If you’re looking for a comforting dinner that comes together in one pot, this Easy Cowboy Soup is a great recipe to keep on hand. It combines ground beef, pinto beans, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, and green bell pepper in a savory, seasoned broth for a filling homemade soup that works especially well on busy weeknights.
This Cowboy Soup Recipe is hearty without requiring a long list of complicated ingredients. The ground beef gives the soup plenty of savory flavor, while the beans, corn, and potatoes make every bowl satisfying. Chili powder, cumin, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce add warmth and depth without making the soup overly complicated.
If you enjoy cozy homemade soups, you can also try this cheesy green chile soup with macaroni or this homemade creamy chicken tortellini soup.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Cowboy Soup
There are plenty of reasons this Easy Cowboy Soup deserves a spot in your weeknight dinner rotation.
It’s a one-pot meal. The ground beef is cooked directly in the stock pot, followed by the vegetables, beans, corn, tomatoes, broth, and seasonings.
It uses simple ingredients. Most of the ingredients are easy to find at a regular grocery store.
It’s filling. Ground beef, pinto beans, corn, and potatoes make this soup satisfying enough to serve as a complete dinner.
It’s easy to customize. You can adjust the seasoning or add your favorite toppings when serving.
Ingredients for Easy Cowboy Soup
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) Mexican-flavored diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (15.5 ounces) pinto beans, undrained
- 1 can (15.25 ounces) corn, drained
- 1 large baking potato, peeled and cubed
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
How to Make Easy Cowboy Soup
1. Brown the Ground Beef and Onion
Place a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and chopped onion.
Cook for about 5 minutes, breaking the beef apart with a spoon, until the onion softens and the beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess grease.
For food-safety guidance, the USDA’s recommended safe internal temperature for ground beef is 160°F, measured with a food thermometer.
2. Add the Remaining Ingredients
Add the chopped green bell pepper, beef broth, Mexican-flavored diced tomatoes with their liquid, pinto beans with their liquid, drained corn, and cubed potato.
Add the chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and ground cumin.
Stir everything together until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
3. Simmer the Soup
Bring the soup to a boil.
Reduce the heat and simmer for about 40 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
The simmering time allows the vegetables to cook while the flavors from the beef, beans, tomatoes, and seasonings come together.
4. Season and Serve
Taste the soup and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed.
Ladle the hot soup into bowls and serve immediately.
Tips for Making the Best Cowboy Soup
Cut the Potatoes Evenly
Cut the potato into bite-sized cubes of similar size. This helps the pieces cook more evenly during the 40-minute simmer.
Drain Excess Grease
After browning the ground beef and onion, drain excess grease before adding the remaining ingredients. This keeps the broth from becoming unnecessarily greasy.
Adjust the Seasonings
The combination of chili powder, cumin, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce gives this Hearty Cowboy Soup its savory flavor. Taste the soup toward the end of cooking and adjust the salt and pepper according to your preference.
Let It Simmer
Don’t rush the simmering stage. The potatoes need enough time to become tender, while the broth benefits from the flavors of the beef, vegetables, beans, tomatoes, and seasonings coming together.
What to Serve With Cowboy Soup
This soup is hearty enough to serve as a complete meal, but you can easily add a simple side.
Try it with warm bread, cornbread, crackers, or a simple green salad.
You can also top each bowl with shredded cheese, chopped green onions, fresh cilantro, or sour cream.
For another comforting soup option, try this cheesy green chile soup with macaroni or keep this creamy chicken tortellini soup on your list for another dinner.
Easy Variations
Make It Spicier
For a little more heat, use a spicier variety of Mexican-style diced tomatoes or adjust the chili powder to taste.
Add More Vegetables
You can add additional vegetables such as carrots, celery, or extra bell pepper if you want to increase the vegetable content.
Change the Beans
Pinto beans are used in this version, but you can experiment with another variety of beans that holds its shape well during simmering.
Add Toppings
Shredded cheddar cheese, green onions, cilantro, and sour cream are easy ways to customize individual bowls.
How to Store Easy Cowboy Soup
If you have leftovers, transfer the soup to appropriate covered containers and refrigerate them promptly.
According to the USDA’s food storage guidance, cooked beef and other leftovers can generally be kept refrigerated for 3 to 4 days.
For longer storage, you can freeze the soup in freezer-safe containers. When freezing soup, leave some room at the top of the container for expansion.
When reheating frozen or refrigerated leftovers, follow the USDA’s food-safety guidance for reheating leftovers and make sure the soup is thoroughly heated before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cowboy Soup?
Cowboy Soup is a hearty soup made with ingredients such as ground beef, beans, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, and vegetables. This version uses chili powder, cumin, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce for a savory, comforting flavor.
Can I make Cowboy Soup ahead of time?
Yes. This soup works well as a make-ahead meal. Prepare it according to the recipe, refrigerate the leftovers properly, and reheat individual portions when you’re ready to serve.
Can I freeze Easy Cowboy Soup?
Yes. Allow the soup to cool appropriately, transfer it to freezer-safe containers, and freeze. Thaw safely before reheating.
What can I put on top of Cowboy Soup?
Popular options include shredded cheese, green onions, cilantro, and sour cream. Crackers or warm bread also make good accompaniments.
Is Cowboy Soup a one-pot meal?
Yes. The entire recipe is prepared in one large stock pot, making it a convenient One Pot Cowboy Soup for a simple weeknight dinner.
Final Thoughts
This Easy Cowboy Soup combines ground beef, pinto beans, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, and green bell pepper in one satisfying pot. The chili powder, cumin, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce add plenty of savory flavor while keeping the recipe simple enough for a busy weeknight.
It’s a practical choice when you want a hearty homemade dinner without complicated preparation. Serve it hot with your favorite toppings, and refrigerate or freeze the leftovers for another easy meal.
Easy Cowboy Soup Recipe
A hearty one-pot soup made with ground beef, pinto beans, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, green bell pepper, and savory seasonings.
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: One Pot
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
4 cups beef broth
1 (14.5 ounce) can Mexican-flavored diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (15.5 ounce) can pinto beans, undrained
1 (15.25 ounce) can corn, drained
1 large baking potato, peeled and cubed
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Heat a large stock pot over medium-high heat.
2. Add ground beef and onion; cook about 5 minutes.
3. Drain excess grease.
4. Add remaining ingredients and seasonings.
5. Bring to a boil.
6. Reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes.
7. Season with salt and pepper.
8. Ladle into bowls and serve.
Notes
Serve hot with optional shredded cheese, green onions, cilantro, or sour cream.
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