There's something magical about Crockpot Cowboy Soup that just makes everything right. The savory ground beef, the tender vegetables, the beans and corn all swimming in a rich, spiced tomato broth.
This cowboy soup recipe is one of those throw-it-all-in-and-forget-it meals that fills your house with the most amazing smell all day. I've been making this for my family for years, and it's hands down one of our favorite comfort meals. My husband requests it every time the weather turns cold, and honestly, I never get tired of it either.
Why You'll Love This Crockpot Cowboy Soup
This Crockpot Cowboy Soup recipe is ridiculously easy and incredibly hearty. You just brown the beef, dump everything in the slow cooker, and let it do its thing. It's packed with protein, vegetables, and flavor, making it a complete meal in one bowl. The best part is that this hearty cowboy crockpot soup tastes even better the next day, so it's perfect for meal prep. My kids love dipping cornbread or tortilla chips in it, and I love that it feeds a crowd without much effort. This is what I call a true cowboy soup recipe crock pot winner.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Crockpot Cowboy Soup
- What You'll Need
- How to Make Crockpot Cowboy Soup
- Aliana's Top Tip
- Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- Storage & Reheating Instructions
- What to Serve With Crockpot Cowboy Soup
- FAQs About Crockpot Cowboy Soup
- More Recipes You'll Love
- Related
- Pairing
- Easy Crockpot Cowboy Soup Recipe
- More DINNER
What You'll Need
This cowboy soup recipe uses simple, affordable ingredients you can find at any grocery store. Ground beef, beans, vegetables, and pantry spices come together to create something incredibly satisfying. The measurements for cowboy hamburger soup are in the recipe card.
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) corn kernels, drained
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Optional Extras
You can add diced jalapeños for heat, throw in some ranch seasoning mix for extra flavor, or stir in cream cheese during the last 30 minutes for a creamy version.
Some people love adding potatoes or pasta to make it even heartier.
How to Make Crockpot Cowboy Soup
Brown the Beef
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the diced onion and minced garlic. Break up the meat as it cooks, and drain any excess fat once it's fully browned.
Add to Crockpot
Transfer the cooked beef mixture to your slow cooker. Add the kidney beans, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, bell pepper, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together until well combined.
Cook Low and Slow
Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours. The longer it cooks, the more the flavors meld together. You want everything tender and the broth rich and flavorful.
Q: What is cowboy soup?
Cowboy soup is a hearty, rustic soup traditionally made with ground beef, beans, corn, tomatoes, and vegetables. It's inspired by the simple, filling meals cowboys would have made on the trail. This crock pot cowboy soup version makes it even easier by using a slow cooker.
Check and Adjust
Taste the soup about halfway through and adjust the seasonings if needed. Add more chili powder if you want it spicier, or a pinch of sugar if it's too acidic from the tomatoes.
Serve Hot
Ladle the soup into bowls and top with fresh cilantro, shredded cheese, sour cream, or crushed tortilla chips. Serve with cornbread or crackers on the side.
Aliana's Top Tip
Don't skip browning the beef before adding it to the crockpot.
This step adds so much flavor and prevents the meat from getting gray and musty tasting.
It only takes a few extra minutes but makes a huge difference.
Also, if you want a thicker soup, mash some of the beans against the side of the slow cooker during the last hour of cooking.
This naturally thickens the broth without adding any flour or cornstarch.
Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
You can swap ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or even sausage for a different flavor. For a vegetarian version, skip the meat entirely and add extra beans and vegetables. If you want to make this in the Instant Pot, brown the beef using the sauté function, then add everything else and pressure cook on high for 15 minutes. You can also turn this into a texas cowboy stew slow cooker style by adding potatoes and reducing the broth.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
Store leftover crockpot cowboy soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm the whole pot on the stove over medium heat. You can also freeze this soup for up to three months. Just thaw it in the fridge overnight and reheat. The flavors get even better after a day or two in the fridge.
Follow Aliana on Pinterest →What to Serve With Crockpot Cowboy Soup
This hearty cowboy crockpot soup is amazing with warm cornbread, crusty bread, or tortilla chips for dipping. We also love it with a simple side salad or coleslaw to balance out the richness. Some people like serving it over rice to stretch it even further. It's one of those homemade soup recipes that works perfectly for game day, family dinners, or meal prep Sundays.
FAQs About Crockpot Cowboy Soup
Can I make crockpot cowboy soup on the stovetop?
Yes! Brown the beef, then add everything to a large pot and simmer on low for about 45 minutes to an hour until all the vegetables are tender. This cowboy beef soup works great either way.
What's the difference between cowboy soup and chili?
Cowboy soup has more broth and vegetables, making it soupier and lighter than traditional chili. Chili is thicker and more focused on beans and meat. This soup recipes hamburger style version sits somewhere in between.
Can I use dried beans instead of canned?
You can, but you'll need to soak and cook them separately first before adding them to the crockpot. Canned beans are much easier for crockpot soup recipes and work perfectly.
How do I make this soup thicker?
Mash some of the beans, add a slurry of cornstarch and water during the last 30 minutes, or let it cook uncovered for the last hour to reduce the liquid.
More Recipes You'll Love
If you're into easy crockpot dinners like this one, you'll love my Slow Cooker Beef Stew that's just as hearty and comforting. My Crockpot Chili is another family favorite with deep, rich flavors. For more soup recipes, try my Chicken Tortilla Soup or Hamburger Vegetable Soup. And if you want more texas soup style meals, my Taco Soup is always a hit. All of these fall under my DINNER and CROCKPOT RECIPES collections where I share the comfort food that keeps everyone coming back for more.
Put your own flair on this dish? Tag me on Pinterest @AlianaRecipes and show off your delicious version!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Crockpot Cowboy Soup Recipe:
Easy Crockpot Cowboy Soup Recipe
Equipment
- 1 6-quart slow cooker (crockpot) To cook the soup low and slow
- 1 Large skillet To brown the ground beef with onions
- 1 Wooden spoon To stir and break up the beef
- 1 Can opener To open canned beans, tomatoes, and corn
- 1 Ladle To serve the soup into bowls
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds ground beef - or ground turkey for leaner option
- 1 medium onion - diced
- 3 cloves garlic - minced
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans - drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans - drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) corn kernels - drained
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes - with juices
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 medium bell pepper - diced (any color)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt - or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper - or to taste
- Fresh cilantro - for garnish
- Shredded cheese - optional topping
- Sour cream - optional topping
- Tortilla chips - optional for serving
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the diced onion and minced garlic. Break up the meat as it cooks using a wooden spoon. Cook until the beef is no longer pink, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the cooked beef mixture to your 6-quart slow cooker. Add the kidney beans, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, diced bell pepper, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Cover the crockpot with the lid and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. The longer cooking time allows all the flavors to meld together beautifully. Stir occasionally if you're home.
- About halfway through cooking, taste the soup and adjust the seasonings if needed. Add more chili powder for heat, salt for depth, or a pinch of sugar if the tomatoes taste too acidic.
- Ladle the hot soup into bowls. Top with fresh cilantro, shredded cheese, sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips as desired. Serve with warm cornbread or crackers on the side.
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