Cowboy Soup Recipe

What is Cowboy Soup?

Cowboy soup is a hearty ground beef soup made with potatoes, beans, corn, tomatoes, and vegetables in a seasoned tomato broth. There are lots of variations, but it’s generally an easy, filling soup made with simple ingredietns you may already have in your pantry.

My version uses pinto beans along with ground beef and potatoes plus smoked paprika, Cajun seasoning, chili powder, and cumin for plenty of flavor without making the soup overly spicy.

Cowboy Soup Ingredients

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this Cowboy Hamburger Soup:

• Ground beef
• Onion
• Red bell pepper
• Green bell pepper
• Russet Potatoes
• Diced tomatoes
• Sweet corn
• Pinto beans
• Tomato sauce
• Beef broth
• Chili powder
• Garlic salt
• Smoked paprika
• Cajun seasoning
• Cumin

Cowboy Soup Ingredient Notes:

• Smoked paprika: This is one ingredient I wouldn’t skip. Be sure to use smoked paprika rather than regular paprika because it gives the broth its smoky flavor.
• Potatoes: I use Russet potatoes and cut them into small, evenly sized pieces so they cook quickly and finish at about the same time.
• Pinto beans: Drain the beans before adding them to the soup. Pinto beans are my favorite in this recipe, but kidney beans or black beans can also be used.
• Diced tomatoes: Add the entire can, juice and all! you can also use fire-roasted diced tomatoes or Rotel if you want a little different flavor.

How to Make Cowboy Soup

Step 1: Add the ground beef to a large Dutch oven or soup pot. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking the beef apart as it cooks. Drain the excess grease if needed.

Step 2: Add the onion and red and green bell peppers. Cook for about 5 minutes, until they begin to soften.

Step 3: Stir in the potatoes, diced tomatoes with their juice, corn, pinto beans, and tomato sauce.

Step 4: Pour in the beef broth, then stir in the chili powder, garlic salt, smoked paprika, Cajun seasoning, and cumin.

Step 5: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.

Step 6: Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed. Garnish with chopped parsley or cilantro and serve.

Can I Make Cowboy Soup in the Crock Pot?

Yes, you can also make cowboy soup in the crock pot! Brown the ground beef in a skillet first, then add the onion and bell peppers and cook for a few minutes until they begin to soften.

Transfter the beef and vegetables to the slow cooker and add the potatoes, tomatoes, corn, pinto beans, tomato sauce, beef broth, and seasonings. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours, or until the potatoes are tender.

I prefer browning the ground beef first rather than adding it raw because it gives you better flavor and lets you drain any excess grease before it goes into the soup.

How to Store and Reheat:

Storage:  Store leftover cowboy soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Reheating: Reheat it on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, or microwave individual serving until hot.

Freezing: You can freeze Cowboy soup for up to 3 months. Let it cool completely before transferring it to freezer-safe containers. The potatoes may be a little softer after freezing and reheating, but the soup will still taste great.

Additions and Substitutions:

Ground beef: Ground turkey can be used in place of the ground beef if you prefer.

Beans: pinto beans are my favorite in this soup, but you can substitute kidney beans or black bean.

Tomatoes: Try fire-roasted diced tomatoes for a little extra smoky flavor, or use Rotel if you want to add some heat.

Vegetables: Green beans are an easy addition if you want to add another vegetable to the soup.

Spice: For a spicier Cowboy soup, add diced green chiles or a little cayenne pepper. You can also serve it with hot sauce so everyone can adjust the heat in their own bowl.

Cowboy Soup FAQs

What Beans Are Best for Cowboy Soup?

Pinto beans are my favorite for this Cowboy Soup recipe because they hold their shape and go so well with the ground beef, potatoes, and smoky broth. You can also use kidney beans, black beans, or chili beans. Some people even call this cowboy bean soup because beans are one of the main ingredients.

How Do You Thicken Cowboy Soup?

This Cowboy Soup recipe should have plenty of broth, but if you prefer yours a little thicker, like a Cowboy Stew, let it simmer uncovered for several extra minutes so some of the liquid can reduce.

You can also mash a few of the potatoes and beans against the side of the pot and stir them back into the soup. They’ll naturally thicken the broth without adding anything else.

Is this Cowboy Soup spicy?

It has plenty of seasoning , but I wouldn’t consider it a spicy soup. Cajun seasoning can vary quite a bit by brand, though, so you can reduce it if yours has a lot of heat. If someone wants theirs spicy, it’s easy to add hot sauce to individual bowls.

Why do they call it Cowboy Soup?

Cowboy soup gets its name from the hearty combination of meat, beans, potatoes, and vegetables. There isn’t one single traditional Cowboy Soup recipe, and you’ll find lots of variations made with simple, filing ingredients.

What’s the difference between Cowboy Soup and a Cowboy Stew Recipe?

Cowboy Soup has more broth, while a cowboy stew is generally thicker with less liquid. Both can contain similar hearty ingredients, but this recipe is definitely a soup with plenty of flavorful broth.

What Can I Serve with this easy cowboy soup recipe?

Cowboy Soup can easily be a complete meal on its own since it already has meat, potatoes and plenty of vegetables.

If you want some bread on the side to dip into the broth, try our jalapeño cornbread or Johnny Cakes.

If you bake with freshly milled flour, our Cheddar Garlic Drop Biscuits, or Fresh Milled Dinner rolls would be great with it too!