Cowboy Soup Recipe - Easy & Hearty Stew! (2024)

Cowboy Soup is a filling, hearty dish that’s perfect forfamily dinnersormeal prep. This tasty soup is packed with a comforting blend of ground beef, sausage, beans, vegetables, and spices, this soup will keep everyone full and satisfied. Thisdelicious Tex-Mex soupis easy to make withcommon ingredientsfrom your pantry. Plus, it makesgreat leftoversand can even be stored for months if frozen. With itsnutritious ingredientsandsmoky flavor, Cowboy Soup is truly one of my favorite soups!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Cowboy Soup is a winner for anyone who loves a hearty,filling soupthat can feed thewhole family. It’s made withsimple ingredientsthat you can easily find at mostgrocery stores, and the recipe is flexible enough to work with whatever you have on hand. The combination ofground meat, beans,fresh vegetables, and spices makes this a nutritious option that’s loaded with flavor. It also stores well infreezer-safe containers, so you can enjoy it again another time.

If you love hearty soups, don’t miss my creamy Hamburger Potato Soup, my flavorful Ground Chicken Chili, and my reader-favorite Ground Turkey Vegetable Soup.

This makes a LOT of soup, which is one of the things I love. We eat it three nights in a row, and mix it up by having different toppings or sides to change it up a bit. We might have it topped with cheese or even served over rice! You can also pair it with my Easy Buttermilk Cornbread.

How to Make Cowboy Soup

Don’t be intimidated by the longer list of ingredients in this recipe. Trust me, every vegetable, type of meat, and spice has its place in this dish. It creates the most flavorful stew. You’re going to love it! Here’s how you can get started:

Ingredients:

• Olive Oil: Used to sauté the vegetables and brown the meat.Olive oiladds a subtle flavor and prevents sticking.
• Onion: Onions provide a rich base for the soup and complement the other flavors well.
• Carrots: Adds a touch of sweetness and extra nutrition to the soup.
• Celery: Gives the soup texture and blends with the other vegetables.
• Ground Beef:Lean ground beefis a key protein source in thiscowboy hamburger soup recipe.
• Italian Sausage: Adds a bit of spice and extra depth to the flavor.
• Tomato Paste: Helps thicken the soup and adds a rich, tangy flavor.
• Garlic Powder: Offers a subtle garlic flavor without overpowering the dish.
• Cumin: Provides asmoky flavorthat enhances the Tex-Mex feel of the soup.
• Oregano: Adds an earthy, herby taste that rounds out the flavors.
• Chili Powder: Brings the perfect level of heat and depth to the soup.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances all the other flavors and helps season the dish properly.
• Ground Black Pepper: Adds a mild spice to balance out the other flavors.
• Diced Tomatoes: These tomatoes add a fresh, acidic touch that brightens the soup.
• Rotel TomatoeswithGreen Chiles: Provides a little heat and an extra layer of Tex-Mex flavor.
• Ranch-Style Beans: A hearty, flavorful type of beans that brings the dish together.
• Sweet Corn: Adds a bit of sweetness and texture to the soup.
• Green Beans: A nutritious vegetable that gives the soup a nice crunch.
• Russet Potatoes: Helps thicken the soup and adds a hearty texture.
• Beef Broth: Creates a rich, savory base for the soup and enhances the overall flavor.
• Parsley: Optional garnish for a fresh touch.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step One:Start by heatingolive oilin a largeDutch ovenorlarge skilletovermedium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add your diced onions, carrots, and celery. Cook the vegetables until the onions are translucent and the other veggies start to soften, which should take about 10 minutes.

Step Two:Add thelean ground beefand Italian sausage to the pot. Break the meat apart with a wooden spoon, cooking until it’s no longer pink. Make sure to drain anyexcess greasebefore moving on to the next step.

Step Three:Add thegarlic powder, cumin, oregano,chili powder, Kosher salt, and black pepper to the pot. Stir well and cook for about 2 minutes, allowing the spices to blend and create asmoky flavor.

Step Four:Now, add in the diced tomatoes,Rotel tomatoeswithgreen chilies,ranch-style beans,sweet corn,green beans, and diced russet potatoes. Pour in thebeef brothand stir everything together until it’s well combined.

Step Five:Bring the soup to a boil overmedium heat, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pot and let it cook for 35-40 minutes, or until the potatoes and carrots are tender.

Step Six:If desired, garnish the soup with fresh parsley before serving. Serve with a side ofcrusty breadortortilla chipsto complete the meal. Cheese on top is also amazing!

Substitutions and Variations

Cowboy Soup is a flexible recipe that can easily be customized based on your preferences or what you have on hand.

• Ground Meat:If you don’t have ground beef, you can substitute it withground turkey, ground pork, or evenkielbasa sausagefor a slightly different flavor.
• Beans:This recipe usesranch style beans, but you can swap inkidney beans,black beans, orpinto beans. Mixingtypes of beansis also a great way to add more variety to yourcowboy vegetable soup.
• Broth:If you prefer a lighter soup, you can replacebeef brothwithvegetable brothorchicken broth. Both options will work well in thishearty stew.
• Spices:For more heat, add a dash ofhot sauceor extrachili powder. To make it milder, reduce the amount ofchili powderor swap it with smoked paprika for asmoky flavor.
• Vegetables:Feel free to add other vegetables likesweet potatoes,mixed vegetables, or freshgreen chiliesfor an extra kick.Sweet cornorgreen beanscan also be swapped for otherfresh vegetablesin yourcowboy stew.

Best Tips for Cowboy Soup

• DrainExcess Grease:After browning the meat, be sure to drain anyexcess greaseto avoid a greasy soup. Removing theexcess fatensures the soup stays hearty without feeling too heavy. This is an important step in the process.
• Use ALarge Pot:This recipe makes a large amount of soup. You’ll need a 6-quart pot, minimum.
• Meal PrepFriendly:Cowboy Soup is perfect formeal prep. Storeindividual servingsinfreezer-safe containers, and you’ll have a ready-to-eat meal for up to2-3 months.
• Slow CookerOption:If you want to use acrock potorslow cooker, brown the meat and sauté the vegetables first, then transfer everything to theslow cooker. Cook on low for6-8 hours.
• Add aSmoky Flavor:For extra depth of flavor, try cooking the ground beef and sausage inbacon greaseinstead ofolive oil. Thishearty soupcan defintiely handle the extra depth.

Storage Instructions

Cowboy Soup is a great option for leftovers. Once it’s cooled, store the soup in anairtight containerand refrigerate it. It will keep well in the fridge for3-4 days. If you want to store it for longer, usefreezer-safe containers. Cowboy Soup freezes well for up to2-3 months. To reheat, simply thaw in the fridge overnight and warm it on the stove overmedium heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make Cowboy Soup spicier?

​This soup is full of flavor, and has a mild spiciness. If you’d like it spicier, you can increase thechili powder, add cayenne pepper, or just use a spicier version of Ro-Tel. You could also include fresh jalapeno or serrano chilis to the soup.

Can I use differenttypes of beansin Cowboy Soup?

Yes! You can mix and match differenttypes of beanslikepinto beans,kidney beans,black beans, orcannellini beans. Thisbean soupis highly adaptable. If you don’t like beans at all, you can omit the beans completely.

Can I make Cowboy Soup in anInstant Pot?

​Yes, you can easily make this soup in anInstant Pot. Brown the meat using the sauté function, then add theremaining ingredients. Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes and allow a natural release.

Can I substitute ground beef withground turkey?

​Absolutely!Ground turkeyis a great lean alternative to ground beef. It works just as well and keeps the soup light.

Cowboy Soup is a hearty, family-friendly meal that’s packed withnutritious ingredientsand full of flavor. Whether you’re making it for a family dinner, meal prepping for the week, or freezingindividual servingsfor later, this soup is going to become your new favorite!