Hearty Campfire Cowboy Soup Recipe: A Rustic Bowl of Comfort

Hearty and robust, this cowboy soup packs a punch of flavor that warms you from the inside out.

Packed with ground beef and a medley of vegetables, cowboy soup delivers comfort in every spoonful.

The recipe draws inspiration from rustic ranch-style cooking that celebrates simple, wholesome ingredients.

Chunky potatoes and rich tomato base create a satisfying meal that stands up to big appetites.

Tender meat and colorful vegetables mingle in a savory broth that tells a story of home-cooked goodness.

This one-pot wonder comes together quickly, making it perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekend meals.

Grab a crusty bread and prepare to savor every delicious bite of this classic cowboy comfort food.

Why Cowboy Soup Delivers Big, Bold Flavor

• Nutritional Powerhouse: Packed with lean ground beef, colorful vegetables, and protein-rich beans, this hearty soup delivers a balanced and wholesome meal that nourishes your body.
• Customizable Comfort: Easily adapt the recipe by swapping ingredients, adjusting spice levels, or adding your favorite toppings to create a personalized soup that suits your taste buds.
• Meal Prep Champion: Perfect for batch cooking, this soup stores beautifully in the refrigerator and reheats wonderfully, making it an ideal option for busy weeknights or advanced meal planning.

Everything You Need for Cowboy Soup

• Ground Beef: A hearty meat that gives rich flavor to the soup.

• Onion, Celery, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Carrots, Green Beans, Corn: Fresh vegetables that add color and nutrition to the dish.
• Garlic: A fragrant aromatic that enhances overall taste.

• Black-Eyed Peas, Diced Tomatoes, Tomato Paste: Pantry staples that provide depth and texture.

• Beef Broth: A savory liquid base that supports the soup's flavor.

• Olive Oil: A smooth oil for sautéing vegetables.

• Italian Seasoning, Smoked Paprika, Chili Powder, Salt, Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes: Spices that create a robust and complex flavor profile.

How to Cook Cowboy Soup From Scratch

Step 1: Kickstart the Flavor

Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

Toss in diced onions and celery, letting them dance and soften for 2-3 minutes.

Sprinkle minced garlic into the mix and cook until aromatic, about 1-2 minutes.

Step 2: Beef It Up

Introduce ground beef to the pot, breaking it into crumbly pieces as it browns.

Cook until no pink remains, creating a rich foundation for the soup.

Step 3: Pile on the Goodness

• Yukon Gold potatoes
• Carrots
• Green beans
• Tomato paste
• Diced tomatoes with juices
• Black-eyed peas
• Corn
• Italian seasoning
• Smoked paprika
• Chili powder
• Salt
• Pepper

Pour in beef broth and give everything a thorough stir.

Feel free to add extra broth for a lighter consistency.

Step 4: Let It Simmer

Crank the heat to high and bring the soup to a rolling boil.

Once bubbling, reduce to medium-low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 14-16 minutes.

The potatoes should become tender when prodded with a fork.

Step 5: Final Touches

Taste and tweak the seasoning.

Sprinkle in additional salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes if desired.

Ladle into bowls and top with fresh parsley, shredded cheese, or a dollop of sour cream.

Step 6: Pack and Preserve

Stash leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

They’ll stay delicious for up to 4 days.

Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until piping hot.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Cowboy Soup

• Sauté onions, celery, and garlic slowly to develop deeper, richer taste profiles before adding other ingredients.
• Swap ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for different dietary preferences and nutritional needs.
• Adjust broth quantity based on desired thickness – less broth for hearty stew-like texture, more for thinner soup style.
• Add extra vegetables like zucchini, spinach, or kale to increase nutrient density and create more complex flavor layers.
• Cut potatoes into uniform, medium-sized chunks to ensure even cooking and maintain perfect texture throughout the soup.

How to Store and Reheat Cowboy Soup Easily

• Transfer the cooled Cowboy Soup to an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Store the soup in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, keeping it sealed tightly to retain its robust flavors and prevent absorbing other refrigerator odors.
• Pour the soup into a pot, warm over medium heat while stirring occasionally, and add a splash of beef broth if it appears too thick to restore its original consistency.
• Place a portion in a microwave-safe bowl, cover loosely with a lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to ensure even warming.

Pairing Suggestions for Cowboy Soup

• Pair with Rustic Red Wine: Select a medium-bodied red wine like Zinfandel or Syrah that complements the hearty beef and robust spices in the cowboy soup.
• Complement with Cornbread: Serve warm, slightly sweet cornbread alongside the soup to soak up the rich broth and provide a traditional Southern-style accompaniment.
• Match with Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Sprinkle aged cheddar cheese on top of the soup to add a tangy, creamy element that enhances the savory meat and vegetable flavors.
• Refresh with Craft Beer: Choose a hoppy American pale ale or amber ale that cuts through the soup's richness and provides a crisp, refreshing counterpoint to the robust ingredients.

Flavor Options to Switch Up Cowboy Soup

• Vegetarian Cowboy Soup: Replace ground beef with plant-based crumbles or diced mushrooms for a protein-packed meatless version. Use vegetable broth instead of beef broth to maintain the hearty flavor profile.
• Gluten-Free Cowboy Soup: Ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free, particularly checking seasoning blends and broth. Replace potential gluten-containing items with safe alternatives like gluten-free Italian seasoning.
• Low-Sodium Cowboy Soup: Use no-salt-added diced tomatoes and low-sodium beef broth. Boost flavor with fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, and extra garlic instead of salt. Reduce or eliminate added salt while maintaining robust taste.
• Slow Cooker Cowboy Soup: Transfer all ingredients to a slow cooker after initial sautéing. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, allowing flavors to meld together more deeply and creating an effortless meal preparation method.

FAQs

• Is cowboy soup healthy?

Absolutely! It’s packed with lean protein from ground beef, and loaded with vegetables like potatoes, carrots, green beans, and corn, providing essential nutrients and fiber.

• Can I make this soup vegetarian?

Yes, simply replace ground beef with plant-based ground meat or extra beans like black beans or kidney beans to maintain protein content.

• What's the best type of ground beef for this recipe?

Choose lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10) to reduce excess fat while keeping the soup flavorful and hearty.

• How can I make the soup spicier?

Add red pepper flakes, increase chili powder, or include a diced jalapeño during the vegetable sautéing stage to boost heat levels according to your preference.

Cowboy Soup Recipe

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4.6 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Cowboys craved hearty “Cowboy Soup” during long cattle drives across rugged Western landscapes. Robust ingredients blend perfectly, delivering rich flavors that reconnect you with frontier spirit and authentic ranch-style comfort.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 2 lbs ground beef

Primary Vegetables:

• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 1 lb Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 4 medium potatoes)
• 4 carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds

Canned Ingredients and Seasonings:

• 1 (14.5-ounce / 411 grams) can green beans, drained
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 (14.5-ounce / 411 grams) can diced tomatoes, with juices
• 1 (15-ounce / 425 grams) can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15-ounce / 425 grams) can corn, drained
• 4–6 cups beef broth
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste

Optional Toppings:

• Fresh parsley
• Shredded cheese
• Sour cream
• Croutons

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Instructions

1. Prepare a large Dutch oven and heat olive oil over medium-high temperature, creating a sizzling base for the soup’s foundation.
2. Introduce diced onions and celery into the hot oil, allowing them to soften and become translucent, releasing their aromatic essence. Incorporate minced garlic and continue cooking until fragrant.
3. Incorporate ground beef into the vegetable mixture, methodically breaking it apart and browning thoroughly until no pink remains, ensuring robust flavor development.
4. Combine all remaining ingredients: Yukon Gold potatoes, carrots, green beans, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, black-eyed peas, corn, and a harmonious blend of Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
5. Pour beef broth into the pot, stirring to integrate all components completely. Adjust liquid volume based on desired soup consistency, adding extra broth if needed.
6. Elevate heat to trigger a vigorous boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover and allow the soup to develop its flavors, cooking until potatoes reach a tender state, approximately 14-16 minutes.
7. Conduct a final seasoning assessment, fine-tuning with additional salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes to perfect the taste profile.
8. Ladle the steaming soup into serving bowls, garnishing with fresh parsley, shredded cheese, or a luxurious dollop of sour cream.
9. Preserve any remaining soup in an airtight container, refrigerating for up to four days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave when ready to enjoy again.

Notes

• Customize the soup’s thickness by adjusting beef broth quantity, creating your perfect consistency for comfort food.
• Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for lighter, diet-friendly protein alternatives.
• Enhance flavor depth by using fire-roasted diced tomatoes instead of regular, adding smoky complexity to the soup.
• Prep vegetables in advance to reduce cooking time and make weeknight meal preparation faster and easier.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 380
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 7 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg