This easy cowboy cookies recipe is loaded with chocolate chips, pecans and oatmeal making them a hearty, chewy and thick cookie the whole family will enjoy. We think it’s one of the best cookie recipes you can make!

This is yet another recipe that hung on our wall in the kitchen that I had yet to try. Named Pat’s Cowboy Cookies, I thought that because of the notes written on it and the fact that it had been saved, there was a pretty good chance that these cookies would turn out.

But I’ll be honest, I had no idea what cowboy cookies were. I had never heard of them. Were they like an oatmeal cookie? Or did they taste more like a chocolate chip cookie?

What are cowboy cookies?
Cowboy cookies are hearty, thick and chewy cookies made with chocolate chips, pecans and oatmeal. They use brown sugar which gives them a depth of flavor. They are sweet with tons of texture, making them a great snack or dessert.
How to make Cowboy Cookies

Cream together the shortening, sugar and light brown sugar.
Add the eggs one at a time, and then the vanilla extract. Beat well until fully blended.

Combine together the flour, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add the creamed mixture until well incorporated.
Stir in the oatmeal, pecans and chocolate bits until blended well.

Drop by the spoonfuls onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. I use a cookie scoop for evenly sized cookies which leads to even baking.

Bake in a 350˚F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until the cookies are just lightly brown. Let cool and enjoy!

Cowboy Cookies Baking Tips
Don’t pack the brown sugar. Following my grandma’s handwritten advice on these cowboy cookies, lightly pack the brown sugar when measuring it.
Chop up the semi-sweet chocolate chips. You can buy chocolate bits but I enjoyed having variance to my chocolate. By chopping them by hand, I liked the different sized bits in my cookies.
Use parchment paper. I prefer using a baking mat, but if you don’t have one on hand, grab some parchment paper.
Don’t over bake. The cookies will be lightly brown. Test one cookie first to perfect your baking time. Ovens can vary.

The texture of these cookies remind me of this Healthy Cookie Recipe but with a bit more sweetness. These hearty cowboy cookies have quickly become a family favorite. So much so, that when I made these on a snow day, my son kept asking me when he could dive in! Here I was trying to snap a great picture, and all he wanted was a cookie. Ha!
Enjoy!
More Cookie Recipes

Cowboy Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Cup butter softened
- 1 Cup white sugar
- 1 Cup light brown sugar lightly packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 Cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 Cups quick cook oats
- 1 Cup chopped pecans
- 3/4 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and then the vanilla extract. Beat until well blended.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add to wet ingredients until combined.
- Add oatmeal, pecans and chocolate bits and blend well. Drop by spoonfuls on baking sheet covered in parchment paper.
- Bake in a preheated 350˚ F oven for 12-15 minutes or until lightly brown. Let cool on cooling rack.
Comments & Reviews
Do I use salted or unsalted butter.