This Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Campfire Stew Recipe is an easy and hearty recipe, which is made with a gammon joint and baked beans. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner, ready in about 6 to 8 hours.
Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Campfire Stew Recipe Ingredients
- 1 large Onion, chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic, crushed
- 400 g (2 cups) Tinned chopped tomatoes
- 2 (415g) Tins Baked beans
- 2 tbsp Tomato puree
- 2 tsp Cumin
- 4 tsp Sweet smoked paprika
- ½ tsp Mild chilli powder
- 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 600 g (1.5 lb) Gammon joint, fat layer removed
- 2 Green peppers, chopped
How To Make Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Campfire Stew
- Combine Ingredients: Place the chopped onion, crushed garlic, chopped tomatoes, baked beans, tomato puree, cumin, sweet smoked paprika, chilli powder, Worcestershire sauce, and the whole gammon joint into the slow cooker pot.
- Slow Cook: Stir the sauce ingredients around the gammon. Cover and cook on HIGH for 6 hours or on LOW for 8 hours.
- Prepare the Peppers: Just before the stew is finished, cook the chopped green peppers. You can microwave them in a covered bowl for 3-4 minutes until just softened, or quickly fry them in a pan.
- Shred the Gammon: Once the cooking time is complete, the gammon should be very tender. Remove it from the slow cooker and shred the meat using two forks.
- Finish and Serve: Return the shredded gammon to the slow cooker. Add the cooked green peppers and stir everything together well. Serve hot.

Recipe Tips
- How should I add the green peppers? The recipe notes suggest you have options. For very soft peppers, add them at the beginning. For firmer peppers, add them in the last hour of cooking. For the best texture, the author recommends cooking them separately in the microwave or a pan just before serving and stirring them in at the end.
- What kind of gammon should I use? You can use either a smoked or unsmoked gammon joint, depending on your taste preference. If you can’t find the exact size, a slightly larger joint will work fine.
- Can I use hot smoked paprika? It is very important to use SWEET smoked paprika, not hot. Hot smoked paprika will make the dish much spicier and change the intended flavor profile completely.
- Can I use frozen onions and garlic? Yes, to save on prep time, you can use pre-chopped frozen onion and garlic. Use about 150g of frozen onion and 3 teaspoons of frozen garlic.
What To Serve With Campfire Stew
This hearty, all-in-one stew is a meal in itself, but it’s also delicious with:
- A baked jacket potato
- Crusty bread or warm cornbread for dipping
- A simple side of steamed broccoli
How To Store Campfire Stew
- Refrigerate: Allow the stew to cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: This recipe freezes very well. Once cooled, transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw thoroughly in the refrigerator before reheating on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Campfire Stew Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 202 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Protein: 21g
- Fat: 8g
- Sodium: 1335mg
- Fiber: 3g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
It depends on the joint. Some gammon joints, especially unsmoked ones, can be very salty. Check the packaging instructions; if it recommends soaking, place the gammon in cold water for several hours or overnight to draw out excess salt.
Yes, this stew is very adaptable. You could substitute the gammon with large chunks of pork shoulder or even smoked sausages for a different flavor.
It gets its name from its rustic, one-pot nature and smoky flavor from the paprika and gammon. It’s reminiscent of a hearty meal you might cook over an open fire.

Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Campfire Stew Recipe
Description
A hearty and smoky one-pot stew featuring a tender gammon joint slow-cooked with baked beans and vegetables.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Place all ingredients EXCEPT the green peppers into the slow cooker.
- Stir the sauce ingredients around the gammon joint.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 6 hours.
- Just before serving, cook the chopped green peppers separately until just tender.
- Remove the gammon from the pot, shred the meat with two forks, and return it to the stew.
- Stir in the cooked green peppers.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- For the best texture, cook the green peppers separately at the end and stir them in.
- You can use either smoked or unsmoked gammon according to your preference.
- Be sure to use SWEET smoked paprika, as hot paprika will make the dish very spicy.
- Check your gammon’s packaging to see if it requires soaking to remove excess salt before cooking.