Cowboy Soup Recipe
This Cowboy Soup recipe is simple, hearty, and full of flavor. Made with ground beef, vegetables, and smoky seasoning, it’s a budget-friendly meal that tastes like it came straight off the campfire!
Some call it Cowboy Stew, others Cowboy Soup, but either way it’s the same hearty, budget-friendly classic.
If you love soup recipes, you may also like our: Chili Soup, Chicken Taco Soup, or Hamburger Vegetable Soup. And if you want a perfect side dish, try my Cowboy Baked Beans.
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Back in the day, hungry cowboys needed something hearty to keep them going on long cattle drives, and this hearty cowboy soup would’ve done the trick! With beef, beans, and fresh veggies, it’s a filling Tex-Mex style soup that warms you up from the inside out. Whether you’re feeding a crew or just need a bowl of comfort after a long day, this one’s a keeper!
Cook this hearty stew in a Dutch oven, simmer in a crock pot for 6-8 hours, or quickly whip it up in an Instant Pot. The secret ingredient that makes this soup stand out is the smoked paprika. It’s great for meal prep and family dinners.
What you’ll love about this Cowboy Soup Recipe:
Recipe Ingredients:
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this Cowboy Hamburger Soup:
- Ground beef (lots of lean ground beef works great)
- Onion (diced onion or small onion)
- Red bell pepper
- Green bell pepper
- Potatoes
- Diced tomatoes
- Sweet corn
- Pinto beans (ranch-style beans are perfect)
- Tomato sauce
- Beef broth
- Chili powder
- Garlic salt
- Smoked paprika
- Cajun seasoning
- Black pepper
- Chopped parsley
- Olive oil
Cowboy Soup Ingredient Notes:
- Ground Beef: You can use lean ground beef, or 80/20 and drain the excess grease. Other types of meat like ground chicken work too.
- Beans: I love using pinto beans, but ranch beans, chili beans, kidney beans, or black beans work great also! Cannellini beans are another option.
- Potatoes: I used Russet potatoes, but sweet potatoes cut into small pieces add a nice twist, or any potato will work.
- Tomatoes: I used diced tomatoes, but I’ve also used a can of Rotel tomatoes or fire-roasted diced tomatoes in the past.
- Vegetables: Feel free to add green beans, green chiles, or frozen veggies to the mix.
How to Make Cowboy Soup Step-by-Step:
Check out the quick visual guides below. For full instructions and ingredients, see the printable recipe card at the end.
STEP 1: Brown the ground meat in a large skillet or large pot over medium-high heat until fully cooked, then drain excess fat.
STEP 2:
Sauté onions and bell peppers with the beef until tender and fragrant.
STEP 3: Add diced potatoes, diced tomatoes, sweet corn, pinto beans, and tomato sauce to the pot.
STEP 4: Pour in beef broth and add the remaining ingredients: chili powder, garlic salt, smoked paprika, and Cajun seasoning.
STEP 5: Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes until potatoes are tender.
STEP 6: Taste and adjust seasoning to your preference. Add hot sauce if you like more heat. Serve hot.
Pro Tip:
For the best flavor, let the soup simmer on low heat for an extra 10-15 minutes after the potatoes are tender. This allows the ingredients to blend together, intensifying the rich and smoky taste that’s reminiscent of classic cowboy stew. Add a little bit of ground cumin for extra depth of flavor.
How to Store and Reheat:
Storage: Keep any leftover cowboy soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating: Gently warm the soup in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.
Freezing: This homemade soup can be frozen in freezer-safe containers for up to 2-3 months. When ready to use, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and reheat it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring occasionally until heated through.
Additions and Substitutions:
ADDITIONS:
- Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for extra heat, or serve with hot sauce on the side.
- Stir in a handful of shredded cheddar cheese before serving for a cheesy finish.
- Use frozen veggies or cans of vegetables instead of corn to add more variety.
- Top with a dollop of sour cream for extra richness.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
- Ground Beef: Swap with ground turkey, ground chicken, or sliced sausage for a flavor twist.
- Pinto Beans: Try black beans, kidney beans, or navy beans if you prefer.
- Beef Broth: Chicken broth or vegetable broth can be used in a pinch.
- Fresh vs. Convenience: You can use fresh ingredients or convenience items like ounce bags of pre-cut vegetables.
FAQs about this Hamburger Soup:
Can I make this a Crock pot Cowboy Soup instead?
Yes! Brown the beef and sauté the veggies first, then transfer everything to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours for a slow cooker soup version. It becomes pretty much hands off and crockpot cowboy soup is perfect for busy days!
How can I thicken this for a homemade Cowboy Stew?
Mash some of the potatoes or beans, simmer uncovered to reduce the liquid, or stir in a cornstarch slurry. This creates a thicker soup that’s more like a cowboy stew recipe.
Why do they call it Cowboy Soup?
It’s called cowboy soup because it’s a simple, hearty one-pot meal that’s easy to make with basic ingredients like beef, beans, and vegetables. The name comes from the idea of cowboys cooking a filling soup over a campfire on cattle drives, using whatever they had on hand.
What’s the difference between Cowboy Soup and a Cowboy Stew Recipe?
Cowboy Soup is brothier and more soup-like, while Cowboy Stew is thicker and heartier, but both use the same classic ingredients.
What beans are best for Cowboy Soup?
Pinto beans are traditional, but kidney beans, chili beans, or black beans all work well. Using beans as the base is why some people also call this cowboy bean soup.
What Can I Serve with this easy cowboy soup recipe?
This hamburger soup makes a perfect main course for dinner. Serve with jalapeño cornbread, biscuits, or Johnny Cakes.
Cowboy Soup
Equipment
- 1 Dutch Oven or Large pot
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper diced
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper diced
- 1 cup peeled and diced potatoes
- 1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes with juice
- 1 15 ounce can sweet corn drained
- 1 15 ounce can pinto beans drained
- 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- Chopped parsley or cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until cooked through. Drain any excess fat. 1 pound ground beef.
- Add the diced onion, red and green bell peppers to the pot with the beef. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. 1 medium onion,1/2 cup red bell pepper,1/2 cup green bell pepper.
- Add the diced potatoes, sweet corn, beans, diced tomatoes with their juice, and tomato sauce. Mix well. 1 cup peeled and diced potatoes,1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes,1 15 ounce can sweet corn,1 15 ounce can pinto beans,1 8 ounce can tomato sauce.
- Pour in the beef broth and bring the mixture to a boil. 3 cups beef broth.
- Reduce heat to a simmer, add the chili powder, garlic salt, smoked paprika, cumin and Cajun seasoning. Stir to combine. 1 tablespoon chili powder,1 teaspoon garlic salt,1 teaspoon smoked paprika,1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning.1/2 teaspoon cumin
- Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
- Serve the cowboy soup hot, garnished with chopped cilantro or parsley. Chopped parsley or cilantro for garnish
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
I’m excited for you to try this Cowboy Soup Recipe! After you make it, please leave a rating to let me know your thoughts on it – I’m eager to hear if you loved it as much as we do! This isn’t just an average soup, it’s delicious!
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I am hearing about this soup for the very first time but it looks super delicious. From the looks of it, this’ll definitely be a filling soup for sure!
I am sure I will be able to down a bowl or two of this awesome soup. Pinned it.
I’m a horrible cook, but this recipe looks perfect! Not intimidating, only 8 steps, I can’t wait to try it.
Oh yes, please try it out and let me know what you think!
Your soup looks so good! I know my husbnd will like it, too! Thanks for sharing!
Looks delicious and very filling! Will have to try. We are becoming family of 6 soon so we need more soup ideas! They go further 🙂
Congratulations on another sweet blessing!!
Oh this looks yummy! I am sure my husband would love this – it’s going on my to make list xx
This cowboy soup looks so hearty and delicious. Cant wait to try it out! Thanks for the recipe!
Great flavor! Perfect for a rainy Sunday dinner — my family loved it.
Sounds yummy. When’s dinner? LOL. It sounds so good and perfect for these snowy days.
Thanks for sharing with us, I’m featuring you this week when the next To Grandmas house we go link party starts!
Thank you so much!!
This cowboy soup is so amazing! It has such a great flavor and is full of vegetables! This recipe was easy to follow, thank you for this recipe!
It has to be “SMOKED” paprika!!! I found this during COVID and Im hooked on it. I can’t wait to make this soup! I look forward to more posts from you!
This recipe is fantastic! It is full of flavor and so easy to make. My family loved it and immediately asked for seconds. I made it with sweet potatoes and it won’t disappoint.
So happy to hear! The sweet potatoes sound like a really nice addition, I need to try it!
Amazing Soup! I love all of the hearty ingredients. Plus, the smoked paprika is like a secret ingredient that makes it taste so good!
Thank you! Yes, I love using smoked paprika in recipes, it’s my favorite!
I’m a ranch wife that has cooked for cowboys for 37 years so thank you for thinking of me. This sounds wonderful.
A buddy was talking about eatin some cowboy soup his wife made off the internet. I found this recipe and I have to say it was some good eatin! I used 2 green peppers that’s all I had. very good, will try out some more of your recipes since this one turned out so good.
Hi Stan! I’m so happy to hear you liked it as much as we do!
Good recipe nice timing for this cold weather!!! Easy and yummy
Thank you Cathy!!
Absolutely delicious, I made this for supper tonight everyone loved it! Keeping this recipe, thank you sharing your recipe
Hi Erica, so happy to hear!
I made this last weekend and it was such a huge hit! My 3-year old grandson is obsessed with cowboys, so I made it for his birthday party. The name made him smile and he ate his entire bowl! Actually everyone loved it, I got great comments on it. So hearty and filling.
Hi Linda! What a fun idea! I’m so glad your little cowboy and his party guests loved it! My twins love the name too, LOL!
Great warming comfort food for cold nights as we head into fall and winter. Goes great with a loaf of homemade bread fresh from the oven!
Absolutely delicious and super easy to make! I added 3 large cloves of garlic, minced, and omitted the cumin since it’s not a favorite here.
This is the 1st recipe probably out of 99, that my husband actually
Liked! Lol only difference is I added a 1/2 block of cream cheese and then sprinkled cheese on top when serving!!
Hi Jen! I’m so happy to hear this!