Creamy Cowboy Soup
why make this recipe
Creamy Cowboy Soup is a cozy, hearty dish perfect for chilly days or anytime you need comfort food. It combines rich flavors and creamy textures that make it satisfying. This balanced meal features protein from beef and beans, fiber from veggies, and a touch of spice that everyone loves. It’s easy to make and can be ready in about 45 minutes, making it great for busy weeknights or a gathering with friends and family.
how to make Creamy Cowboy Soup
Ingredients :
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes (with juice)
- 1 (15-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 cup diced potatoes (peeled or unpeeled)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions :
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Break it up as it cooks. Once fully browned, drain off any excess grease.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add the diced onion to the pot with the browned beef and sauté for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent.
- Add the minced garlic to the pot. Stir it in and cook for just about 1 minute more, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Sprinkle in the chili powder, ground cumin, and smoked paprika over the meat and vegetables. Stir everything together well, allowing the spices to toast for about 1 minute.
- Pour in the beef broth. Then, add the undrained can of diced tomatoes, the undrained can of diced tomatoes with green chilies, the diced potatoes, and the drained and rinsed black beans. Stir to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
- Bring the soup to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Once bubbling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for at least 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Once the potatoes are tender, stir in the drained whole kernel corn and the heavy cream (or half-and-half). Heat gently until warmed through and the cream is evenly distributed, but do not bring to a rolling boil after adding the cream.
- Taste the soup and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your desired taste. Let it simmer for another 5 minutes on low heat, uncovered, to allow flavors to meld.
- Ladle generous portions of the hot Creamy Cowboy Soup into bowls. Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese before serving. Enjoy immediately!
how to serve Creamy Cowboy Soup
Serve Creamy Cowboy Soup hot in a bowl. You can top it with extra shredded cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, or even some chopped fresh herbs for added flavor. Pair it with crusty bread or cornbread to soak up the delicious broth.
how to store Creamy Cowboy Soup
To store Creamy Cowboy Soup, let it cool completely and transfer it to an airtight container. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Just make sure to leave some space in the container for the soup to expand as it freezes.
tips to make Creamy Cowboy Soup
- Feel free to customize the soup by adding your favorite vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini.
- For a spicier kick, add jalapeños or cayenne pepper.
- If you don’t have heavy cream, you can use milk or half-and-half for a lighter version.
- For a vegetarian option, you can substitute ground beef with plant-based meat or extra beans.
variation
You can make a lighter version of this soup by eliminating the heavy cream and using low-fat milk instead. Additionally, swapping out ground beef for turkey or chicken is another delicious option.
FAQs
1. Can I use different beans in this soup?
Yes, you can use different types of beans like pinto beans or kidney beans instead of black beans.
2. Is Creamy Cowboy Soup spicy?
The soup has a mild kick from the chili powder and tomatoes with green chilies. You can adjust the spice level to your taste by adding more or less chili powder.
3. Can I make this soup in a slow cooker?
Absolutely! Brown the beef and sauté the onions and garlic first. Then transfer everything to a slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Add the cream towards the end of the cooking time.
Creamy Cowboy Soup
Ingredients
Method
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Break it up as it cooks. Once fully browned, drain off any excess grease.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add the diced onion to the pot with the browned beef and sauté for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent.
- Add the minced garlic to the pot. Stir it in and cook for just about 1 minute more, until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Sprinkle in the chili powder, ground cumin, and smoked paprika over the meat and vegetables. Stir everything together well and toast the spices for about 1 minute.
- Pour in the beef broth. Then, add the undrained can of diced tomatoes, the undrained can of diced tomatoes with green chilies, the diced potatoes, and the drained and rinsed black beans. Stir to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
- Bring the soup to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Once bubbling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for at least 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Once the potatoes are tender, stir in the drained whole kernel corn and the heavy cream (or half-and-half). Heat gently until warmed through and the cream is evenly distributed, but do not bring to a rolling boil after adding the cream.
- Taste the soup and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your desired taste. Let it simmer for another 5 minutes on low heat, uncovered, to allow flavors to meld.
- Ladle generous portions of the hot Creamy Cowboy Soup into bowls. Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese before serving. Enjoy immediately!