Hearty Crockpot Cowboy Soup: Smoky Beef & Bean Stew (Print Version)

Hearty Crockpot Cowboy Soup: Your family will crave this smoky, beefy, bean-filled stew! An easy slow cooker meal, perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 20 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 6-8 Hours minutes
Total Time: 26 minutes
Servings: 6-8 Servings
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cuisine: American
Dietary: High-protein

# Ingredients:

→ Main Stew Base

01 - 1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20 recommended)
02 - 6 slices bacon, chopped

→ Veggies & Beans

03 - 1 large onion, chopped
04 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 (14.5 oz) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
06 - 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
07 - 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
08 - 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
09 - 1.5 cups frozen corn

→ Flavor Builders

10 - 4 cups beef broth (low sodium if preferred)
11 - 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (your favorite smoky variety)
12 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

→ Seasonings & Spices

13 - 1 tbsp chili powder
14 - 1 tsp ground cumin
15 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
16 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Optional Toppings

17 - Sour cream or Greek yogurt
18 - Shredded cheddar cheese
19 - Fresh cilantro or green onions, chopped

# Instructions:

01 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook your ground beef until it’s beautifully browned, breaking it up as you go. Drain off any excess fat – this is where I always try to get it super lean, but a little bit of fat adds flavor, honestly. Then, crumble in your bacon and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving a little of that delicious bacon grease in the pan. We're building flavor here, you know?
02 - Reduce the heat to medium. Add your chopped onion to the skillet with the remaining bacon grease and cook until it softens and turns translucent, about 5-7 minutes. You'll start smelling that sweet onion aroma, and that's your cue! Stir in the minced garlic and cook for just another minute until fragrant. Don't let it burn, that's a mistake I made once, and it completely ruined the batch. Garlic goes bitter so fast!
03 - Now for the easy part! Transfer the browned beef and sautéed aromatics into your slow cooker. Add the fire-roasted diced tomatoes (undrained, we want all that juice!), the rinsed kidney, black, and pinto beans, and the frozen corn. This is where it starts looking like a real soup, bursting with color and texture. It always makes me smile to see all those good things coming together.
04 - Pour in the beef broth, BBQ sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Sprinkle in the chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika. Give everything a good stir to combine all those incredible flavors. Make sure all the spices are mixed in; I once had a clump of chili powder at the bottom, and it was a spicy surprise in one spoonful, ha! This is the core of your Hearty Crockpot Cowboy Soup.
05 - Cover your slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. The longer it simmers, the more those flavors meld and deepen. You'll know it's ready when the kitchen smells absolutely heavenly and the soup is thick and rich. I just let it do its thing while I'm out, and coming home to that smell? Pure bliss, honestly.
06 - Once cooked, give the Hearty Crockpot Cowboy Soup another good stir. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed – maybe a little more salt or pepper? Ladle into bowls and top with those crispy bacon bits you set aside. A dollop of sour cream or a sprinkle of cheddar cheese is optional but highly recommended. It looks so inviting, and the taste is just... everything you want on a chilly evening. Enjoy!

# Notes:

01 - Browning the meat and aromatics first makes ALL the difference in flavor, don't skip it!
02 - This soup freezes like a dream; I always make a double batch for easy meal prep later.
03 - No pintos? Black beans or cannellini work great too, I've swapped them plenty of times.
04 - Serve with warm cornbread for dipping, it's my absolute favorite combo with this soup.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Slow cooker (Crockpot)
02 - large skillet
03 - knife
04 - cutting board

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 450 kcal
Total Fat: 20g
Total Carbohydrate: 35g
Protein: 30g

Back