Cowboy Soup

Why You’ll Love It

Easy to make: All you have to do is brown the meat and then add the other ingredients to make this delicious Tex Mex soup. It’s so simple!
Make it in one pot: It’s a one pot recipe so cleanup is relatively quick afterwards.
Authentic flavors: Beef, beans, peppers, and spices like cumin and paprika are popular ingredients in hearty cowboy style meals.

Cowboy Beef Soup Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Ground beef: I like to use lean ground beef. If yours is fattier, you might want to drain off the excess fat after browning.
Vegetables: Onion, potatoes, tomatoes, and frozen mixed vegetables are nutritious ingredients that are also colorful and appealing.
Spices: Garlic powder, chili powder, smoked paprika and ground cumin add warm, spicy flavors.
Condensed tomato soup: Adds a sweet flavor to the broth.

How to Make Cowboy Soup

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Brown the ground beef: Brown ground beef in a splash of oil.
Add more ingredients: Add the garlic and onion and cook for a few minutes. Add the beans, potatoes, tomatoes with green chilies, beef broth, tomato soup, and seasonings.
Cook the cowboy soup: Cover and simmer until the potatoes are almost done. Add the thawed vegetables and cook for a few minutes to warm them through.
Serve the soup: Serve cowboy soup immediately, garnished with chopped parsley if liked.

Substitutions and Variations

Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free tomato soup and beef broth.
Canned vegetables: Use canned vegetables like corn and peas in place of the frozen vegetables. Just drain the liquid out of the cans and add the drained vegetables a minute or 2 before the end of cooking.
Potatoes: Instead of Yukon Gold potatoes, use baby potatoes or Russet potatoes. Keep in mind these might have slightly different cooking times.
Ground beef: Sub ground pork or ground turkey instead. Any kind of ground meat will work. If you choose a lighter option like ground turkey, you might prefer to use chicken broth instead of the beef broth.
Different veggies: Zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach can all go into your cowboy soup. Fresh vegetables like green beans and carrots can be used. Cook them when you cook the onions so they tenderize.
Diced tomatoes with green chilies: You can use any kind of canned diced tomatoes such as Rotel tomatoes with green chiles or even fire roasted tomatoes.
Spice it up: Either add a splash of hot sauce or offer it at the table.
Other beans: Black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, chili beans, ranch beans, great northern beans, or pretty much any other kind can be used in this easy cowboy soup recipe.
Add some dairy: Add a handful of shredded cheese or a scoop of sour cream to serve.
Chopped parsley: Swap the parsley got chopped cilantro if you prefer it.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizers: Start your meal with shrimp ceviche and tortilla chips.
Side dishes: Enjoy sweet skillet cornbread or homemade garlic bread with this hearty cowboy soup recipe. A salad, perhaps this lemon parmesan salad, would also be good on the side, or you could omit corn from the soup and instead have it with elote (Mexican street corn) instead.
Desserts: Finish up with a mixed berry parfait.

How to Store Cowboy Hamburger Soup

Store: Keep leftover cowboy soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 4 days.
Freeze: You can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: You can warm it back up in a pan on the stove or in the microwave.