Name: Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Campfire Stew Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 6 h
Total time: 6 h 10 min
Ingredients: 1 large onion, chopped; 3 cloves garlic, crushed; 400g tinned chopped tomatoes; 2 x 415g tins baked beans; 2 tbsp tomato puree; 2 tsp ground cumin; 4 tsp sweet smoked paprika; ½ tsp mild chilli powder; 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 600g gammon joint, fat layer removed; 2 green peppers, chopped

This smoky slow cooker campfire stew is made with a whole gammon joint, baked beans, tinned tomatoes, and sweet smoked paprika. The gammon cooks low and slow until it falls apart, then gets shredded straight into the rich, thick sauce. It serves 6 and takes just 10 minutes to prep.

I make this on busy weekdays when I want something warming ready the moment I walk through the door. It is one of those dump-and-go recipes that tastes far better than the effort involved.

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What Is Campfire Stew?

Campfire stew is a popular British comfort dish that gets its name from the deep, smoky flavour of sweet smoked paprika. It is sometimes called cowboy stew. The base is always the same: a joint of gammon or ham slow cooked with baked beans, tinned tomatoes, onions, peppers, and warming spices.

The gammon cooks until it is tender enough to shred with two forks, and the sauce thickens as everything breaks down together. It became a family favourite across the UK thanks to its simplicity and the fact that everything goes into one pot.

Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Campfire Stew Recipe

Slow Cooker Campfire Stew Ingredients

1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
400g tinned chopped tomatoes
2 x 415g tins baked beans
2 tbsp tomato puree
2 tsp ground cumin
4 tsp sweet smoked paprika
½ tsp mild chilli powder
3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
600g gammon joint, fat layer removed
2 green peppers, chopped

How to Make Slow Cooker Campfire Stew

Combine the base: Place the chopped onion, crushed garlic, tinned tomatoes, baked beans, and tomato puree into the slow cooker pot. Add the cumin, sweet smoked paprika, chilli powder, and Worcestershire sauce.
Add the gammon: Nestle the whole gammon joint into the sauce. Stir the sauce ingredients around it so the joint is well coated. Cover with the lid.
Slow cook: Cook on HIGH for 6 hours or LOW for 8 hours. The gammon should be completely tender and easy to pull apart when done.
Cook the peppers separately: Just before serving, cook the chopped green peppers. Microwave them in a covered bowl for 3–4 minutes until just softened, or fry them quickly in a pan.
Shred the gammon: Remove the gammon from the pot and shred the meat using two forks. Return the shredded meat to the slow cooker.
Finish and serve: Stir the cooked green peppers into the stew and mix everything together well. Serve hot.

What Are the Best Tips for Slow Cooker Campfire Stew?

Cook the peppers at the end: For the best texture, cook the green peppers separately and stir them in just before serving. Adding them at the start makes them very soft and mushy.
Use sweet smoked paprika, not hot: Sweet smoked paprika gives the stew its signature smoky flavour without too much heat. Hot smoked paprika will overpower the dish completely.
Choose your gammon wisely: Either smoked or unsmoked gammon works well for this recipe. Smoked adds a deeper flavour that pairs nicely with the paprika.
Try it with sausages for a twist: Swap the gammon for chunky pork sausage pieces to make a sausage campfire stew. Brown them in a pan first, then add them to the slow cooker. You could also try our slow cooker sausage casserole for another easy one-pot meal.
Thicken the sauce if needed: If the stew is too thin at the end, remove the lid and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes. Alternatively, stir in 1 tbsp cornflour mixed with a splash of cold water.
Save time with frozen veg: Use about 150g of pre-chopped frozen onion and 3 tsp of frozen garlic to skip the chopping completely.

Can You Make Campfire Stew in the Oven?

Yes, you do not need a slow cooker to make campfire stew. To cook it in the oven, place all the ingredients except the peppers into a large lidded casserole dish. Cover tightly and cook at 160°C (140°C Fan / Gas Mark 3) for 2 to 2.5 hours until the gammon is tender enough to shred.

You can also make it on the hob. Bring everything to a gentle simmer in a large heavy-bottomed pot, then cover and cook on the lowest heat for 1.5 to 2 hours. Stir occasionally to stop it catching on the bottom.

Both methods give the same tender, smoky result as the slow cooker version.

What to Serve With This Stew

This campfire stew is hearty enough to eat on its own, but a baked jacket potato is the classic pairing. The fluffy potato soaks up the smoky sauce perfectly. Crusty bread or warm cornbread works well for dipping too.

For a lighter side, try steamed broccoli or a simple green salad. Rice and cauliflower rice both work if you want something more filling. If you love the baked bean flavour, our cowboy baked beans make a great side dish alongside.

How Should You Store Leftover Campfire Stew?

Allow the stew to cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It actually tastes even better the next day once the flavours have had time to develop.

This stew freezes very well. Transfer cooled portions to freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw thoroughly in the fridge before reheating on the hob or in the microwave until piping hot.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 202 kcal
Carbohydrates: 12g
Protein: 21g
Fat: 8g
Sodium: 1335mg
Dietary Fibre: 3g

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to soak the gammon joint first? Check the packaging, as some gammon can be very salty. If soaking is recommended, place it in cold water for several hours or overnight to draw out excess salt.

Can I use something other than gammon? Yes, large chunks of pork shoulder work well, though browning them first gives the best result. You could also try our beef stew and dumplings for a different meat altogether.

How does this campfire stew compare to Pinch of Nom’s? Both use gammon with beans and tomatoes in a slow cooker. Pinch of Nom adds celery, carrots, and mushrooms, while this version keeps it simple with just peppers and a stronger paprika flavour.

Can I double the recipe for a crowd? Yes, double all the ingredients and use a larger slow cooker or split it between two pots. A bigger gammon joint may need 1–2 extra hours of cooking time to become fully tender.

Is campfire stew the same as cowboy stew? They are very similar, but cowboy stew typically uses sausages instead of gammon and sometimes includes sweetcorn. The smoky base of beans, tomatoes, and paprika is the same in both.