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Cowboy Soup

Cowboy soup is a hearty one-pot ground beef soup with tender potatoes, beans, corn, and diced tomatoes simmered in a smoky ranch-seasoned broth. This easy soup recipe comes together quickly and delivers a thick, comforting bowl with classic toppings like cheddar and green onions.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Calories: 430

Ingredients
  

Cowboy soup base
  • 1.5 lb ground beef
  • 1 onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 3 potatoes
  • 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans drained
  • 1 can (15 oz) corn drained
  • 1 can (10 oz) Rotel tomatoes
  • 3 cup beef broth
  • 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • shredded cheddar for serving
  • green onions for serving

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Brown the beef and build the broth
  1. Brown the ground beef with the diced onion in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook until the beef is browned, then drain excess fat.
  2. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly to prevent browning.
  3. Stir in diced tomatoes, pinto beans, corn, Rotel tomatoes, beef broth, ranch seasoning, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper until evenly combined.
  4. Add the diced potatoes and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
Simmer until tender
  1. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 20–25 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.
Finish and serve
  1. Adjust seasoning if needed, then serve hot topped with shredded cheddar and green onions.

Notes

Pro tip: drain the beef fat after browning for a cleaner, thicker broth. Store leftovers in the fridge up to 4 days in a covered container; reheat gently on the stovetop. Freeze up to 3 months (best flavor within 1 month), then thaw overnight in the refrigerator and rewarm. For a lower-fat option, use 90% lean ground beef or swap in ground turkey while keeping the same seasonings.