Cowboy Soup is a filling, hearty dish that’s perfect for family dinners or meal 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. This delicious Tex-Mex soup is easy to make with common ingredients from your pantry. Plus, it makes great leftovers and can even be stored for months if frozen. With its nutritious ingredients and smoky 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 soup that can feed the whole family. It’s made with simple ingredients that you can easily find at most grocery stores, and the recipe is flexible enough to work with whatever you have on hand. The combination of ground meat, beans, fresh vegetables, and spices makes this a nutritious option that’s loaded with flavor. It also stores well in freezer-safe containers, so you can enjoy it again another time.

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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.

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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 oil adds 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 beef is a key protein source in this cowboy 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 a smoky flavor that 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 Tomatoes with Green 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 heating olive oil in a large Dutch oven or large skillet over medium-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 the lean ground beef and Italian sausage to the pot. Break the meat apart with a wooden spoon, cooking until it’s no longer pink. Make sure to drain any excess grease before moving on to the next step.

Step Three: Add the garlic 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 a smoky flavor.

step by step instructions for making cowboy stew

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

Step Five: Bring the soup to a boil over medium 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 of crusty bread or tortilla chips to complete the meal. Cheese on top is also amazing!

overhead pot shot of soup in a dutch oven

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 with ground turkey, ground pork, or even kielbasa sausage for a slightly different flavor.
Beans: This recipe uses ranch style beans, but you can swap in kidney beans, black beans, or pinto beans. Mixing types of beans is also a great way to add more variety to your cowboy vegetable soup.
Broth: If you prefer a lighter soup, you can replace beef broth with vegetable broth or chicken broth. Both options will work well in this hearty stew.
Spices: For more heat, add a dash of hot sauce or extra chili powder. To make it milder, reduce the amount of chili powder or swap it with smoked paprika for a smoky flavor.
Vegetables: Feel free to add other vegetables like sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables, or fresh green chilies for an extra kick. Sweet corn or green beans can also be swapped for other fresh vegetables in your cowboy stew.

Best Tips for Cowboy Soup

Drain Excess Grease: After browning the meat, be sure to drain any excess grease to avoid a greasy soup. Removing the excess fat ensures the soup stays hearty without feeling too heavy. This is an important step in the process.
Use A Large Pot: This recipe makes a large amount of soup. You’ll need a 6-quart pot, minimum.
Meal Prep Friendly: Cowboy Soup is perfect for meal prep. Store individual servings in freezer-safe containers, and you’ll have a ready-to-eat meal for up to 2-3 months.
Slow Cooker Option: If you want to use a crock pot or slow cooker, brown the meat and sauté the vegetables first, then transfer everything to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Add a Smoky Flavor: For extra depth of flavor, try cooking the ground beef and sausage in bacon grease instead of olive oil. This hearty soup can defintiely handle the extra depth.

Storage Instructions

Cowboy Soup is a great option for leftovers. Once it’s cooled, store the soup in an airtight container and refrigerate it. It will keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days. If you want to store it for longer, use freezer-safe containers. Cowboy Soup freezes well for up to 2-3 months. To reheat, simply thaw in the fridge overnight and warm it on the stove over medium 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 the chili 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 different types of beans in Cowboy Soup?

Yes! You can mix and match different types of beans like pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, or cannellini beans. This bean soup is highly adaptable. If you don’t like beans at all, you can omit the beans completely.

Can I make Cowboy Soup in an Instant Pot?

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

Can I substitute ground beef with ground turkey?

Absolutely! Ground turkey is 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 with nutritious ingredients and full of flavor. Whether you’re making it for a family dinner, meal prepping for the week, or freezing individual servings for later, this soup is going to become your new favorite!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion diced
3 large carrots peeled and diced
2 celery sticks diced
1 pound ground beef 90/10
1 pound Italian sausage mild
1 6-oz. can tomato paste
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 14-oz. can can diced tomatoes with juice
1 14-oz. can can Mild Ro-Tel diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 14-oz. can can Ranch-Style Beans with juice
1 14-oz. can can sweet corn with juice
1 14-oz. can can cut green beans drained and rinsed
3 large russet potatoes peeled and diced
4 cups low-sodium beef broth
3 tbsp parsley for garnish, optional

Instructions

Add oil to a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions, carrots, and celery. Cook until onion is translucent and veggies are beginning to get tender. This takes me about 10 minutes.
Add the ground beef and sausage to the same pot. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon, and cook until the meat is no longer pink. Be sure to drain excess fat.
Add cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Combine and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Add the diced tomatoes, Ro-Tel, ranch-style beans, corn, green beans, and potatoes in the pot, then pour in the beef broth and stir to combine everything.
Bring the soup to a boil, and cover and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 35-40 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are tender.
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, optional.

Notes

This is a large quantity of soup that will require the use of a 6-quart or larger pot.

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Nutrition

Nutrition values are estimates, sourced from an online nutrition calculator. This information should never be considered a substitute for medical advice. Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cowboy soup, soup

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One Comment

Linda Smith says:

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Sounds close to Hamburger veg. soup, but I love the spices you used. Will be making it!

Cowboy Soup