21 Best Cowboy and Cowgirl Recipes for a Taste of the Frontier
Saddle up for some tasty food!
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If you know anything about Ree Drummond, it's that she lives on a ranch in Oklahoma and makes some of the most delicious comfort food to feed all the hungry cowboys that work so hard, including her husband and kids. That's what makes her iconic TV show so unique, and it really is her life. "Everyone on the ranch looks at me and wonders where the food is. It’s part of my identity. And I’m okay with that," she once said.
So, it's safe to say that The Pioneer Woman definitely knows a thing or two about cowboy recipes (and cowgirl recipes, too). Of course, you do not need to live on a ranch to make her cowboy food. You just need to be hungry. Because the one thing every single one of these cowboy recipes have in common is that they are hearty and filling to fuel you through your daily activities. So even if you're running the kids home from soccer practice instead of feeding cattle―you're all going to be just as hungry!
You'll find something for every meal of the day from hearty breakfast casseroles with a spicy cup of joe to midday snacks and desserts like cookies. Of course, you'll also find lots of family dinner ideas. It wouldn't be a list cattle ranch recipes without some steak dinners and stew recipes! So saddle up for some tasty food, because you're about to get a taste of the frontier right in your own home.
Cowboy Casserole
This cast-iron skillet dinner starts with a creamy filling loaded with corn, spinach, and ground beef. Then top it off with cheese and tater tots, which get all golden brown and crunchy once baked.
Get the Cowboy Casserole recipe.
Cowboy Spaghetti
Nothing will fill you up quite like this hearty mashup of spaghetti and chili. It's a little spicy, a little smoky, and a whole lot of satisfying. Plus, you'll have it on the table in just 40 minutes.
Get Ree's Cowboy Spaghetti recipe.
Cowboy Steak
A cowboy steak is an extra-thick-cut, bone-in ribeye with some of the bone left exposed. The cut is well-marbled, making it meltingly tender when cooked and it goes so well with a slathering of ranch butter on top.
Get the Cowboy Steak recipe.
Cowboy Butter
This compound butter is mixed with so many scrumptious additions: garlic, green onion, herbs, red pepper flakes, and lemon zest. Slather it on anything and everything from steak to baked potatoes.
Get Ree's Cowboy Butter recipe.
Cowboy Quiche
You probably don't think of quiche when you picture a cowboy. But trust Ree on this. No one can resist a bacon and cheddar filling come brunch!
Get Ree's Cowboy Quiche recipe.
Cowboy Cookie Bars
Even the sweets have to be hearty on a ranch! These cookie bars are loaded with shredded coconut, crunchy pecans, chocolate chips, and oats for a flavorful afternoon snack.
Get Ree's Cowboy Cookie Bars recipe.
Spicy Cowgirl Coffee
Want something to go with that midday snack? This will perk you right up! It's a mix of cold brew coffee, chile syrup, milk, and dark chocolate, topped with a sweet vanilla whipped cream.
Get Ree's Spicy Cowgirl Coffee recipe.
Cowboy Beans
If you've never had cowboy beans, get ready for a big pot of comfort. This dish is a marriage of beans, bacon, and beef in a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce. Hello, amazing side dish!
Get the Cowboy Beans recipe.
Cowboy Pasta Salad
There's always room for another pasta salad recipe. This one features kielbasa, black-eyed peas, lots of crunchy veggies, cheese, and a light lime vinaigrette to add extra zest.
Get Ree's Cowboy Pasta Salad recipe.
Cowboy Stew
Why choose between chili and beef stew? This is the perfect mashup of both! It has three types of meat, plus potatoes, corn, beans, and a savory, smoky broth that ties everything together.
Get Ree's Cowboy Stew recipe.
Cowgirl Chicken Salad
Combine grilled chicken, corn, black beans, cheese, peppers and onions with fresh cilantro and a light, zesty, just-creamy-enough dressing. Serve on tortilla chips, over salad, or between two slices of bread.
Get Ree's Cowgirl Chicken Salad recipe.
Cowboy Breakfast Casserole
The best way to wake up, ranch style? Make a casserole with eggs, crispy bacon, hearty sausage, golden potatoes, tortilla strips, and fresh pico de gallo. You assemble it the night before and just pop it in the oven the next morning.
Get the Cowboy Breakfast Casserole recipe.
Cowboy Coffee
What does a cowboy drink with his hearty breakfast? Coffee, of course! This calls for a shot of espresso and sarsaparilla syrup to give it an extra kick. Top with pinch of smoked sea salt.
Get Ree's Cowboy Coffee recipe.
Cowboy Caviar
This fresh, chunky dip is full of black-eyed peas, black beans, bell pepper, onion, tomato, and some jalapeño for a little bit of heat. It can be whipped up in just 15 minutes, too!
Get the Cowboy Caviar recipe.
Cowboy Cookies
This is a riff on the classic chocolate chip cookie with hearty mix-ins like oats, pecans, and coconut. And because they're easy to make, they only take 15 minutes of prep. Make 'em anytime!
Get the Cowboy Cookies recipe.
Spicy Cowgirl Martini
After a hard day on your own ranch, you deserve a cocktail. Think of this as an espresso martini with a kick from chili syrup. Shake it up and add a sprinkle of cayenne.
Get Ree's Spicy Cowgirl Martini recipe.
Cowboy Candy (Candied Jalapeños)
What can you do with a sweet and spicy treat? Garnish your party dips, add a splash of the syrup from the jar to your favorite cocktail, or chop some up to spice your favorite pasta salad.
Get the Cowboy Candy recipe.
Cowboy Potatoes
Serve up this side in a skillet! Crispy, seasoned potatoes, gooey cheddar cheese, smoky bacon, pickled jalapeños, barbecue sauce, and a sprinkle of green onions are what a cowboy's dreams are made of.
Get Ree's Cowboy Potatoes recipe.
Bacon-Wrapped Filets with Cowboy Butter
What's better than a juicy steak? A juicy steak wrapped in bacon and then drenched in an herby butter! Ree made this for Ladd for their anniversary one year. Now that's the right gift for a cowboy.
Cowboy Nachos
Ree uses leftover brisket for these stick-to-your-ribs nachos. Top with spiced pinto beans, enchilada sauce, as much cheese as you want, plus a sprinkle of pico de gallo.
Get Ree's Cowboy Nachos recipe.
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