Wintertime is the best time of year to indulge in hearty and warm soups and stews. Texas is known for its love of Tex-Mex, a combination of Mexican and Tejano cooking. Texans have incorporated their love of this style of food to create a bounty of flavorful soups. Many of these soups incorporate hearty ingredients, like beans and ground beef. Texans are big on heat and flavor, so rest assured there will be plenty of peppers and spices in these recipes.
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We've rounded up the best Texas soup recipes and where you can find some comforting bowls in the Lone Star state. Even if you don't live in Texas, you can cook up a bowl of soup, close your eyes, and transport yourself deep in the heart of Texas.
8 Texas-inspired Soups To Make at Home
1. Texas Cowboy Soup
Texas cowboy soup is a hearty stew made with ingredients you probably already have at home. This soup is made with bacon, ground beef, chili powder, pinto beans, and diced tomatoes. It's a perfect weeknight meal that comes together in one hour. This recipe makes 8-10 servings, enough to have leftovers for the week.
Get the recipe here from Cookstr
2. Healthy Tex-Mex Chicken Soup
This soup is made in a slow cooker, which means you can set it and forget it. You don't have to sacrifice flavor to make a healthy soup. The addition of green chile peppers and boneless skinless chicken breasts keeps the flavor high and the carbohydrates low.
The nutrition facts list one serving size to have less than 400 calories. The addition of black beans provides 11g of dietary fiber. This soup has a low amount of total fat and total carbohydrates, making it a perfect option for those on a more restrictive eating plan.
Get the recipe here from Call Me PMC
3. 7-Can Taco Soup
This soup gets its name because you open 7 cans to make the soup. To make this soup, you'll need a can of Rotel, corn, tomatoes, ground beef, ranch dressing seasoning, taco seasoning, and a can of ranch-style beans.
The prep time could not be easier. All you do is saute the beef, then dump in the cans and seasoning packets, and cook on low for 3-4 hours.
Get the recipe here from Wide Open Eats
4. Black Bean Soup
This vegetarian soup packs a punch with tons of seasonings to amp up the black bean flavor. The stock of the soup is made from chicken broth and seasoned with canned green chilies, ground cumin, bell pepper, lime, and smoked paprika.
Get the recipe here from Salt and Lavender
5. Texas Tortilla Soup
What makes this "Texas" style is the addition of toppings and spices. This recipe calls for a jalapeño for a bit of a kick. For the toppings, you can add shredded cheese, tortilla chips, avocado, and sour cream. Once the soup is finished cooking, ladle the broth into a bowl and add as many toppings as your heart desires.
Get the recipe here from Sumptuous Living
6. Chicken Rice Soup
What makes this soup unique is the addition of brown rice. In a large pot add the onions, carrots, and celery. Next, add the garlic and fresh herbs. Then, add the 5 cups chicken broth, 1 cup of rice, and the chicken. The broth perfectly cooks the chicken and the rice at the same time.
You can substitute the broth for 5 cups of water if you prefer a lighter broth. After 30 minutes, shred the chicken and add evaporated milk for creaminess.
Get the recipe here from Spend With Pennies
7. Menudo
Menudo is a well-known hangover cure, as well as a delicious, hearty soup. The main meat is tripe, aka cow stomach lining. The total time to make this cure-all soup is only 1 hour 15 minutes. Aside from curing hangovers, this soup is great for when you're feeling under the weather, due to its high levels of vitamin c.
Get the recipe here from My Latina Table
8. Texas Chili
You cannot live in or visit Texas without eating Texas chili. What makes this chili special is that it contains no beans. Traditionally you use lean ground beef, but ground turkey could be substituted if you wanted something leaner.
The key to a good chili is letting it simmer on medium heat for at least one hour. The longer it sits, the more the flavors meld together. You can top your chili with jalapenos, sour cream, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese.
You can't serve chili without cornbread. The sugars in the sweet cornbread help to balance the hot and smoky chili flavor.
Get the chili recipe here from Dinner Then Dessert and the cornbread here from Bless This Mess Please
2 Must-Try Soups While in Houston, Texas
9. Snapping Turtle Soup
This essential creole dish is very popular in New Orleans, Louisiana. Brennan's is the sister restaurant of the famed Commanders Palace. This soup features real snapping turtle meat and an elegant table-side presentation. If you live in or visit Houston, this has to be on your must-try list.
Check out the menu here
10. Matzo Ball Soup
This Jewish classic is famous at Houston's New York-style deli. It's a cure-all for everything from a cold to a broken heart. If you're in Houston, grab a warm, comforting bowl this winter.
Check out the menu here
