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Cowboy Soup filled with ground beef, beans, corn, tomatoes, and spices, topped with shredded cheddar and fresh parsley.

Cowboy Soup

A hearty, one-pot cowboy soup made with ground beef, bacon, beans, potatoes, corn, and southwestern spices. Inspired by campfire cooking, this flexible pantry-friendly soup is loaded with flavor, kid-approved, and perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Best cowboy soup recipe, Cheesy cowboy soup, Cowboy Soup, Cowboy soup ingredients, Cowboy soup recipe with sausage, Creamy cowboy soup recipe, Old fashioned cowboy soup recipe, Pioneer Woman Cowboy soup recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Simmer Time (Optional): 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 420kcal
Cost: $18

Equipment

  • 1 Large Dutch oven or heavy pot (For browning and simmering)
  • 1 Cutting board
  • 1 Sharp knife
  • 1 Wooden spoon (For stirring and scraping fond)
  • 1 Can opener (For beans, tomatoes, sauce)

Ingredients

Protein

  • 1 lb Ground beef - 85/15 or 90/10
  • 4–6 slices Bacon - Optional but adds flavor

Vegetables

  • 1 medium Yellow onion - Diced
  • 1 medium Bell pepper - Any color, diced
  • 3 cloves Garlic - Minced
  • 3 cups Potatoes - Diced into ½-inch cubes
  • 1 cup Frozen corn - No need to thaw
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) Diced tomatoes - With juices

Beans & Broth

  • 1 can (15 oz) Pinto beans - Undrained or partly drained
  • 1 can (15 oz) Black beans - Undrained or partly drained
  • 1 can (15 oz) Kidney beans - Undrained or partly drained
  • 4 cups Beef broth - More as needed
  • 1 can (8 oz) Tomato sauce

Seasonings

  • 1 tablespoon Chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon Cayenne pepper - More to taste
  • ½ teaspoon Black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Salt - Adjust to taste

Instructions

  • Add bacon to a Dutch oven and cook until crisp. Remove and crumble. Brown the ground beef in the drippings, season with salt and pepper, and remove, leaving 2 tablespoon fat in the pot.
  • Sauté the onion and bell pepper for 5 minutes. Add garlic for 30 seconds. Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper to toast for 30 seconds.
  • Return the beef to the pot. Add broth, tomato sauce, potatoes, diced tomatoes, beans, and frozen corn. Stir in most of the bacon.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 30–40 minutes until potatoes are tender. Add more broth if needed and adjust seasonings.
  • Turn off heat, rest 5 minutes, and serve with toppings like cheese, sour cream, green onions, or crushed tortilla chips.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes

Nutrition

Serving: 350g | Calories: 420kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 980mg | Potassium: 980mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1200IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 4.5mg