Cowboy Soup is soon to be your new favourite recipe. It's a complete meal that comes together in less than 30 minutes using ingredients you may already have on hand!
Cowboy Soup is like hamburger soup and chili are having a party and you're invited! It's hearty and nutrient rich providing you with everything you need in one, easy to prepare, dish. The whole family is going to love this one so make a big batch because it won't last long!
If you love hearty soups as much as I do you might like to try this Sausage and Bean Soup, Easy Lentil and Bacon Soup, Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup, Chicken "Noodle" Soup, and Moroccan Spiced Lentil Soup.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
Easy to Make: Cowboy soup is straightforward and uses easy to find ingredients making it perfect for any skill level.
Versatile: The use of readily available and versatile ingredients like beans, Rotel tomatoes, and frozen vegetables makes cowboy soup convenient for people to prepare with what they typically have in their pantry or freezer.
Perfect for Meal Prep: This soup freezes perfectly so get stocked up for easy and convenient meals any day of the week.
Nutritious and Balanced: Packed with lean ground beef, beans, and a variety of vegetables, Cowboy Soup offers a well-rounded meal with protein, fiber, and essential nutrients, making it a wholesome choice for most people.
One-pot comfort food is my favourite and recipes like this Chicken Chili and Vegetarian Chili are on the top of my list when wanting a hearty and satisfying meal.
🥘Ingredients and Substitutions
White onion - feel free to substitute with any type of onion you happen to have on hand. You will need approximately 3 cups diced onion.
Lean Ground Beef - Any type of ground beef can be used in this cowboy soup recipe. If looking to reduce the calories try ground turkey for a perfect alternative.
Pinto Beans - I happened to have pinto beans on hand but other beans such as black beans or white or red kidney beans would be perfect.
Rotel Tomatoes - These canned tomatoes are diced with green chilis. They add to the Tex-Mex flavour of Cowboy Soup. I used the original, which is medium heat. Feel free to use the mild version or substitute with canned diced tomatoes and one or two diced jalapeno peppers.
Chicken Broth - I kept things light by using chicken broth. However you can substitute with beef broth if you prefer. This recipe is made with no-salt added broth.
Mixed Frozen Vegetables & Corn - To add to the preparation speed of this recipe I opted for mixed frozen veggies plus extra corn. Feel free to substitute with any of your favourite vegetables. You will need approximately 4 cups total.
Cilantro or Parsley - Fresh herbs add a nice fresh finish but can be left out.
Lime Juice - Fresh lime juice adds some fresh acidity to the soup. If you don't have any you can just leave it out or add a small splash of vinegar.
For a complete list of ingredients see the recipe card below.
Variations
Make it Vegetarian - You can easily turn this soup into a vegetarian or vegan meal. Simply replace the ground meat with extra beans, rice, or pasta and use vegetable broth instead of chicken or beef.
Make it Creamy - To give this soup a creamy base, stir in ½ cup of cream cheese, cream, coconut milk or dairy free alternative.
Add Grains or Pasta - Instead of, or in addition to, beans you can add cooked grains like rice, quinoa or pasta. If adding in any of these raw be sure to increase the amount of liquid used as the grains or pasta will absorb a lot.
🔪How to Make Cowboy Soup
Step 1 - Sautee onions until glassy and starting to soften.
Step 2 - Add garlic and ground beef and cook until meat is browned and cooked through.
Step 3 - Add beans, tomatoes and broth. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer.
Step 4 - Stir in the vegetables and let simmer again.
Step 5 - Remove from heat and stir in fresh herbs and lime juice.
For detailed instructions see the recipe card below.
Expert Tips
Prepare your ingredients - In the restaurant world we call this "mise en place" which means "everything in its place". This is my number 1 piece of cooking advice. Before you start cooking make sure you have all your ingredients measured, chopped, drained etc. This is especially helpful when making one-pan meals that come together quickly.
Don't overcook the vegetables - The frozen veggies are added in only for the last 10 minutes of cooking to make sure they don't overcook and become mushy.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Cowboy Soup freezes well. Store it in airtight containers or resealable freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight or in the microwave.
Yes, you can use fresh vegetables instead of frozen. Adjust the cooking time to ensure the fresh vegetables are cooked to your desired tenderness.
Yes, you can adapt this recipe for a slow cooker. Sauté the onions, garlic, and ground beef separately, then transfer all ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
The soup's ingredients, including ground beef, beans, vegetables, and spices, align with the type of ingredients that might be readily available or suitable for a cowboy's meal. It's a simple, filling, and flavorful dish that could be prepared over a campfire or in a kitchen on a ranch.
More Hearty Soup Recipes
Tried this recipe? I would love it if you could leave a star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and/or a comment below. You can also follow me on social media here on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
Want to say thank you?📖 Recipe
Cowboy Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large white onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 500 g lean ground beef, (1 pound)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 540 ml can pinto beans, drained and rinsed well (19 oz)
- 2 284 ml cans Rotel tomatoes (9 oz cans)
- 4 cups chicken broth, no salt
- 3 cups mixed frozen vegetables
- 1 cup frozen corn
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 teaspoon salt, more or less to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, more or less to taste
Optional toppings
- Grated cheddar cheese
- Sour cream
- Greek yogurt
- Pickled jalapenos
- Avocado or guacamole
Instructions
- In a large pot heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and saute, stirring, for 5 minutes or until glassy and starting to soften.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 large white onion,
- Add garlic and ground beef and continue cooking and stirring until meat is browned and cooked through. About 5 minutes.3 cloves garlic,, 500 g lean ground beef,
- Stir in beans and spices and stir well to coat. Stir in tomatoes and broth. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 540 ml can pinto beans, drained and rinsed well (19 oz), 2 284 ml cans Rotel tomatoes (9 oz cans), 4 cups chicken broth,
- Stir in mixed vegetables and corn. Cover and simmer for 10 more minutes.3 cups mixed frozen vegetables, 1 cup frozen corn
- Remove from heat and stir in chopped parsley and fresh lime juice. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with optional garnishes.¼ cup fresh cilantro or parsley,, 1 lime,, 1 teaspoon salt,, ½ teaspoon black pepper,
Elaine says
Could I use lentils instead of beans?
Andrea says
Yes lentils would work. I haven’t tested it myself but brown or green lentils should be a great substitute. Let me know how it turns out!
Juliet says
This is such an easy recipe to put together at the last minute. You can make it as spicy as you want, but it always tastes so good.
Andrea says
I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Terry-Ann says
This is a tasty soup that is so easy and quick to make. It’s my go to soup!
Marie says
I love this recipe! I’ve made twice in the past two weeks, and had no spinach on hand the second time around, so I used kale instead! Both times were delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Andrea says
My pleasure! I’m so happy you enjoyed the soup Marie! Thanks so much for commenting 😊
Marge says
love this soup!
Diana McPherson says
Love this recipe. I like a bit more spice in my food so more than doubled the amount of chili powder. Yum 😋
Andrea says
I'm so happy you enjoyed the soup Diana! Turning up the heat is never a bad idea 👌🔥
Donna Fradette says
YUUUMMMMMYYYY!!!😍 Now I’m not sure which is my fave….this, the cabbage roll soup or the smoky lentil one w the bacon! Loved the flavour….esp the topping of w the lime, cilantro and sour cream…that made everything come together and truly burst w flavour! Loved it! Thanks again for such an awesome, delicious, quick ‘n easy recipe Ann!!! I love that i can always trust your recipes/measurements/timing to work out….certainly can’t say that for a lot of the other on line recipes I’ve tried!
Andrea says
I am so happy you enjoyed the soup Donna and thanks for such a lovely comment! It means a lot to me that you find the recipes easy to use. 🤗
Marina says
Nice and easy recipe; I made it for staff and families at the Hospice where I volunteer and it was greatly enjoyed!
Andrea says
Hi Marina! That is so wonderful. I'm happy to hear everyone enjoyed it and thanks for commenting!
Susan Henderson says
I made this soup today and it’s so delicious. I even heard my hubby humming when he ate it - a sign wow this is good. Thanks for a fabulous recipe.
Andrea says
I love that so much! So happy you both enjoyed the soup and thanks for commenting 😊
Christine says
Honestly Andrea, you are truly a gifted chef.
I completely look forward to your weekly emails every friday.
There is not one recipe that I haven't totally enjoyed!
Nutritious and delicious.
I thank you for sharing your gift.
Gratefully, Christine
Andrea says
Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment Christine! I am so happy that you are enjoying everything. It is my absolute pleasure to share with you. Thank you so much for the comment!
Sondra Donaldson says
I haven't made this yet but it's on my list for 'soon'. I wanted to send along a Thanks for how you are now writing up your instructions. I love how you show the amount of ingredients as a note following each step. I am forever flipping back to the ingredients in recipes and your new method makes things so much easier and saves me time. Thanks!
Andrea says
I'm so happy to hear you are loving the new format! It's a game changer for sure!
Patricia Garey says
Can I use frozen tomatoes for the tomato red pepper soup?
Andrea says
Yes frozen tomatoes should work perfectly for this soup. Let me know how it turns out!
Mary Muir says
I have it simmering as we speak. My sister visits every Friday and we have lunch and a nice visit and this is what we will be feasting on today. My house smells delicious. You’re amazing Andrea.
Andrea says
Awe thank you so much Mary! Hope you both enjoyed the soup!