44 Cowgirl-Inspired Recipes

How to Make the Best-Ever Fried Chicken

The best fried chicken recipe is super crunchy on the outside but oh-so juicy and tender on the inside. Surprisingly enough, we make it without buttermilk!

Cowboy Beans

When you bring sweet and tangy cowboy beans to share, you'll be the hit of the barbecue!

Southwest Corn

Making southwestern sautéed corn takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish and it comes out wonderfully every time.

Pork Burgers

These ground pork burgers are a flavorful alternative to all-beef burgers. Our pork burger recipe uses a few secret ingredients to make sure the patties turn out juicy and moist.

Corn Chowder with Bacon

Warm up on a cold winter day with corn chowder with bacon and potatoes. Our recipe is loaded with buttery Yukon Gold potatoes, smoky bacon and sweet corn in a rich and creamy broth. We also use a smart ingredient swap so the soup can thicken naturally without cornstarch or flour.

Pineapple-Rhubarb Jam

Rhubarb, pineapple and strawberry make an awesome jam that brings back memories of living on a farm and growing my own rhubarb. —Debbi Barate, Seward, Pennsylvania

Fiesta Scrambled Eggs

I love to fix this spicy scrambled egg dish for friends and family. It’s almost a meal in itself, but I serve it with muffins or biscuits, fresh fruit juice and coffee. —Kay Kropff, Canyon, Texas

Tex-Mex Bean Bake with Cornbread Topping

I frequently cooked this dish when I was on the cross-country team in college. We loved this veggie-packed bake so much I would have to make two! For a meaty version, substitute shredded chicken for half of the potato. —Samantha Westveer, Kentwood, Michigan

Southwest Rice

Bright, colorful and chock-full of flavor, this hearty southwest rice will become a favorite side to all your Tex-Mex mains. With total prep and cook time coming in under 30 minutes, it's also ideal for busy weeknights.

Sunday Best Stuffed Pork Chops

We’re farmers and ranchers who love to cook in a Dutch oven. Dish up these chops from the oven, and pass the salad, potatoes and steamed broccoli. —Lorraine Smith, Carpenter, Wyoming

Creamy Ranchified Potatoes

My daughter-in-law gave me this recipe, and over the years, I've adjusted it to our tastes. It's so nice to come home from work to a hot, tasty dish that's ready to serve! You can use any cheese you'd like and also substitute leftover chicken or another meat for the ham. —Jane Whittaker, Pensacola, Florida

Wyoming Whopper Cookies

These big country cookies are made to travel—in fact, I came up with this recipe while trying to match a commercial cookie that was good, but too crumbly to carry. —Jamie Hirsch, Powell, Wyoming

Pickled Sweet Peppers

Pickled sweet peppers are a great way to give a quick boost of flavor and crunch to sandwiches, meat dishes, tacos and pretty much any meal you can think of.

Church Supper Spaghetti

Because this recipe feeds so many, I often take it to church dinners and potlucks. This colorful dish also comes in handy when we have lots of help to feed on our farm. —Verlyn Wilson, Wilkinson, Indiana

Potato Rolls

Homemade potato rolls have a distinctively delicious flavor and moist, fluffy texture.

Southwestern Beef Barley Stew

Hearty and easy to fix, this thick stew has a comforting, chili-like flavor. It's my best barley recipe. I'm sure you'll agree that it's a tasty dish. —Lisa Kolenich, Regina, Saskatchewan

Slow Cooker Mushroom Stuffing

My grandmother created this recipe after my grandfather left the well-drilling business and invested all their money in a mushroom farm. The farm was a success and saw the family through the Great Depression. —Eric Cooper, Durham, North Carolina

White Chili

Creamy, dreamy and packed with spices and seasoning, this white chili recipe will be your new favorite for cozy nights and game-day gatherings.

Cowboy Cornbread

This cornbread is richer and sweeter than others I’ve tried, and especially luscious alongside ham and beans. —Karen Ann Bland, Gove, Kansas

Blueberry Slump

My mother-in-law used to make slump with wild blueberries and serve it warm with a pitcher of farm cream on the table. My husband and I have been eating it for 58 years, but the recipe is even older! —Eleanore Ebeling, Brewster, Minnesota

Rhubarb Citrus Punch

Rhubarb grows abundantly in our large farm garden. I'll make this punch for summertime gatherings or for special occasions with our extended family. —Ina Frey, St. Clemens, Ontario

Oven Barbecued Chicken

Chicken and Sunday dinner belong together. During my married life on a dairy farm, I'd make this baked bbq chicken before church. — Esther Shank, Harrisonburg, Virginia

Cowboy Cookies

Cowboy cookies are packed with hearty mix-ins: chocolate chips, oats, pecans and shredded coconut. Our cowboy cookie recipe also includes a unique step—toasting the coconut and pecans—to add a layer of complexity.

Sauerkraut Casserole

An unexpected blend of sweet and savory ingredients makes this sauerkraut casserole a delight you'll want to serve at barbecues, holiday dinners and tailgate parties alike.

Grilled Pork and Poblano Peppers

My husband and I entertain a lot in summer, and this has quickly become the most-requested dish. I usually serve it with Mexican rice and a tossed salad.

Beef and Rice Skillet

If you love stuffed peppers but don't love the effort, this loaded beef and rice skillet is the answer. You can get it on the table in a half hour flat.

Cheesy Chili

My six grandchildren enjoy feasting on big bowls of this zesty chili. It's so creamy and tasty, you can even serve it as a dip at parties. —Codie Ray, Tallulah, Louisiana

Spicy Chuck Wagon Beans

Baked beans don't get any easier! All you have to do is open some cans, chop an onion, and add a dash (or two) of hot sauce. They'll simmer to perfection in minutes.—James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

Strawberry Crumble Pie

I host an annual pie-making party before Labor Day. We have a pig roast on our farm, but the pies take center stage at the end of the meal. —Beth Howard, Donnellson, Iowa

Slow-Cooker Milk-Can Supper

Here’s a slow-cooked version of a campfire classic. Pioneers and cowboys would cook this meal over a milk can on an open fire, letting the flavors and textures blend together. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado

Skillet Beef Tamales

I found something similar to this years ago and have recently added my own spin. Here’s the outcome: an easy, cheesy meal your family can't get enough of. We don't have to tell them it's healthy. —Deborah Williams, Peoria, Arizona

Fiesta Chicken

Chili powder and picante sauce add just the right dash to this hearty main dish. It's a snap to assemble since it uses convenience foods. —Teresa Peterson, Kasson, Minnesota

Sour Cream Raisin Pie

Creamy, custardy sour cream raisin pie is a nostalgic favorite. It always seems that the best desserts come from the yellowed and splotched recipe cards tucked away in Grandma’s recipe box. This recipe is certainly among the lineup.

Four-Cheese Chicken Fettuccine

As a cattle rancher, my husband's a big fan of beef. For him to comment on a poultry dish is rare. But he always tells me, "I love this casserole!" I first tasted it at a potluck; now, I fix it for my family (we have a 3-year-old daughter) once or twice a month, and I'm asked to take it to most every get-together. —Rochelle Brownlee, Big Timber, Montana

Rolled Buttermilk Biscuits

I scribbled down this recipe when our family visited The Farmers' Museum in Cooperstown, New York, many years ago. I must have gotten it right, because these biscuits turn out wonderful every time. —Patricia Kile, Elizabeth, Pennsylvania

Cornbread Casserole

Cornbread casserole has all the comfort of crumbly cornbread but is mixed with whole kernel corn, cream-style corn and butter to make a cakelike consistency.

Tex-Mex Breakfast Haystacks

I love haystacks and wanted to make a fun Tex-Mex recipe for my family. Adding panko crumbs and cheese to the hash browns before cooking gives them a wonderful golden brown color and crisp texture. —Donna-Marie Ryan, Topsfield, Massachusetts

Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

Strawberry-rhubarb pie is the best way to celebrate the coveted summer season of fresh strawberries and rhubarb.

Slow-Cooker Pork Pozole

I make this heartwarming stew with pork ribs and hominy often. It's a filling recipe of lightly spiced comfort. —Genie Gunn, Asheville, North Carolina

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

Pina Colada Zucchini Bread

Pina colada zucchini bread is a fun new take on the usual quick bread loaf. This recipe is filled with tons of summery flavors, from tropical pineapple and coconut to heady rum and vanilla.

Sweet Corn and Potato Gratin

This tasty potato gratin side dish combines great garlic and onion flavor, and kids love the nice crispy topping, too! —Jennifer Olson, Pleasanton, California

Southwestern Spaghetti

Chili powder and cumin give a mild Mexican flavor to this colorful one-skillet supper. With chunks of fresh zucchini, it's a nice change of pace from typical spaghetti dishes. —Beth Coffee, Hartford City, Indiana

Strawberry Shortcake

Our strawberry shortcake is a classic recipe that can be ready by lunchtime. Use those farmers market strawberries for something special.