This Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Campfire Stew is a hearty and flavorful recipe, which uses gammon joint and baked beans. It’s the ultimate comfort food recipe, ready in about 6 to 8 hours.

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Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Campfire Stew Ingredients

1 (1 Large) Onion, See notes
3 Cloves Garlic, See notes
400 g (2 cups) Tinned chopped tomatoes
2 Tins (4 cups) Baked beans, (2 x 415g tins)
2 tbsp Tomato puree
2 tsp Cumin
4 tsp Sweet smoked paprika, See notes
1/2 tsp Mild chilli powder
3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
600 g (1 1/2 lb) Gammon joint, Fat layer cut off. See notes
2 Green peppers, See notes

How To Make Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Campfire Stew

Combine ingredients in slow cooker: Put all of the ingredients, except for the green peppers, into your slow cooker.
Slow cook: Cook on HIGH for 6 hours or on LOW for 8 hours.
Prep peppers: When the stew is cooked, microwave the chopped green peppers for about 3-4 minutes until they are just softened.
Shred meat and add peppers: Once the gammon joint is cooked and tender, shred the meat using a knife or two forks. Stir the shredded meat and the softened green peppers into the stew.
Serve: Stir everything well and serve hot.

Recipe Tips

Can I prepare this in advance? Yes, you can chop the onion and garlic ahead of time to save on prep.
How to ensure tender meat: Cooking on the low setting for the longer duration (8 hours) often results in even more tender gammon.
What if I don’t have a microwave for the peppers? You can sauté the chopped green peppers in a pan on the stovetop until softened, then add them to the stew.
Can I add other vegetables? Absolutely! Carrots, celery, or diced potatoes would also work well in this stew.
Adjusting the spice level: For more heat, you can increase the amount of mild chili powder or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.

What To Serve With Campfire Stew

This hearty campfire stew pairs wonderfully with simple sides that can soak up all the delicious sauce.

Crusty bread
Cornbread
Jacket potatoes
Green salad

How To Store Campfire Stew

Refrigerate: Store leftover campfire stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freeze: Allow the stew to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of meat for campfire stew? While gammon is traditional, you could try it with pork shoulder or even beef brisket, though cooking times might need adjustment.
Why are the peppers added at the end? Adding the peppers at the end ensures they retain some texture and don’t become overly mushy from the long cooking time.
How can I thicken my campfire stew if it’s too thin? You can remove a small amount of the liquid, mix it with a tablespoon of cornstarch, and then stir it back into the stew for a thicker consistency.
Is this recipe suitable for meal prepping? Yes, it’s an excellent recipe for meal prepping as it reheats well and flavors tend to deepen over time.

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Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Campfire Stew

Course: DinnerCuisine: British

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

hours

Calories

450

kcal

A hearty and flavorful slow cooker stew featuring tender gammon, baked beans, and a smoky tomato sauce.

Ingredients

1 large onion
3 cloves garlic
400 g tinned chopped tomatoes
2 tins (415g each) baked beans
2 tbsp tomato puree
2 tsp cumin
4 tsp sweet smoked paprika
1/2 tsp mild chilli powder
3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
600 g gammon joint, fat layer cut off
2 green peppers

Directions

Add all ingredients (except peppers) to slow cooker: Place the onion, garlic, chopped tomatoes, baked beans, tomato puree, cumin, sweet smoked paprika, mild chilli powder, Worcestershire sauce, and gammon joint into the slow cooker pot.
Cook on high or low: Cook on HIGH for 6 hours or on LOW for 8 hours.
Microwave peppers: When the stew is nearly done, microwave the chopped green peppers for 3-4 minutes until softened.
Shred meat and combine: Once the gammon is tender, remove it from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks or a knife. Return the shredded meat to the slow cooker and add the softened green peppers.
Stir and serve: Stir all ingredients together until well combined and serve hot.