The Cajun Ninja’s beef and vegetable soup is the ultimate comfort food, loaded with meat, potatoes and veggies simmered in a spiced tomato broth. It’s inspired by traditional Louisiana soups using produce readily available in the Bayou. This hearty and flavorful Cajun Ninja Beef and Vegetable Soup recipe is inspired by Louisiana cooking personality Jason Derouen.
With his larger-than-life internet persona as the Cajun Ninja, Jason has won over audiences with his bold Cajun recipes and entertaining cooking videos. This beef and veggie soup is packed with Jason’s signature bold Cajun flavors making it an absolute crowd-pleaser.
Why We Love This Dish
There are so many reasons to love the Cajun Ninja’s signature beef and veggie soup recipe. Firstly, the combination of ingredients and flavors is total comfort food at its best. There’s tender, juicy beef, onions, peppers, potatoes and beans all simmered in a seasoned tomato broth infused with Cajun spices.
Every spoonful delivers a different experience from juicy beef to tender veggies to pieces of potato soaking up the flavorsome liquid. It’s also budget-friendly, made with simple accessible ingredients transformed into something special by Jason’s seasoning prowess. This is feel-good food at its finest – perfect for chilly nights or to feed a crowd. We love one-pot wonders like this that are unfussy yet deliver mega flavor.
How to Make Cajun Ninja Beef and Vegetable Soup
Recreating the Cajun Ninja’s popular soup recipe at home is simple. Here’s an overview of what’s involved:
Ingredients – Beef stew meat, carrots, celery, cabbage, beans, onions, peppers, garlic, potatoes, mushrooms, parsley, broth, tomato juice, Cajun seasoning, bay leaves, corn.
Prep – Chop the veggies and season the beef.
Cook the Beef – Brown the beef in batches in a large pot.
Sauté Veg – Cook the onions, peppers and veggies in the beef juices.
Simmer – Deglaze then add all the ingredients and simmer until tender.
Adjust – Season to taste then serve.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 2-3 pounds beef stew meat
- 3 carrots
- 3 celery sticks
- 1 head cabbage
- 1 pound green beans
- 1 onion
- 1 bell pepper
- 6 garlic cloves
- 3 potatoes
- 8 oz mushrooms
- Fresh parsley
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper
- 32 oz beef broth
- 64 oz tomato/vegetable juice
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 2 bay leaves
- 12 oz frozen corn
Necessary Equipment
You’ll need a few basics like:
- Large pot or Dutch oven
- Sharp knives and cutting boards
- Wooden spoons
- Measuring spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Potato masher or fork
Step-By-Step Cooking Instructions
- Season the beef chunks with salt and pepper.
- Chop the veggies – dice the onions, pepper, garlic. Cut carrots, celery, potatoes and cabbage into chunks.
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Brown the beef in batches.
- Sauté the onions and peppers until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and sauté 1 minute more.
- Pour in 1 cup broth to deglaze pot, stirring to scrape up any browned bits.
- Add remaining broth, tomato juice, Cajun seasoning, bay leaves and beef. Bring to a boil.
- Add the carrots, celery, cabbage, beans, potatoes and mushrooms. Reduce heat and simmer for 60 minutes, until beef and veggies are fork tender.
- Mash any overly large potato pieces with a fork or masher to thicken broth.
- Stir in corn and cook 5 minutes more.
- Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Ladle piping hot soup into bowls and garnish with parsley. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips and Variations
There are lots of ways to put your own spin on this classic:
- Swap beef for chicken, turkey, sausage or Cajun shrimp
- Use different veggies like okra, squash, greens or corn on the cob
- Add some heat with cayenne, crushed red pepper or hot sauce
- Garnish bowls with green onion, cheese, sour cream or croutons
- Serve with cornbread, biscuits or crusty bread for dipping
Play around and make this hearty soup your own!
Reheating and Storing Leftovers
Like many soups and stews, this Cajun beef and veggie soup tastes even better the next day once the flavors have had time to develop. It will keep for 3 to 4 days refrigerated.
To reheat, transfer individual portions to pots with a splash of water or broth. Gently reheat on the stovetop or simmer for 10 minutes until piping hot. You can also reheat bowls in the microwave in 30 second increments.
The soup may thicken on standing so add a bit more tomato juice or water when reheating for the original consistency. Enjoy your leftovers!
Frequently Asked Questions
What cut of beef works best?
Choose a stewing or braising cut like chuck, brisket or round. Trim excess fat and cut into 1-2 inch chunks.
Can I use canned tomatoes instead?
Yes, you can substitute 2-3 cans of diced tomatoes for the tomato juice.
What kind of Cajun seasoning do I use?
Any store-bought Cajun or Creole seasoning will work well. You can also make your own.
Is okra a good addition?
Absolutely! Okra is used often in Louisiana cooking. Add it in the last 30 minutes.
Can I cook it entirely on the stovetop?
Yes, just make sure to simmer it gently for at least 1 1/2 hours to allow flavors to develop.
Cajun Ninja Beef and Vegetable Soup
The Cajun Ninja's beef and vegetable soup is the ultimate comfort food, loaded with meat, potatoes and veggies simmered in a spiced tomato broth.
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds beef stew meat
- 3 carrots
- 3 celery sticks
- 1 head cabbage
- 1 pound green beans
- 1 onion
- 1 bell pepper
- 6 garlic cloves
- 3 potatoes
- 8 oz mushrooms
- Fresh parsley
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper
- 32 oz beef broth
- 64 oz tomato/vegetable juice
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 2 bay leaves
- 12 oz frozen corn
Instructions
- Season the beef chunks with salt and pepper.
- Chop the veggies - dice the onions, pepper, garlic. Cut carrots, celery, potatoes and cabbage into chunks.
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Brown the beef in batches.
- Sauté the onions and peppers until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and sauté 1 minute more.
- Pour in 1 cup broth to deglaze pot, stirring to scrape up any browned bits.
- Add remaining broth, tomato juice, Cajun seasoning, bay leaves and beef. Bring to a boil.
- Add the carrots, celery, cabbage, beans, potatoes and mushrooms. Reduce heat and simmer for 60 minutes, until beef and veggies are fork tender.
- Mash any overly large potato pieces with a fork or masher to thicken broth.
- Stir in corn and cook 5 minutes more.
- Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Ladle piping hot soup into bowls and garnish with parsley.
Final Thoughts
For a hearty, comforting soup that delivers big on flavor, look no further than the Cajun Ninja’s signature beef and vegetable recipe. This Louisiana-inspired one-pot wonder combines tender beef, potatoes and veggies in a tasty seasoned broth. Simple to make yet packed with comforting, robust flavor, this soup really satisfies. Recreate a taste of the Bayou at home with the Cajun Ninja’s popular beef and veggie soup.
