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A rustic bowl of hearty cowboy soup, rich with ground beef, beans, corn, and chopped vegetables, garnished with fresh cilantro.

Hearty Cowboy Soup Recipe: Deep Flavor, Easy Weeknight Meal

This hearty Cowboy Soup offers a deeply flavorful, satisfying meal for any weeknight. Featuring a unique deglazing twist with Worcestershire sauce, it unlocks rich umami and Maillard flavors for unparalleled depth. Surprisingly simple, this robust comfort food is sure to become a family favorite.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish, Soup
Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex
Calories: 400
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion (diced)
  • ½ cup red bell pepper (diced)
  • ½ cup green bell pepper (diced)
  • 1 cup peeled and diced potatoes
  • 1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes (with juice)
  • 1 15 ounce can sweet corn (drained)
  • 1 15 ounce can pinto beans (drained)
  • 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1-2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (or tamari)
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • Chopped parsley or cilantro for garnish

Equipment

  • large pot
  • Dutch oven
  • Wooden spoon

Method
 

Brown the Beef
  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the 1 pound of ground beef over medium-high heat. Get it nicely browned and crumbly to build the first layer of flavor. Once cooked through, drain any excess fat.
Sauté the Vegetables
  1. Add the diced 1 medium onion, 1/2 cup red bell pepper, and 1/2 cup green bell pepper to the pot with the beef. Cook until the vegetables are softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
Deglazing & Building Flavor
  1. After the vegetables are softened, add 1-2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce (or tamari) to the pot, along with a splash of the beef broth. Immediately scrape up all the delicious, browned bits (the "fond") from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. This deglazing step captures immense umami and Maillard reaction flavors, guaranteeing a richer, more complex broth.
Add Remaining Ingredients
  1. Now, add the 1 cup peeled and diced potatoes, 1 15 ounce can sweet corn, 1 15 ounce can pinto beans, 1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes with their juice, and 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce to the pot. Stir everything together.
Add Liquids & Spices
  1. Pour in the 3 cups of beef broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon garlic salt, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, and 1/2 teaspoon cumin. Stir well to combine all those fragrant spices into the broth.
Simmer to Perfection
  1. Cover the pot and let the soup simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. For the absolute best flavor, simmer for an extra 10-15 minutes even after the potatoes are tender to allow flavors to meld and intensify.
Adjust Seasoning
  1. Before serving, taste your soup and adjust the seasoning if necessary. You might want a little more salt, pepper, or a pinch more cumin.
Serve
  1. Serve your warming, hearty Cowboy Soup hot, garnished with fresh chopped cilantro or parsley. It’s ready to be enjoyed!

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 30gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 950mgPotassium: 600mgFiber: 10gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 75mgIron: 4mg

Notes

Don't skip deglazing for maximum flavor and allow extra simmering time. This versatile soup is great for meal prep, storing well in the fridge (4 days) or freezer (3 months). Adjust seasoning before serving.
Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.

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