Cabbage Soup

Published: Mar 11, 2026

Updated: Apr 13, 2026

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Warm, hearty, and packed with comforting flavor, this Cabbage Soup is the ultimate one-pot meal. Inspired by classic cabbage roll soup recipes, this version combines tender cabbage, seasoned ground beef, tomato broth, and rice into a rich and satisfying dish that tastes like slow-cooked comfort in every spoonful.

Hearty cabbage soup with ground beef, tender cabbage, tomatoes, and rice simmered in a rich broth.

Cabbage Soup (Hearty Cabbage Roll Soup with Ground Beef)

If you love cozy cabbage soup recipes that are simple to make yet incredibly flavorful, this recipe will quickly become a staple in your kitchen.

Pin this now to save it for later

Pin It Now

This easy cabbage roll soup recipe is comforting, filling, and perfect for cozy dinners.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This cabbage soup recipe brings together everything people love about traditional cabbage rolls, but without the extra work of rolling and baking.

It’s a simple stovetop soup that is:

Comforting and flavorful with a tomato-rich broth
Hearty and filling thanks to ground beef and rice
Packed with vegetables like cabbage, onion, and carrot
Budget friendly using simple pantry ingredients
Perfect for meal prep because it reheats beautifully

This soup also fits beautifully into the category of cabbage soup diet recipes, since cabbage is naturally low-calorie while still being satisfying.

Ingredients:

Butter – you could also use olive oil.
Lean ground beef – lean ground beef works best because the higher fat content options leave the soup heavy and greasy.
Salt and pepper
Sweet onion – you could use white or yellow onion if needed.
Minced garlic
Small head of green cabbage – or half of a large head of cabbage.
Carrot – I used baby carrots, but you can use any carrots. Baby carrots are easy to chop and taste great.
Beef broth – low sodium is a great option if you are trying to keep salt intake down.
Worcestershire sauce
Tomato sauce
Tomato paste
White minute rice – I used minute rice to ensure the rice is cooked within the time needed to cook the vegetables. Nobody likes to bite into hard grains of rice! If you don’t want to use minute rice, I suggest cooking the rice separately and adding it at the end.
Bay leaf – it’s optional, but adds a great taste. Make sure to remove it before serving; don’t eat the leaf.
Light brown sugar – dark brown sugar works too, it just gives a more molasses taste.

To lean even further into cabbage roll flavors, you can add:

A pinch of paprika
Fresh dill
A splash of apple cider vinegar

Low-Carb Cabbage Soup

Skip the rice and replace it with:
Extra cabbage
Cauliflower rice

Brown the beef. In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt your butter over medium heat and then add the ground beef. Season it with salt and pepper, and brown it by breaking it up and flipping it until all the beef is brown with no pink spots. Drain any excess grease from the pan.

Flavor the beef. Add the diced onion and minced garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until onions are translucent and garlic is fragrant.

Recipe Tips for the Best Cabbage Soup

Chop cabbage evenly
Uniform pieces help the cabbage cook evenly and soften perfectly in the soup.

Use lean ground beef
Lean beef keeps the soup rich but prevents excess grease.

Do not skip the Worcestershire sauce
This small ingredient adds deep savory flavor that makes the soup taste slow-simmered.

Simmer long enough
Allowing the soup to simmer helps the cabbage soften and the rice absorb the broth.

Let it rest before serving
The soup thickens slightly as it sits, creating an even richer texture.

Build the Flavor. Add in the chopped cabbage, carrots, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, tomato paste, white rice, bay leaf, and brown sugar. Stir the ingredients together until well combined. It will not look very soupy at this point, but it will cook down and create its own additional broth.

Cook. Turn your heat up to medium-high heat until it reaches a simmer, and then reduce the heat to medium to maintain a simmer. Cover and stir occasionally for 25 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked throughout and the rice is tender.

What to Serve with Cabbage Soup

This soup is hearty enough to be a meal on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with simple sides.

Great serving ideas include:

Crusty artisan bread
Garlic toast
Buttered dinner rolls
Simple green salad
Cornbread

Is cabbage soup healthy?

Cabbage soup is naturally packed with vegetables and can be part of a balanced meal. Cabbage is low in calories but rich in fiber and nutrients.

Is this the cabbage soup diet recipe?

While this recipe is more hearty than traditional cabbage soup diet versions because it includes beef and rice, it still highlights cabbage as the star ingredient.

Can I make cabbage soup in advance?

Yes. In fact, cabbage soup often tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop.

If you’re looking for cozy cabbage soup recipes that are filling, budget friendly, and easy to make, this one-pot cabbage roll soup is a perfect choice. With tender cabbage, flavorful beef, and a rich tomato broth, every bowl is pure comfort.

Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or cooking a warm family dinner, this cabbage soup will quickly become a favorite.