from the pan.

Yellow onion - Chopped into bite-sized pieces. You can also use red onion or white onion.

Green pepper - Any color of pepper will work just fine.

Celery - Adding celery is great for texture.

Garlic - I like to use whole garlic cloves but you can use minced garlic as well.

Beef broth - This adds good flavoring and color to the soup.

Tomato paste - Adds richness and a nice citrus flavor.

Garlic powder - For taste.

Rosemary - For flavor.

Frozen cauliflower - You can buy this in the frozen food section at the store.

Salt - To taste.

Black pepper - To taste.

How to make Poor Man's Stew

Step One: Add the ground beef to a large pot. Cook until it is browned all the way. Take the ground beef mixture out of the pan and set it aside.

Step Two: Add the celery, onion, green pepper, and garlic. Cook until it is soft.

Step Three: Add the tomato pasta, garlic powder, broth, and rosemary. Heat until simmering.

Step Four: Add the beef and cauliflower. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer and serve.

Variations

Use ground turkey - This hamburger stew is great, like the recipe is written, but with such simple ingredients, you can easily change things up. You can still have a hearty stew by using ground turkey in place of cooked ground beef.

Add different vegetables - You can make this more like a traditional beef stew and add diced Russet potatoes to go with the dish. Fresh vegetables are another great option that can easily add delicious flavor. Adding green beans, baby carrots, stewed tomatoes, mushrooms, and anything else that you want can really turn this soup into the ultimate comfort food.

Add spices - Options like Italian seasoning, a garlic clove or two, dried oregano, a teaspoon onion powder, chili powder, and any other inexpensive ingredients are a great idea. This takes minimal effort and will surely help this delicious stew become a family favorite.

Common Questions

What other liquids can be added to easy stew recipes?

You can add beef stock, a cup of water, some leftover tomato soup, or even some bone broth to add liquid to this easy meal. The best part about making this poor man's stew recipe is that it's versatile.

Whatever liquid you choose to add will pair well with the ground meat and add flavor to the rest of the simple ingredients.

Can I leave the stew meat out of this recipe?

You can. If you want to make this into a normal stew without any meat, just leave the lean ground beef out of the recipe. This will make this cheap meal even cheaper when you don't have to worry about adding meat!

When should I serve this cowboy stew?

I think that it's perfect for a winter day, but it's also great anytime you want to stretch the dinner budget. We eat this at different times during the year, and it's a hit no matter what. The entire family agrees that this easy dinner recipe is a staple on our meal-planning radar.

What pairs well with this delicious recipe?

The only thing that I am sure of when I make soup is that I want a side of bread, or dinner rolls to eat with it. There's just something about crusty bread paired with the creamy texture of the soup that I love and crave.