If groceries feel higher than ever, you’re not alone. That’s why I love hobo stew. It’s cozy, hearty, and made from whatever’s in the pantry. It turns simple ingredients into a meal everyone will love.
The Best Parts About This Recipe
Easy one-pot meal: Everything cooks in one pot for quick prep and easy cleanup.
Flexible ingredients: Swap in whatever you have, frozen veggies, canned tomatoes, or leftover meat.
Budget-friendly dinner: Made with inexpensive ingredients that stretch to feed the whole family.
Hobo Stew Ingredients
Swap the Meat: Using stew meat? Simmer it with the veggies and broth for 1 hour, then add potatoes, peas, and corn. Cook 30 minutes more.
Mix Up the Base: No tomato juice? Use V-8, tomato sauce, or tomato soup instead.
How to Make Hobo Stew
Hobo stew (Mulligan stew) is all about using what you’ve got and making it work. Just toss what you have into the pot. It’s similar to my cowboy soup, but heartier and with different seasonings for a whole different flavor.
Cook Beef:Heat a large Dutch oven over mediumhigh heat.Add olive oil and ground beef, and cook and crumble until it begins to brown and is no longer pink.
Add Veggies: Add onion, carrots, mushrooms, and minced garlic.
Cook Veggies: Cook for 4-5 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
Add &Simmer: Add Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, canned diced tomatoes, beef broth, tomato juice, chopped potatoes, frozen corn, frozen peas, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer, then turn the heat to medium low and cover. Simmer hobo stew for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally until the potatoes are tender.
Alyssa’s Pro Tip
Hobo stew is meant to add “what you got to the pot”. Use what you have in your fridge, freezer, or pantry. Frozen, fresh, or canned vegetables will work.
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Hobo Stew
Hearty, budget-friendly, and full of flavor, this hobo stew uses simple ingredients you already have. Cozy, filling, and perfect for any night of the week.
2cupschopped potatoespeeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1cupfrozen corn
1cupfrozen peas
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oiland 1 ½ pounds ground beef and cook and crumble until it begins to brown and is no longer pink.
Add 1 cup diced onion, 1 cup chopped carrots, 8 ounces sliced mushrooms, and 2 teaspoons minced garlic, and cook for 4-5 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
Add 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, 2 cups beef broth, 2 cups tomato juice, 2 cups chopped potatoes, 1 cup frozen corn, 1 cup frozen peas, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer, then turn the heat to medium-low and cover. Simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally until the potatoes are tender.
Notes
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Storage: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Cool completely, then store in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat on the stovetop until heated through.
