Texas-Style Smoked Sausage and Pinto Bean Stew

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-16 · Updated 2026-06-16

A warming stew combining smoked sausage and tender pinto beans with bold Texas regional spices and vegetables. This american-inspired pork ready in about 125 minutes pairs dried, soaked overnight pinto beans, medium, chopped yellow onion, medium, diced green bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 410 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb, sliced 1/2-inch thick smoked sausage links
• 1 cup dried, soaked overnight pinto beans
• 1 medium, chopped yellow onion
• 1 medium, diced green bell pepper
• 2, diced celery stalks
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

1. Step 1: Drain 1 cup dried pinto beans soaked overnight. In a large pot, add 4 cups chicken broth and soaked beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes until beans are tender but not mushy.
2. Step 2: While beans cook, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb sliced smoked sausage and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 1 medium chopped yellow onion, 1 diced green bell pepper, 2 diced celery stalks, and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet. Sauté for 7 minutes until vegetables soften and become aromatic.
4. Step 4: Transfer the sausage and vegetable mixture into the pot with the beans. Stir in 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, 1 tbsp ground cumin, 2 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
5. Step 5: Simmer the stew uncovered for an additional 30 minutes until flavors meld and the stew thickens slightly. Stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley before serving hot.