Hearty Cabbage Roll Soup (All the Flavor, Without the Fuss!)

This Hearty Cabbage Roll Soup is a delicious and easy way to enjoy all the flavors of classic cabbage rolls without all the work! It’s a comforting and satisfying soup that’s packed with ground beef, cabbage, carrots, rice, and a rich tomato broth. I love how this recipe is both simple to make and incredibly flavorful. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner, a cozy weekend meal, or any time you’re craving a taste of comfort food.

Why You’ll Love This Cabbage Roll Soup

• All the Flavor of Cabbage Rolls: This soup captures the delicious flavors of traditional cabbage rolls in a much easier format.
• Hearty and Satisfying: Packed with ground beef, rice, and vegetables, this soup is a complete and filling meal.
• Easy to Make: This recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward instructions.
• One-Pot Meal: Everything cooks together in one pot (or Dutch oven), making cleanup a breeze.
• Comfort Food Classic: A warm and comforting soup that’s perfect for a chilly day.

Ingredients for Cabbage Roll Soup

Here’s what you’ll need to make this hearty soup. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Main Ingredients

• Vegetable oil (Oil)
• Lean ground beef (Meat)
• Yellow onion, diced finely (Vegetable)
• Garlic, minced (Aromatic)
• Chopped green cabbage (Vegetable)
• Medium carrots, quartered and sliced (Vegetable)
• Low-sodium beef broth (Liquid)
• Tomato sauce (canned) (Sauce)
• White rice, uncooked (Grain)
• Bay leaf (Herb)
• Light brown sugar (Sweetener)

Seasoning

• Salt and Pepper

Garnish

• Fresh Chopped Parsley

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)

Variations

I love this Cabbage Roll Soup as is, but here are a few ideas for variations:

• Different Meat: Use ground turkey, chicken, or Italian sausage instead of ground beef.
• Add More Vegetables: Toss in some diced bell peppers, celery, or mushrooms.
• Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
• Different Rice: Use brown rice or a wild rice blend instead of white rice.
• Add Tomatoes: Add some diced tomatoes

How to Make Cabbage Roll Soup

Let me show you how easy it is to make this Hearty Cabbage Roll Soup:

Brown the Beef

1. In a Dutch oven or large soup pot, I heat the oil over medium-high heat.
2. I add the ground beef and season it with salt and pepper as desired.
3. I cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon.

Sauté Onions and Garlic

1. I add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until the onions are tender.

Add Remaining Ingredients

1. I add in the chopped cabbage, carrots, tomato sauce, beef broth, uncooked white rice, bay leaf, and brown sugar.
2. I stir everything to combine.

Simmer

1. I bring the soup to a simmer.
2. I let it cook for about 25 minutes, until the rice is tender.

Finish and Serve

1. I take out the bay leaf.
2. I sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

Tips and Tricks for the BEST Cabbage Roll Soup

Here are my secrets for making this soup truly exceptional:

• Use Lean Ground Beef: Using lean ground beef reduces the amount of grease in the soup.
• Don’t Overcook the Rice: Cook the rice just until it’s tender. Overcooked rice will become mushy.
• Adjust Seasoning: Taste the soup and adjust the salt, pepper, and brown sugar to your liking.
• Fresh Parsley: Fresh parsley adds a bright, herbaceous flavor to the finished soup.

How to Serve

This Cabbage Roll Soup is a complete meal on its own, but here are a few serving suggestions:

• Crusty Bread: Serve with a side of crusty bread or rolls for dipping.
• Sour Cream or Yogurt: A dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt adds a cool and creamy element.
• Salad: A simple green salad would complement the soup nicely.

Make Ahead and Storage

This soup tastes even better the next day! You can store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.

FAQs about Cabbage Roll Soup

• Can I use a different type of meat?
  • Yes, you can use ground turkey, chicken, or Italian sausage instead of ground beef.
• Can I make this without the rice?
  • Yes, you can omit the rice or substitute it with another grain, such as barley or quinoa.
• Can I freeze this soup?
  • Yes.

Enjoy this hearty, flavorful, and easy-to-make Cabbage Roll Soup! It’s the perfect comfort food for a chilly evening.

Hearty Cabbage Roll Soup

• Author: Caoimhe Byrne
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 6-8 1x
• Category: Soup, Main Course
• Cuisine: American

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Description

This Cabbage Roll Soup is a hearty and flavorful soup that captures all the delicious flavors of traditional cabbage rolls in an easy-to-make, deconstructed format. It features ground beef, cabbage, carrots, rice, and a rich tomato-based broth.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil (or canola oil)
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups chopped green cabbage (about 1/2 medium head)
• 2 medium carrots, peeled, quartered lengthwise, and sliced
• 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 3 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain white rice, rinsed
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

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Instructions

• Heat Oil: Heat the vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat.
• Brown Beef: Add the ground beef to the pot. Season generously with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon or spatula, until it’s browned and cooked through. Drain off any excess grease, if necessary.
• Sauté Onion and Garlic: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot with the browned beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes, or until the onion is softened and translucent.
• Add Remaining Ingredients: Add the chopped cabbage, sliced carrots, tomato sauce, beef broth, rinsed uncooked white rice, bay leaf, and brown sugar to the pot. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
• Simmer: Bring the soup to a simmer over medium-high heat. Then, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for about 25 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the cabbage and carrots are cooked through. Stir occasionally.
• Remove Bay Leaf: Remove and discard the bay leaf.
• Garnish and Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve hot.

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Notes

• Ground Beef: You can use lean ground beef, ground sirloin, or even ground turkey or Italian sausage.
• Cabbage: Green cabbage is traditional, but you can use savoy cabbage or a combination.
• Rice: Long-grain white rice is recommended. Rinsing the rice before adding it to the soup helps to remove excess starch and prevents it from becoming sticky.
• Beef Broth: Use low-sodium beef broth to control the saltiness of the soup.
• Brown Sugar: The brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness to balance the acidity of the tomatoes. You can adjust the amount to your preference.
• Serving Suggestions: This soup is a hearty meal on its own, but you can serve it with crusty bread or a side salad.
• Make-Ahead: This soup can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently over medium-low heat.
• Storage Store in the fridge.