🌾 Cold-Day Comfort: Cozy Chuckwagon Potato & Sausage Stew

A rich, warming stew made for slow evenings, thick sweaters, and full bellies.

Serves: 6–8Prep Time: 10 minutesCook Time: 40 minutes

🥔 Ingredients

• 1 lb smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced

• 2 tbsp butter or bacon grease

• 1 small onion, diced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 4 medium potatoes, diced

• 2 carrots, sliced

• 2 celery stalks, chopped

• 4 cups chicken or beef broth

• 1 cup milk or half-and-half

• 1 tsp thyme

• ½ tsp smoked paprika

• ½ tsp black pepper

• ½ tsp salt (to taste)

• Optional: chopped parsley or green onions for topping

🍳 Instructions

1. Brown the SausageIn a Dutch oven, melt butter and lightly brown the sausage for flavor. Remove and set aside.

2. Build the BaseIn the same pot, sauté onion, garlic, carrots, and celery until soft and fragrant.

3. Add Potatoes & BrothStir in potatoes, broth, thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil.

4. SimmerReduce heat and simmer 25–30 minutes, until potatoes are tender.

5. Make It CreamyReturn sausage to the pot. Stir in milk or half-and-half and warm through (don’t boil).

6. ServeLadle into bowls and enjoy with biscuits, cornbread, or crusty bread.

🤎 Cold-Day Tip

Mash a few potatoes right in the pot before adding the milk—it naturally thickens the stew and makes it extra cozy.