Home Recipes Cuisines North America Southwest
Carrie Madormo, RN
Christina HerbstUpdated: Feb. 21, 2024
It's time to kick off your boots and hang up your hat. Unwind after a long day on the ranch with these hearty and delicious recipes!
1/39
Loaded Huevos Rancheros with Roasted Poblano Peppers
This is a unique but tasty version of huevos rancheros. It’s similar to a cowboy hash, as the potatoes take the place of the corn tortillas. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
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2/39
Cowboy Casserole
I tweaked my beefy skillet cobbler until it achieved the wow factor. It's now a family tradition. Top it off with lettuce, avocado, cherry tomatoes and a dollop of sour cream. —Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois
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3/39
Cuts-Like-Butter BBQ Brisket
This brisket cuts like butter—no joke! With just a few ingredients and steps, the recipe is nearly impossible to mess up. The thin, fall-apart-tender slices are delicious on their own but also make everything from tacos to Frito pies taste better. —Darla Andrews, Boerne, Texas
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4/39
Ranch Beans
This recipe is served at all of our barbecues. It seems most people who live here like spicy flavorful food, and this fits the bill just right.
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5/39
Easy Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
I adapted the recipe for these rich and creamy enchiladas from a cooking class I had a while back. —Janice Montiverdi, Sugar Land, Texas
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6/39
Effortless Black Bean Chili
My mom found the inspiration for this chili in a slow-cooker cookbook. After a few updates, all of us love it (even those of us who steer clear of beans). We think it's even better served over rice. —Amelia Gormley, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
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7/39
Easy Cheese-Stuffed Jalapenos
A few years ago, I saw a man in the grocery store buying a big bag of jalapeno peppers. I asked him what he intended to do with them, and right there in the store he gave me this fabulous recipe for stuffed jalapenos! —Janice Montiverdi, Sugar Land, Texas
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8/39
This creamy mac and cheese is so simple it’s almost too easy! Kids always go for the rich cheese flavor, but I’ve never met an adult who didn’t love it just as much.
—Ann Bowers, Rockport, Texas
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9/39
Texan Ranch Chicken Casserole
Every time I serve this creamy chicken ranch casserole, it gets rave reviews. The recipe was passed down to me and is so good! It's really easy to make, freezes well and has just a touch of heat. If your family likes more, add some jalapenos! —Kendra Doss, Smithville, Missouri
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10/39
My grandparents came from Mexico, and I grew up watching my grandmother and mother in the kitchen. This steak marinated in beer and lime juice honors their passion for cooking. —Adan Franco, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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11/39
Wyoming Cowboy Cookies
These cookies are very popular here in Wyoming. Mix up a batch for your crew and see why. —Patsy Steenbock, Shoshoni, Wyoming
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12/39
Mexican Chicken Chili
Corn and black beans give this satisfying chili a Mexican flair the whole family will love. Adjust the cayenne if you have small children or are looking for a little less zip. —Stephanie Rabbitt-Schappacher, West Chester, Ohio
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13/39
Fiery Stuffed Poblanos
I love Southwest-inspired cuisine, but the dishes are often unhealthy. As a dietitian, I try to come up with nutritious twists on recipes, which is how my stuffed peppers dish was born. —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas
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14/39
Cowboy Beef Dip
In a foods class, a group of us developed this recipe for the North Dakota’s annual Beef Bash. We won the contest!—Jessica Klym, Killdeer, North Dakota
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Hungry for more cowboy recipes? Learn how to make this hearty cowboy soup.
15/39
Easy Cheesy Loaded Grits
A tasty bowl of grits inspired me to develop my own recipe with sausage, green chiles and cheeses. It just might be better than the original. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
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16/39
Dutch Oven Red Beans and Rice
This is a one-pot meal that’s ready in about 30 minutes. It is one of my husband’s favorites and uses simple ingredients, so it’s been a go-to recipe in our house for years. —Janice Conklin, Stevensville, Montana
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17/39
Oven-Fried Ranch Steak
I’ve made this recipe with chicken instead of beef, and the results were equally good. The combination of ranch salad dressing and cajun seasoning also is great as a dip for fresh veggies.
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18/39
Southwestern Hash with Eggs
Before I retired, this all-in-one skillet dish was constantly requested at office brunches. I'd leave out the eggs, double or triple the recipe and wrap servings of the zippy pork mixture in warm corn tortillas. —Barbara Beasley, Beaumont, Texas
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19/39
Texas Sheet Cake
This chocolaty delight was one of my favorites growing up. The Texas sheet cake is so moist and the icing so sweet that everyone who samples it wants a copy of the recipe. —Susan Ormond, Jamestown, North Carolina
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20/39
Cowboy Spaghetti
Cowboy spaghetti starts on the stovetop and finishes in the oven, giving you plenty of hands-off time to prepare a salad, or a dessert for after dinner. If you don’t have a cast-iron skillet, transfer the spaghetti mixture to a 13×9-in. baking dish before putting it in the oven. —Kerry Whitaker, Carthage, Texas
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21/39
Spicy Cowboy Beans
These spicy cowboy beans are a perfect contribution to a potluck buffet any time of year. Instead of needing hours on the stove, they cook quickly in the pressure cooker and there’s no need to pre-soak the beans. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
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22/39
Muffin-Tin Tamale Cakes
We needed snack inspiration beyond peanut butter and jelly. These muffin tamales have all of the flavor of tamales without the fuss. Pair with skewered fruit. —Suzanne Clark, Phoenix, Arizona
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23/39
Pork Chile Verde
Pork slowly stews with jalapenos, onion, green enchilada sauce and spices in this flavor-packed Mexican dish. It's wonderful on its own or stuffed in a warm tortilla with sour cream, grated cheese or olives on the side. —Kimberly Burke, Chico, California
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24/39
Air-Fryer Cowboy Casserole
When it starts to get cold, I love to make this quick and creamy Tater Tot bake. It’s a great homey dinner, that’s easy to put together. I make it ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator. Then I just pop it into the air fryer when I get home. —Donna Donhauser, Remsen, New York
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25/39
Chuck Wagon Tortilla Stack
I make this skillet specialty on those night when I'm craving southwestern fare. It's easy to cut and remove the pieces from the pan. —Bernice Janowski, Stevens Point, Wisconsin
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26/39
Beef Enchiladas Verdes
These beef enchiladas verdes are easy to make ahead and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake. After quickly cooking the tortillas in hot oil, I layer them between paper napkins to soak up excess oil. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
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27/39
Cowboy Pasta
This Cowboy Pasta recipe combines ground beef, bacon, corn, tangy buttermilk and Monterey Jack cheese for an easy but hearty weeknight dinner. Add more chili powder or a chopped jalapeno to give this delicious pasta dish more of a kick. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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28/39
Frito Pie
Frito pie is legendary in the Southwest for being spicy, salty and cheesy fabulous. Here’s my easy take on this crunchy classic. —Jan Moon, Alamogordo, New Mexico
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29/39
Black Bean Turkey Chili
This busy-day chili is packed with flavor. We make it ahead and freeze some to eat later. —Marisela Segovia, Miami, Florida
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30/39
Barbecue Macaroni Salad
My family loves a touch of barbecue sauce and ranch dressing in our mac salad. Not too much—just a hint of both makes this everyday salad something special. —Andrea Bolden, Unionville, Tennessee
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31/39
This warm Dutch oven cobbler is one of our favorite ways to end a busy day of fishing, hiking, swimming or rafting. It's yummy with ice cream—and so easy to make! —June Dress, Boise, Idaho
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32/39
Loaded Stuffed Potato Pancakes
When I make mashed potatoes, I always cook extra so I can prepare these over-the-top potato pancakes. Fill them with sour cream, ranch dressing or melted cheese—or all three. —Jane Whittaker, Pensacola, Florida
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33/39
Tex-Mex Cheesesteak Sandwiches
We adore cheesesteak sandwiches and anything with southwestern flavor, so I combined the two. If you crave even more firepower, add chopped jalapenos. —Joan Hallford, Fort Worth, Texas
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34/39
Jalapeno Popper Mexican Street Corn
One of the best things about summer is fresh sweet corn, and this recipe is a definite standout. We love its creamy dressing, crunchy panko coating and spicy jalapeno kick. If you're really feeling wild, sprinkle these with a bit of cooked and crumbled bacon! —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado
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35/39
Calico Cowboy Beans
This cowboy beans recipe is tradition when my girlfriends and I go up north for a girls' weekend. The husbands and kids are left at home, but the slow cooker comes with us! —Julie Butsch, Hartland, Wisconsin
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36/39
Corn Quesadillas
My cheesy corn quesadillas take only minutes going from skillet to table. They make craveable leftovers for brown-bag lunches, so pack the salsa too. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
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37/39
Cowboy Stew
I made up this cowboy stew in the early 1970s when I was down to very little food in the house. Because it’s a combination of barbecue sauce, hamburger, hot dogs and beans, this one-skillet meal makes both children and adults happy. —Val Rananawski, Millville, New Jersey
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38/39
Crispy Fried Chicken
If you've wanted to learn how to make crispy fried chicken, this is the recipe for you. Always a picnic favorite, this deep-fried chicken recipe is delicious either hot or cold. Kids call it my Kentucky Fried Chicken! —Jeanne Schnitzler, Lima, Montana
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39/39
White Turkey Chili
Here's proof that chili doesn't have to be red. I combined several recipes and changed flavors until the recipe was just right. Trust me, this one is a keeper. —Tina Barrett, Houston, Texas
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Originally Published: April 05, 2019
Carrie Madormo, RN
Carrie is a health writer and nurse who specializes in healthy eating and wellness through food. With a master’s degree in public health from the Medical College of Wisconsin, she strives to translate the latest health and nutrition research into interesting, actionable articles. During her six years at Taste of Home, Carrie has answered hundreds of reader questions about health and nutrition, such as if pomegranate seeds are safe to eat, why pregnant women crave pickles and how much caffeine is in a shot of espresso. Carrie is also a former health coach and food blogger.
Christina Herbst
Christina is a Social Media Editor for Taste of Home. She enjoys trying out local restaurants and coffeehouses and adding copious amounts of garlic and cheese to any recipe she can get her hands on. In her free time, you can find her hunting down one-of-a-kind furniture pieces at thrift and vintage stores and DIYing trendy home decor crafts.