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Stuffed Cabbage Soup

This Stuffed Cabbage Soup takes the rich, savory flavor of a steamy pan of traditional cabbage rolls and transforms it into a delicious, cozy soup. A pot of this soup simmering on a cold day is a magical thing. It warms the soul and makes the house smell so good. 

And stuffed cabbage soup is also a very affordable and easy-to-make soup. It’s made with simple, inexpensive ingredients that are readily available at most grocery stores, including cabbage, ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and broth. (And if you love a simple and delicious soup, check out my recipe for Simple Old-Fashioned Potato Soup).

Hearty Homemade Stuffed Cabbage Soup

One of my favorite ways to eat cabbage is in stuffed cabbage rolls (or golabki as my Polish husband calls them.)  The thing is, cabbage rolls take a lot of time and effort. I usually save the stuffed cabbage rolls for Sunday dinner or special occasions. So for a simpler version, I often make this Stuffed Cabbage Soup. Easy to make, basic ingredients, inexpensive, nourishing, and delicious – I mean, does it get any better? Just brown the meat, chop the veggies, and throw everything in a pot to simmer. 

If you enjoy meal-prepping, you can even chop the veggies the evening before. As an added bonus, this Stuffed Cabbage Soup freezes well, so you may want to spend a few extra minutes of preparation and make a double batch to have some for the freezer. Just reheat for an easy, quick meal. And I like to keep it simple and serve it with a side of warm, crusty bread slathered with butter!

So let’s talk about the ingredients for this Stuffed Cabbage Soup:

Cabbage – This is the star of the show. And of all the vegetables I grow in my fall garden, cabbage would have to be my favorite (here in southern Appalachian we call them mountain cabbages). I love cabbage for slaw, stir-fries, casseroles, and especially in this Stuffed Cabbage Soup.

You should have no problem picking up a head of cabbage at your local grocery store. You can even use bagged chopped or shredded cabbage for convenience. But if you can get a locally-grown cabbage at a farmer’s market, it will most likely be even better. And cabbages are extra good and sweet after a light frost. 

Ground Beef – I use 85/15 grass-fed ground beef. You can use any ground beef of your choice, but be sure to drain off any extra grease from the pan when you cook it. You can also use a different type of ground meat like ground turkey. 

Onion – Use any type of onion you like and have on hand. Sweet onions like Vidalia are my favorite choice for this recipe. 

Bell Pepper – I prefer a green bell pepper. If you’re not a fan of green bell peppers, use the color you prefer. 

Crushed tomatoes – I like the consistency of crushed tomatoes, so that is what I typically use. You can also use tomato puree. And occasionally I have also used a combination of diced tomatoes and bottled tomato juice successfully. 

Beef Broth – Use a beef broth that tastes good to you since it is a big part of the flavor of this soup. You can use homemade or boxed broth or stock. If I don’t have homemade, I often use a powdered base or wet beef base and reconstitute it with water. 

Rice – I use plain white rice, typically jasmine or long-grain rice. Brown rice will work, too, but you may have to simmer the soup a bit longer to soften the rice. 

Hearty Homemade Stuffed Cabbage Soup

Here are a few tips for making the best Stuffed Cabbage Soup:

Give it time. The secret ingredient in this recipe is time. While the prep is fairly quick, the slow and gentle simmering is where the magic happens. Allow the soup to gently bubble away until the flavors are melded and the cabbage is tender to your liking.

Wait to add the rice. If you add the rice to the soup immediately, it will dissolve into the soup by the time the cabbage is cooked. I like to simmer the cabbage in the soup for about 45 minutes and then add the rice. You can also cook the rice separately and add it at the end when the soup is finished cooking. 

Season your soup to taste before serving. I like to sprinkle in a little extra dill and freshly ground black pepper. 


If you try this recipe for Stuffed Cabbage Soup, I hope you love it. And follow me on FacebookPinterest, and Instagram so you don’t miss a post. 

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Hearty Homemade Stuffed Cabbage Soup

Stuffed Cabbage Soup


  • Author: My Homemade Roots
  • Total Time: 0 hours
  • Yield: 6-8 Servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
  • 1 1/2 pounds 85% ground beef (grass-fed, if possible)
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 medium head of cabbage, cored and coarsely chopped
  • 1 28ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 6 cups beef stock or broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • Dash of Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup uncooked rice
  • Salt and Pepper

Instructions

  1. In a large stock pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add ground beef, onion, and bell peppers. Season with a big pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until beef is browned and cooked through and and vegetables are soft and slightly golden.
  2. Add chopped cabbage, tomatoes, stock, bay leaf, dill, paprika and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer, uncovered for 45 minutes, or until cabbage is just tender.
  3. Add rice and simmer for another 30 minutes.
  4. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Prep Time: 0 hours
  • Cook Time: 0 hours

Cabbage Roll Soup

Want more great recipes? Visit my friends at the following blogs:

Full Plate Thursday at Miz Helen’s Country Cottage

Meal Plan Monday at a Southern Bite

Weekend Potluck at The Country Cook

38 Comments

  • Miz Helen
    October 1, 2018 at 5:58 pm

    We will love your Stuffed Cabbage Soup, it looks delicious! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great week!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
    • Melissa
      October 2, 2018 at 1:55 am

      Thank-you, Miz Helen, for always being such a gracious hostess!

      Reply
  • Barbara Warner
    October 6, 2018 at 5:37 pm

    You can be sure I’m making this. I love stuffed cabbage rolls and this is an easy way to achieve that flavor without actually rolling cabbage leaves! Love soup, too, and it will hit the spot on a cool autumn day. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Melissa
      October 8, 2018 at 3:12 pm

      I hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  • Donna B
    October 8, 2018 at 2:20 pm

    This week will be cool in SOCa so I’m looking forward to soup on my menu before we get our Santa Ana winds and we’re back to salads for a while! This recipe looks delicious and easy. Hooray for Fall!!

    Reply
    • Melissa
      October 8, 2018 at 3:11 pm

      I totally agree – hooray for fall! And I hope you enjoy the soup!

      Reply
  • Laura
    October 10, 2018 at 1:47 am

    I’m really looking forward to making this soup!

    Reply
    • Melissa
      October 10, 2018 at 2:54 pm

      It really is a great fall soup. I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
      • Laura
        October 16, 2018 at 1:37 am

        It is fabulous! I made the soup tonight and loved it. Fortunately, I have some remaining, so I can have a lunch at work I’ll actually look forward to!

        Reply
        • Melissa
          October 17, 2018 at 5:10 pm

          I am so glad you liked it!

          Reply
          • Mary
            June 7, 2023 at 12:40 am

            This soup is fantastic! It took all of my will power to stop eating it!

          • Melissa
            June 8, 2023 at 4:28 pm

            I’m glad you liked it! I have been known to polish off a few bowls myself.

        • Christine
          April 21, 2023 at 3:21 pm

          Let your recipe thicken then add over mashed potatoes. Nice with the rice! TY!

          Reply
  • Pat
    October 18, 2018 at 3:30 pm

    Your receipes sound delicious going to try cabbage soup

    Reply
    • Melissa
      October 19, 2018 at 5:49 pm

      Hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  • Baboo
    December 29, 2018 at 8:00 pm

    When I have a soup that calls for rice, I like to cook the rice separately . Then I put my rice in the bottom of my soup bowl and add the soup over the rice. By doing it this way the rice doesn’t get mushy if I have leftover soup. I look forward to trying this soon.

    Reply
    • Melissa
      December 30, 2018 at 3:40 pm

      Great idea! I hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  • Dani
    August 11, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    So good! I made a second batch just for the freezer.

    Reply
  • Barb
    August 11, 2020 at 5:04 pm

    The whole family loved it and we had leftover for lunch the next day.

    Reply
  • Nancy Sands
    January 1, 2022 at 3:25 pm

    Going to make this but use cauliflower rice to cut carbs

    Reply
    • Melissa
      February 15, 2022 at 6:08 pm

      That’s a great idea!

      Reply
    • Michelle
      January 25, 2023 at 5:45 pm

      I’m interested in knowing how the cauliflower rice freezes as well how well the cabbage freezes? Thank you!

      Reply
  • Lorraine
    January 2, 2022 at 7:37 pm

    My Mother always made Kapusta, a Polish cabbage soup. However, I never asked for the recipe so now I will try this one.

    Thanks so much for sharing.

    Reply
    • Melissa
      February 15, 2022 at 6:08 pm

      You’re very welcome. I hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  • Miz Helen
    January 20, 2022 at 12:59 am

    We sure enjoyed featuring your awesome post last week on Full Plate Thursday, 571! Thanks so much for sharing with us and come back to see us real soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
    • Melissa
      February 15, 2022 at 6:07 pm

      Thank you so much for the feature, Miz Helen!

      Reply
  • […] This dish of Fried Cabbage and Noodles is pan-fried with onions in butter and is pure comfort food. It’s the type of plain and simple fare that makes bellies full and happy. Serve it as a side dish or, as we often do in our house, as a full meal. This is a budget-friendly dish that your family will love. (And if you love cabbage recipes, also check out my recipe for Stuffed Cabbage Soup.) […]

    Reply
  • Sandie
    January 13, 2023 at 8:32 pm

    Excellent !!!!
    I make a large pot of soup every Monday morning !! Have a cup everyday!!
    This will be a regular but no rice !!
    Also I will make it another week with no meat and blend the soup!!
    Thank you so much!
    Sandie

    Reply
    • Melissa
      January 16, 2023 at 6:36 pm

      You’re welcome! And it sounds like a good plan to have homemade soup on hand every week!

      Reply
  • Pamela
    February 18, 2023 at 11:42 pm

    Hi, I have not made this recipe yet, but my nephew and I have been talking about this kind of soup. He makes one like it a lot. Will try making it sounds and looks so good.

    Reply
  • Samantha
    February 19, 2023 at 2:14 am

    Calories? I cannot find them on this recipe and am tracking right now.

    Reply
  • Judy
    April 11, 2023 at 1:32 am

    I found your recipe and made the stuffed cabbage soup tonight with 3 pounds of ground turkey I had in the fridge. It was simple to make and came together very quickly. Perfect for a busy and chilly weeknight meal. I did cook the rice separately. My family was very happy and enjoyed dinner. I’ll have to check out your other low sugar, low fat recipes. Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Melissa
      April 11, 2023 at 3:18 am

      I’m so happy to hear that you and the family enjoyed the recipe! I hope you come back and visit again soon. I’ll be posting spring and summer recipes (and definitely some low sugar and fat recipes, too).

      Reply
  • […] This Simple Old-Fashioned Potato Soup recipe is the kind of potato soup I grew up with, and it’s still my favorite potato soup today. It’s made with just 4 ingredients (plus salt and pepper) and takes very little time to prepare. When I’m looking for quick comfort food for a chilly day, this is one of my go-to recipes. I like to serve it with freshly baked beer bread or cornbread. (And if you love simple, hearty soups, also check out my recipe for Stuffed Cabbage Soup). […]

    Reply
  • Dianne Marie
    October 26, 2023 at 4:56 pm

    Great soup! I LOVE country cooking and this recipe hits the spot! Delish and wholesome. Thank you VERY much!

    Reply
    • Melissa
      October 31, 2023 at 6:00 pm

      You’re very welcome! It’s one of my very favorite soups and I’m happy meet another country cooking lover!

      Reply
  • […] This Easy Split Pea Soup is a hearty and delicious soup that has been a beloved favorite for generations. A classic comfort food that is prepared simply with split peas, a few veggies, and ham (which you can leave out for a vegetarian version), it’s a perfectly nourishing yet flavorful meal. And because it’s made with such simple ingredients, it’s budget-friendly, too! And if you love simple and delicious homemade soup, also check out my recipe for Stuffed Cabbage Soup. […]

    Reply
  • […] These Slow Cooker Italian Stuffed Peppers are an easy way to get a satisfying and delicious dinner on the table without much fuss. And if you’re like me and you love a good meatball, you will definitely enjoy these stuffed peppers. They are basically flavorful meatballs stuffed into bell peppers and then cooked low and slow until they are tender and juicy. And because we’re not precooking the meat, these stuffed peppers come together quickly. {And if you love stuffed peppers, also check out my recipe for Stuffed Cabbage Soup!} […]

    Reply

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