Cowboy Soup

Anyone who has lived in a cowboy town knows that the Wild West is still very much alive. Rodeos, cattle drives, coal-powered railroad rides and mining tours are all still a part of daily life for those who live in picturesque mountain towns. In addition to Wild West vibes, the cowboy appetite is also quite real. After a long day of working outdoors, there’s nothing more comforting than hearty cowboy recipes, especially a big bowl of cowboy soup.

The beauty of this one-pot cowboy soup recipe is that it’s completely customizable. Mix and match ingredients from the pantry and refrigerator, use other types of ground meat or change up the spices and vegetables to your personal preferences. This soup is traditionally made with pinto beans, but even those aren’t off-limits when it comes to making it your own. Black beans, cannellini beans, great northern beans or kidney beans all taste great in cowboy soup.

What is cowboy soup?

Cowboy soup is a simple yet flavorful soup that’s packed with filling ingredients like ground beef, tomatoes, green chiles, pinto beans and other vegetables. It’s a one-pot meal that comes together in about 30 minutes.

Some say cowboy soup is similar to a hearty chili. While it does have a comparable spice profile thanks to the combination of tomatoes, chili powder and ground cumin, cowboy soup is not typically as spicy as most chili recipes. It also contains extra ingredients that make the soup more filling, like chunks of potatoes, sweet corn and canned mixed vegetables.

Ingredients for Cowboy Soup

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• Ground beef: You can use fresh or frozen ground beef for this recipe. It’s best to defrost ground beef in the fridge overnight, but if you forgot, you can cook ground beef from frozen. Just make sure to flip the frozen brick over frequently and scrape off the outer layers as they brown.
• Onion and garlic: These aromatic vegetables season the ground beef and add the first layer of flavor to this hearty cowboy soup.
• Beef broth: Use low-sodium or homemade beef broth if you want to keep the salt content low. Alternatively, you can use chicken broth or vegetable broth.
• Ranch-style beans: These canned pinto beans are seasoned with tomato sauce, spices and a splash of vinegar to give them a tangy finish. They’re available at most grocery stores, but regular pinto beans also work. (You can make homemade ranch-style beans if you prefer to cook from scratch.)
• Tomatoes and green chiles: The combination of drained diced tomatoes and undrained diced tomatoes with green chiles gives the soup a bold flavor, a stew-like consistency and the perfect hint of heat.
• Veggies: You can use any type of vegetable in this soup. We like peeled and chopped potatoes, frozen corn and a can of mixed vegetables, but feel free to experiment.
• Seasonings: Chili powder adds a hint of spice, while ground cumin boosts the smoky vibes. A little bit of salt and pepper rounds it all out.
• Jalapeno pepper: Garnish the soup with thinly sliced jalapeno peppers for some spice.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the meat

In a Dutch oven, cook the beef and onion over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink, breaking the meat into crumbles as it cooks. Add the garlic and cook for one minute longer. Drain any excess grease from the pan.

Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients

Stir in the beef broth, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, tomatoes with green chilies, corn, vegetables, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

Editor’s Tip: We recommend draining the canned tomatoes so the soup isn’t too saucy. Keep the juices in the beans, though, as this starch-rich liquid helps to thicken the soup to the perfect consistency.

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Cowboy Soup Variations

• Add macaroni: Add macaroni noodles to make the soup even more filling. If you melt some cheddar cheese on top, the soup will taste similar to chili macaroni and cheese!
• Use another meat: You can make this cowboy soup recipe with any ground meat you have on hand. Combine ground beef, pork and veal for a flavorful change of pace, or use lean ground chicken or turkey for a lighter finish. Sausage like kielbasa also works well in this recipe. Slice the sausage links into bite-sized pieces before browning them in step one.
• Change the veggies: The beans and vegetables are similarly swappable. Use another type of bean, choose sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes or opt for frozen vegetables over canned vegetables. You can even swap in fresh veggies, but you’ll want to adjust the cooking time to cook them through.

How to Store Cowboy Soup

If you find yourself with leftover cowboy soup, let it cool before packing it into airtight containers. Cowboy soup lasts in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Can you freeze cowboy soup?

Potatoes can take on an odd, grainy texture when frozen and thawed, so only freeze the soup as a last resort. You can freeze cowboy soup in freezer-safe containers for up to three months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating it.

How do you reheat cowboy soup?

Reheat cowboy soup in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, or microwave it until heated through. The potatoes will soak up some of the broth as the soup sits in the fridge, so you may need to add extra water or broth before reheating.

Cowboy Soup Tips

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Can you cook cowboy soup in a slow cooker?

This cowboy soup recipe can be modified to become an easy slow-cooker soup recipe. Simply brown the beef in a skillet, then add it to a slow cooker with the remaining ingredients. Cover the crock and cook the soup on low for six to eight hours.

How should you serve cowboy soup?

This soup recipe doesn’t require any side dishes because it contains meat, beans, starch and vegetables—everything you need for a complete, filling meal. Serve the soup with sliced jalapenos to add heat, or finish it with classic chili toppings like sliced avocado, chopped green onions or sour cream. Of course, the soup tastes great with a side of cowboy bread, buttery cornbread or a thick slice of Texas toast garlic bread. Finish the meal with Wyoming cowboy cookies to truly embrace the cowboy spirit.