Hearty Crockpot Cowboy Soup: Easy Weeknight Dinner (Print Version)

Whip up a satisfying Crockpot Cowboy Soup for an easy weeknight meal. Flavorful, comforting, and packed with ingredients your family will love.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4 Hours minutes
Total Time: 19 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Omnivore, adaptable

# Ingredients:

→ Hearty Foundation

01 - Ground Beef (1 lb, 85/15 recommended)
02 - Yellow Onion (1 medium, diced)
03 - Garlic (3 cloves, minced)
04 - Canned Diced Tomatoes (1 can, 14.5 oz, undrained)
05 - Canned Kidney Beans (1 can, 15 oz, rinsed and drained)
06 - Canned Corn (1 can, 15 oz, drained)
07 - Beef Broth (4 cups, low sodium)

→ Flavor Boosters

08 - Chili Powder (1 tbsp)
09 - Cumin (1 tsp)
10 - Smoked Paprika (1 tsp)
11 - Salt & Black Pepper (to taste)

→ Creamy Finish

12 - Cream Cheese (4 oz, softened, full-fat)

→ Garnish & Toppings

13 - Shredded cheddar cheese
14 - Chopped green onions
15 - Sour cream
16 - Crushed tortilla chips

# Instructions:

01 - Okay, so first things first, grab your biggest skillet and get it nice and hot over medium-high heat. Toss in that ground beef and break it up with a spoon. You want it beautifully browned, not just gray, because that browning creates so much flavor for our Crockpot Cowboy Soup. Once it's all cooked through, drain off any excess fat – seriously, don't skip this, unless you want a greasy soup. Then, add your diced onion and minced garlic to the same skillet (maybe a tiny bit of oil if needed, but usually the beef fat is enough). Sauté them until they're soft and smell incredible, about 3-5 minutes. This step, honestly, is where the magic starts!
02 - Now for the easy part! Carefully transfer your browned beef, onions, and garlic into your 6-quart crockpot. Add the undrained diced tomatoes, rinsed kidney beans, drained corn, and beef broth. Sprinkle in the chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika. Give everything a good stir to combine all those lovely ingredients. I always give it a sniff right here, and it already smells amazing, even before it starts cooking. Make sure everything is nestled in there nicely. This is where the slow cooker takes over, making your life simpler.
03 - Put the lid on your crockpot and set it to low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours. I usually go for the low and slow method if I have the time; it really lets the flavors meld together beautifully. During this time, your kitchen is going to start smelling absolutely divine. Seriously, the aroma of this Crockpot Cowboy Soup filling the house is one of my favorite things! Resist the urge to peek too often, let that slow cooker do its thing. It's building all that delicious depth of flavor.
04 - Once your cooking time is almost up and the soup is bubbling away, it's time for the secret ingredient: cream cheese! Cut your softened cream cheese into a few chunks and drop them into the hot soup. Give it a gentle stir until the cream cheese melts and incorporates completely, making the soup wonderfully creamy and rich. This step makes such a difference in the texture and mouthfeel of the Crockpot Cowboy Soup. It goes from a hearty stew to something truly luxurious. Taste and adjust your salt and pepper here; you might need a little more than you think.
05 - Let the soup simmer for another 15-20 minutes on low after adding the cream cheese, just to let all those new creamy flavors blend in fully. You'll notice the soup thickens slightly and gets this beautiful, inviting color. This is where I always get impatient because it smells so good! While it's doing its final simmer, get your garnishes ready. Think shredded cheddar, some fresh green onions, maybe a dollop of sour cream. It’s all about those finishing touches that make this Crockpot Cowboy Soup sing!
06 - Ladle generous portions of the hot Crockpot Cowboy Soup into bowls. Now for the fun part: let everyone customize their bowl! Pile on that shredded cheddar cheese, sprinkle with fresh green onions, add a swirl of sour cream, and maybe even some crushed tortilla chips for a little crunch. The vibrant colors of the garnishes against the rich soup are just so inviting. Take a moment to enjoy the incredible aroma before you dig in. This soup is truly a comforting meal that brings everyone together, messy kitchen or not!

# Notes:

01 - Always brown your ground beef first; it adds a depth of flavor you just can't get by skipping that step, trust me, I learned the hard way.
02 - Don't add the cream cheese until the very end; if you add it too early, it can sometimes separate or get grainy from extended cooking.
03 - Taste and adjust your seasonings *before* serving; broth sodium levels vary, so what works for my kitchen might need a tweak in yours.
04 - For an extra layer of flavor, try adding a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce or a dash of liquid smoke to the Crockpot Cowboy Soup with the broth.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - 6-quart Crockpot/Slow Cooker
02 - large skillet

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 450
Total Fat: 25g
Total Carbohydrate: 30g
Protein: 30g

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