🥬 Cabbage Roll Soup
Hearty, comforting, and easy to make, this Cabbage Roll Soup combines seasoned ground beef, tender cabbage, rice, tomatoes, and a rich savory broth in one cozy pot.
If you love traditional stuffed cabbage rolls but don’t want to spend time rolling individual cabbage leaves, this soup gives you all those familiar flavors in a much easier format.
It’s thick, satisfying, tomato-rich, and perfect for a chilly evening or a comforting family dinner.
⏱️ Recipe Information
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 6
Difficulty: Easy
Method: One-Pot / Stovetop
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 4 cups green cabbage, chopped
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 can (14.5 oz / 411 g) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) tomato sauce
- 3 cups beef broth
- ½ cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, if needed
Optional Garnishes
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Sour cream
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Crusty bread
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Brown the Ground Beef
Heat a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
Add the ground beef and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
Continue until browned and no longer pink.
If there is a large amount of excess fat, carefully drain it before continuing.
2. Sauté the Onion and Garlic
Add the diced onion to the browned beef.
Cook for approximately 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften.
Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30–60 seconds, just until fragrant.
3. Add the Seasonings
Stir in the paprika, black pepper, and salt.
Cook for about 30 seconds to allow the spices to become fragrant.
4. Add the Tomatoes and Broth
Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices.
Add the tomato sauce, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce.
Stir well, scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen any flavorful browned bits.
5. Add the Cabbage
Stir the chopped cabbage into the soup.
It may look like a lot at first, but the cabbage will quickly begin to wilt as the soup cooks.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
6. Add the Rice
Stir in the uncooked long-grain white rice.
Reduce the heat to low once the soup returns to a simmer.
7. Simmer
Cover the pot partially and simmer for approximately 25–30 minutes.
Stir occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom.
The soup is ready when:
- The cabbage is tender.
- The rice is fully cooked.
- The beef is tender and flavorful.
- The broth has developed a rich tomato-beef flavor.
If the soup becomes thicker than you prefer, add a little extra beef broth or water.
8. Taste and Adjust
Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Add more salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, or paprika according to your preference.
Let the soup rest for 5 minutes before serving.
🍲 Serve
Ladle the hot cabbage roll soup into bowls.
Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired.
For an extra-creamy finish, add a spoonful of sour cream to each serving.
Serve with warm crusty bread for dipping into the rich tomato broth.
⭐ Chef’s Tips
Chop the cabbage evenly
Cut the cabbage into bite-sized pieces so it cooks evenly and is easy to eat with the beef and rice.
Don’t overcook the rice
Rice continues absorbing liquid as it sits. If you plan to have leftovers, consider adding a little extra broth when reheating.
Use lean ground beef
A leaner ground beef keeps the soup hearty without leaving too much excess grease.
Let it simmer gently
A gentle simmer allows the cabbage and rice to cook evenly while giving the tomato and beef flavors time to develop.
Adjust the consistency
For a soupier consistency, add more broth. For a thicker, stew-like texture, simmer uncovered for a few additional minutes.
🌶️ Easy Variations
Spicy Cabbage Roll Soup
Add ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Sausage & Beef Cabbage Soup
Replace half of the ground beef with ground Italian sausage for extra richness.
Turkey Cabbage Roll Soup
Use ground turkey instead of beef and substitute chicken or turkey broth.
Brown Rice Version
Use cooked brown rice and add it during the final few minutes of cooking rather than simmering it from the beginning.
Creamy Cabbage Roll Soup
Stir in a small splash of heavy cream or a spoonful of sour cream just before serving.
🥖 What to Serve With Cabbage Roll Soup
This hearty soup pairs beautifully with:
- Crusty French bread
- Garlic bread
- Dinner rolls
- Cornbread
- Simple green salad
- Roasted vegetables
- Sour cream and fresh herbs
🧊 Storage
Allow leftover soup to cool slightly before transferring it to airtight containers.
Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Because the rice continues absorbing broth as it sits, the soup will become thicker after refrigeration.
❄️ Freezing
For best results, freeze the soup without the rice, since rice can become soft after freezing and reheating.
If freezing the completed soup, allow it to cool completely and store in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop.
Add extra broth as needed.
🔥 Reheating
Reheat individual portions in the microwave until steaming hot, stirring halfway through.
For larger quantities, warm the soup gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
Add a splash of beef broth or water if it has thickened too much.
🥬🍲 Final Result
This Cabbage Roll Soup has all the comforting flavors of classic cabbage rolls without the extra work.
Tender cabbage, savory ground beef, fluffy rice, tomatoes, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce come together in a rich, satisfying broth that makes an easy family dinner.
All the cozy flavor of stuffed cabbage—with none of the rolling! 🥬🥩🍅🍲✨