Cabbage Roll Soup
Cabbage Roll Soup is an easy way to enjoy the flavors of cabbage rolls in one easy and healthy soup. This healthy and filling soup is one of my husband's favorite soup recipes that I make all fall and winter long!
Quick Look: Cabbage Roll Soup
Ready In: 55 Minutes
Serves: 8
Calories: 307 Calories
Main Ingredients: ground beef, cabbage, diced tomatoes
Why You'll Love It: Cabbage Roll Soup is a super easy, filling, and delicious soup!
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If you love classic cabbage rolls but don't love the time it takes to make them, this Cabbage Roll Soup is the perfect solution. It has all of the cozy, comforting flavors of traditional cabbage rolls in an easy one-pot soup recipe that's perfect for busy weeknights. Made with ground beef, tender cabbage, rice, and a rich tomato broth, this hearty soup is filling, family-friendly, and great for meal prep.
This soup is one of my favorite cold weather dinners because it's simple to make, packed with protein and veggies, and tastes even better the next day. Serve it with crusty bread or a simple salad for an easy dinner everyone will love.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- All the flavor of cabbage rolls with way less work - no rolling or stuffing required, just simple ingredients simmered together in one pot.
- Easy weeknight dinner - this soup comes together with minimal prep and is perfect for busy evenings.
- Hearty and filling - between the ground beef, rice, and cabbage, this soup is satisfying enough for a complete meal.
- Great for meal prep - the leftovers reheat beautifully, making it perfect for lunches throughout the week.
- Family friendly - even picky eaters tend to love the rich tomato broth and comforting flavors.
Key Ingredients
Ground beef - this is the main protein in the soup and gives it a savory flavor.
Vegetables - onion, garlic, carrots, and cabbage are all jam packed into this hearty soup.
Tomatoes - a combination of diced tomatoes and crushed tomatoes give this soup a savory and rich broth base.
Spices - paprika, garlic, and thyme all add a ton of flavor.
Substitutions and Variations
Brown Rice - I used white rice in this recipe which allowed for a lower cooking time than if you choose to use brown rice. You definitely can use brown rice but just know you'll have to simmer it for closer to 40-45 minutes so it is cooked fully.
Different Meat - I used ground beef in this recipe, which I think lends a great amount of flavor to the soup. You can certainly use ground chicken, ground turkey, or ground pork as well with good results.
Pre-Chopped Vegetables - If you want to save yourself some chopping, a package of chopped cabbage/coleslaw can be used. Same goes with pre-chopped onions and carrots - if it helps to save you time then go for it!
Expert Tips
Chop the cabbage into bite-sized pieces - smaller pieces cook more evenly and are easier to eat in soup form.
Serving - I recommend serving this soup with rolls, a light salad like my Strawberry Arugula Salad, Greek Yogurt Honey Mustard, or Blueberry Vinaigrette.
Storage - store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Add additional broth as needed when you reheat.
Adjust the broth as needed - the rice will continue absorbing liquid as the soup sits, so you may want to add extra broth when reheating leftovers.
Make it ahead - like many soups, the flavors get even better after a day in the refrigerator.
Freezer Meal - if freezing, consider leaving out the rice and adding freshly cooked rice when serving.
Cabbage Roll Soup FAQs
Yes! Ground turkey works great as a lighter option and still gives the soup plenty of flavor.
Absolutely. Brown the meat first, then add everything except the rice to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours. Stir in cooked rice before serving.
The rice continues absorbing broth as the soup sits. Simply stir in additional broth when reheating to thin it out.
Other Soup Recipes to Consider
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #greensnchocolate.
Cabbage Roll Soup
Equipment
- Soup Pot
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 white onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 1 small head of cabbage, chopped
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup rice
- 4-6 cups beef broth
- fresh parsley, chopped, for topping
Instructions
- Place a large soup pot over medium-high heat on the stovetop.
- Add the beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Add the onion, garlic, and carrots and cook another 5 minutes, until slightly softened.
- Add the cabbage, stirring to combine, and cooking another few minutes to slightly soften.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, thyme, paprika, salt, rice, and 4 cups of beef broth, and stir well to combine.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, until the cabbage is softened.
- Add additional broth as preferred, to reach desired consistency.
- Serve topped with fresh parsley and enjoy!
So good!