Whether you spend time on a ranch, are a fan of old Westerns or have been playing country music albums on repeat, you might have cowboys on the brain. Try one of these recipes – many of which offer meaty, Tex-Mex flavors – that seem to have been made with cowboys in mind.
From Cowboy Cookies, which are as sweet as they are energy-packed, to easy-sipping Ranch Water, you don’t have to be a cowboy to get a taste of the West.
Start with Cowboy Caviar. You can thank Oklahoma for this easy, bright and tangy salad. It’s made with one of the state’s staple crops, black-eyed peas – or cowpeas as some in the “Sooner State” like to say.
With bursts of corn, tomato and pepper, it’s a salad that can be served cold or at room temperature, making it perfect for a picnic or tailgate party.
Cowboy Bacon Beans
Ree’s recipe for a big pot of beans is a little sweet, a little spicy and a lot satisfying. This “classic cowboy side” is made with a bit of bacon for heft, and chili powder for some zip and color. A generous helping of these thickly sauced pinto beans will keep you powered through the day.
Chile Herb Cowboy Butter
Butter requires very little to make it taste delicious, but in this recipe, the herbs, garlic and chile take it over the top. You can use Ree’s Cowboy Butter for mashed potatoes, or spread it on freshly baked bread.
Cowboy Butter Shrimp and Grits
Another great way to use Cowboy Butter? Shrimp and grits. Food Network Kitchen’s take on this compound butter includes garlic, lemon and parsley, to pair perfectly with the classic comfort food.
Cowboy Nachos
These are no ordinary nachos. Instead of ground beef, Ree takes this party dish to the next level with fork-tender braised beef brisket. Bacon-flavored pinto beans add a cowboy flare.
Cow Patty Cookies
While the cheeky name of these cookies might have you thinking twice, rest assured that these big, chocolatey treats are full of sweet things only. Dried cranberries, chocolate chips and caramelized nuts bring a variety of texture to every bite.
Cowboy Spaghetti
Rachael’s spaghetti has all the heartiness of a chili – plenty of meat and heat – plus the comfort of pasta. With two crowd-pleasing comfort foods combined into one, this recipe is primed to be a family favorite.
Cowboy Lasagna
Trisha Yearwood uses three (yes, three!) meats – ground beef chuck, pork sausage and pepperoni – in her hearty Cowboy Lasagna. There’s plenty of protein between layers of cheese and noodles to power you through the day.
Cowboy Cheese Bites
This 6-ingredient appetizer is perfect for guests. Ree cuts circles out of a sheet of frozen puff pastry, and places jalapeño slices on each one. Manchego cheese and Parmesan tie each bite together.
Cowboy Chopped Salad
Ree says this is the perfect 16-minute meal. Chopped salad gets a cowboy twist with bacon and fried tortilla strips. She also adds barbeque and hot sauce to the dressing, and tosses it into a cool, crisp iceberg lettuce (the “quintessential cowboy green”) salad.
Cowboy Quiche
For an easy meal for a crowd of cowboys, put together Cowboy Quiche, which, of course, includes bacon – plus sharp Cheddar and caramelized onions.
Cowboy Breakfast Sandwiches
Classic breakfast sandwiches get the cowboy treatment thanks to jarred jalapeño slices for a bit of heat, all while served between big, beautiful slices of Texas toast.
