Cowboy Soup
Warm up with our Cowboy Soup, a hearty and satisfying recipe that brings a bit of the Wild West to your dinner table. This soup is not just filling and budget-friendly; it’s a one-pot wonder that combines convenience with the rich, smoky flavors reminiscent of traditional cowboy cuisine.
It’s the perfect comfort food for a busy day, loaded with ground beef, wholesome veggies, and a rich broth. Plus the name alone makes you smile!
Are you looking for more yummy soups? Try our Easy Chicken Noodle Soup, Easy Clam Chowder, or our CopyCat Olive Garden’s classic Pasta e Fagioli soup.
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Enjoy a hearty cowboy stew, perfect for any meal. Cook it in a Dutch oven, simmer in a crock pot for 6-8 hours, or quickly whip it up in an Instant Pot. With simple ingredients like lots of ground beef, it’s packed with nutritious ingredients like vegetables, and pinto beans. The secret ingredient that makes this soup stand out is the smoked paprika.
Leftover cowboy soup can be stored in freezer-safe containers for 2-3 months, making it perfect for meal prep and family dinners.
So whether you’re feeding some hungry cowboys on long cattle drives or just having a long day, this delicious Tex-Mex soup with its hearty ingredients is the best soup to warm you up. It’s an average soup no more; it’s the ultimate cowboy hamburger soup recipe that you’ll want to enjoy next time, and the next day, and the next day!
Side note: What other recipe can you talk about cowboys so much? LOL! It’s so fun and my cute little twins just loved the thought of eating real cowboy food!
What you’ll love about this Cowboy Stew Recipe:
Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this Cowboy Hamburger Soup:
INGREDIENT NOTES:
- Ground beef- You can use lean ground beef, or 80/20 and drain.
- Onion
- Red bell pepper
- Green bell pepper
- Potatoes- I used Russet potatoes, but any potato will work.
- Diced tomatoes- I used diced tomatoes, but I’ve also used a can of Rotel tomatoes or fire-roasted diced tomatoes in the past.
- Sweet corn
- Pinto beans- I love using pinto beans, but ranch-style beans, chili beans, kidney beans, or black beans work great also!
- Tomato sauce
- Beef broth
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Smoked paprika
- Cajun seasoning
- Salt
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 ground beef in a large pot over medium heat; break it apart as it cooks. Sauté onions and bell peppers with the beef until tender and fragrant.
STEP 2: Add the tomatoes, sweet corn, pinto beans, and tomato sauce to the pot.
STEP 3: Pour in beef broth and stir in the potatoes.
STEP 4: Season with chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and Cajun seasoning. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes until potatoes are tender.
STEP 5: Taste and adjust seasoning to your preference. Ladle into bowls, garnish with parsley, and serve piping hot!
Pro Tip:
Cowboy soup gets even tastier if you let it hang out in the fridge overnight. The flavors have a chance to mix and mingle, making it even more delicious the next day!
Storage and Reheating
Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator, in an airtight container. It can be kept for up to 3 days.
Reheating: Gently warm the soup in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.
Freezing: This homemade soup can be frozen 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 & Substitutions
ADDITIONS:
- Vegetables: Feel free to add mixed vegetables like carrots, celery, or zucchini for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Beans: Experiment with different types of beans such as black beans, kidney beans, or navy beans for added variety.
- Spices: If you like it spicier, consider adding green chilies or a pinch of cayenne pepper for some heat.
- Grains: You can add cooked rice, quinoa, or pasta for a heartier soup.
- Cheese: Before serving, top each bowl with a sprinkle of shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
- Ground Beef: If you prefer different types of meat, you can substitute for ground chicken or ground turkey.
- Broth: Instead of beef broth, you can use chicken broth or vegetable broth whichever is your preference.
- Potatoes: Sweet potatoes can be a tasty alternative to regular potatoes, adding a slightly sweet flavor.
FAQs about this Hamburger Soup:
What Can I Serve with this easy cowboy soup recipe?
Serve with cornbread, biscuits, a simple green salad, or crusty sourdough bread for dipping.
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 can 15 oz diced tomatoes, with juice
- 1 can 15 oz sweet corn, drained
- 1 can 15 oz pinto beans, drained
- 1 can 8 oz tomato sauce
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon 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.
- Add the diced onion, red and green bell peppers to the pot with the beef. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the diced potatoes, sweet corn, diced tomatoes with their juice, and tomato sauce. Mix well.
- Pour in the beef broth and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a simmer, add the chili powder, garlic salt, smoked paprika, cumin and Cajun seasoning. Stir to combine.
- 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.
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!
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 visited you via To Grandma’s House we go! Wednesday Link Party #385
My links: 38+39. We will be so happy if you share your links with us at SeniorSalonPitStop. Link under BLOGGING.
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!