Slow Cooker Cowboy Caviar Soup

📝Shopping list

To make this easy cowboy caviar soup recipe, you will need these simple ingredients available in any grocery store:

•  frozen corn
• canned black beans - rinsed and drained
• canned black-eyed peas** - rinsed and drained
• diced canned tomatoes 
• tomato sauce
• diced chili peppers
• medium onion - diced
• red bell pepper - diced
• green bell pepper - diced
• jalapeño's** - finely chopped
• lime - juiced
• cumin
• garlic powder
• salt
• dried cilantro
• oregano
• chili powder
• vegetable broth
• additional salt and black pepper - to taste, if needed
• cilantro - optional garnish

🔪Instructions

Don't let the longer list of ingredients fool you!  This cowboy soup is a really easy recipe to make.   

Preparing Your Slow Cooker

Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent.  Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings. This step isn't quite as important when making soup as with some other dishes, but I still recommend it.

 NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface.  Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface.  Check the manual for your slow cooker if you have any concerns. 

Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.  

Preparing Ingredients

This recipe's "hardest" step is chopping up the bell peppers, onions, and jalapenos.  If you are super lazy (like me), you can even purchase these already diced. 

Cooking

Now comes the fun part, add everything to your slow cooker (other than garnish) and give it a good stir.  Place the lid on top and set your crockpot on low heat for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4. I always prefer to go with low and slow, but you can let your schedule guide you.  

🍽Serving suggestions

This delicious soup is perfect served hot and fresh!  To keep in spirit with the colorful cowboy caviar it is based upon, tortilla chips are the perfect companion.  

Some other great go-withs include:

• a side salad
• heel of crusty bread
• a large avocado, sliced or diced 
• soup crackers
• corn chips
• three bean salad
• a sprinkling of freshly chopped cilantro - or any other fresh herbs you like 
• sliced jalapeño peppers
• sliced green onions
• Chips and pico de gallo or salsa
• An extra squeeze of fresh lime juice, to taste

🔁Substitution ideas

• I use a white onion for this recipe, but yellow and red onion can be used as well.
• Replace canned tomatoes with freshly diced Roma tomatoes for a twist.
• To keep the spice level down, use pickled jalapenos rather than fresh.
• Looking to turn this into a meat lovers soup? Add a pound of browned, ground beef or ground turkey.
• Feel free to play around with the types of beans.  For example, swap black-eyed peas for garbanzo beans, pinto beans, or other of your favorite canned beans.
• Swap out frozen corn with canned or fresh corn, if that is what you have on hand 
• Trade the powdered garlic for 3 cloves of minced, fresh garlic

Storing

Store leftovers of your cowboy soup in an airtight container.  Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Frozen leftovers can be defrosted in the refrigerator overnight and gently reheated in the microwave.  

😉Hints & hacks

1. This soup has a bit of a kick to it.  If you are not a fan of spice, mushroom barley soup,  Tomato feta soup, or tomato beef barley soup are crock pot meals you may prefer.   
2. This is a great meal prep recipe. You can assemble all the ingredients the night before and store in the refrigerator.  In the morning, just pop them into your slow cooker.  
3. This is a great dish if your people will be eating at different times. At the end of cooking, turn your slow cooker to warm (or have it automatically switch to warm, if available). Everyone can have a hot and filling meal, no matter what time of the evening they are ready to eat. 
4. I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price.
5. In the market for a new slow cooker?  I Love mine!
6. Always check to ensure your slow cooker is plugged in and turned on!  There is nothing more disappointing than coming home to a cold crockpot! 😏