Hobo Stew is a thick and hearty one-pot meal with lots of bold flavors. Loaded with ground beef and vegetables, super budget-friendly and perfect for a crowd!
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Hobo stew recipe is also known as mulligan stew and is all about tossing whatever you have on hand into a big pot and making a hearty warm meal out of it.
Why this recipe works
Ground beef stew is a filling meal that uses pantry ingredients with minimal effort like my One Pot Chicken Stew. Serve it with a side of my Ciabatta Garlic Bread, Honey Corn Bread, or Hoe Cakes. A comforting cozy meal the whole family will love without breaking the bank.
Mulligan Stew Ingredients
Notes
- Ground Beef: You can also use ground chicken or ground turkey.
- Beef broth: I use low-sodium beef broth to help cut back on the salt chicken broth or vegetable broth will also work in a pinch.
- Beef bullion cubes: Really adds maximum flavor.
- Tomato soup: You can also use tomato sauce or tomato juice see my notes in the recipe card for more info.
- Potatoes: I like to use Russet potatoes but red potatoes or Yukon gold are also delicious.
- Diced tomatoes: Fire roasted, or plain both work great.
- Green beans: Fresh or frozen works best. You can use canned just add them during the last part of the cooking time so they don't get mushy.
- Fresh Vegetables: Celery stalks, carrots, green beans, peas, and corn.
How to Make Hobo Stew
- Step 1: Heat a large Dutch oven or large pot on medium-high heat and add the olive oil and ground beef cook until brown and drain the fat.
- Step 2: Add in the carrots, onions, celery, and garlic and cook until soft then add in the flour.
- Step 3: Add in the beef stock, tomato soup, canned tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, cajun seasoning, hot sauce and stir.
- Step 4: Mix in the potatoes green beans, corn, and peas mix and simmer.
Recipe Tips
- If you prefer a thinner stew just add a little more beef stock to the stew to your desired consistency.
- Use sweet potatoes for a touch of sweetness and beautiful color.
- Cut your potatoes into same-size cubes so they cook evenly.
- Consider making a double batch to freeze for a quick and easy weeknight meal.
Recipe Faq's
Also called Mulligan stew or campfire stew which is a stew that was common during the great depression as a community stew and put together with whatever ingredients you have on hand.
No, you can use tomato sauce if you prefer but tomato soup has a bit of sugar in it so the flavor will change slightly without it. V-8 juice is also a great substitution.
Yes, brown the ground beef in a large skillet then add it to the slow cooker followed by the rest of the ingredients and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low 5-6 hours.
Yes, you can! Let the stew cool completely then place it in freezer containers and freeze for up to 3 months.
Hobo Stew (Mulligan Stew)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 cup celery, chopped about 3 stalks
- 2 cups carrots, diced about 3 medium carrots
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups low sodium beef broth
- 2 beef bouillon cubes
- 2 15-ounce cans tomato soup
- 1 14.5 can diced tomatoes do not drain
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
- 2-3 cups Russet potatoes
- 2 cups frozen corn
- 1 1/2 cups frozen peas
- 2 cups green beans fresh or frozen
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Heat a large Dutch oven or pot on medium-high heat and add the ground beef cook for 4-5 minutes just until starting to brown.
- Add in the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic, and cook another 4-5 minutes.
- Sprinkle in the flour stir and cook for about 30 seconds
- Pour in the beef broth, bouillon cubes, tomato soup, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and cajun seasoning and mix until combined.
- Add in the potatoes, corn, peas and green beans cover and let simmer over medium low heat for 1 1/2 - 2 hours.
- Add the salt and pepper or more to taste.
My fifth grade class made this today to go along with a novel we are reading and it was a big hit! Thank you for a great recipe.
Hope you enjoy Beverly 🙂
What a wonderful, easy recipe. It looks delicious. I love vegetable beef soup and stews and I'll be making this soon. I also had an idea I might cook some beef stew meat in my instant pot, then release the pressure and use the recipe minus the ground beef and cook the rest in the instant pot on sauté. I really enjoy your recipes and cooking tips. Thanks for another great recipe, Wendie!!!
Looks like Idea for a Soup to make for one of those Cold and windy winter days
Yay happy you love it Janice 🙂
We love this stew! Making it on St Patrick’s day!
Yay Rachel!
it was amazing. thank you so much
Sure Laurie here you go https://butteryourbiscuit.com/ciabatta-garlic-bread/
That bread looks amazing! Please share 😊