This easy cabbage roll soup combines ground beef, tender cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, and savory broth in one cozy pot. A simple, hearty dinner that tastes like classic cabbage rolls without all the work.
Easy Cabbage Roll Soup with Ground Beef
If you love traditional cabbage rolls but don’t always have the patience to stuff and roll individual cabbage leaves, this cabbage roll soup is going to be your kind of recipe.
Honestly, this is one of those meals I make when I want something warm and comforting but don’t want to spend half the evening in the kitchen. You get all those familiar cabbage-roll flavors—savory ground beef, tender cabbage, sweet carrots, tomatoes, and a rich, seasoned broth—but everything goes into one pot.
I usually make a big batch because it reheats beautifully. The cabbage gets wonderfully tender, the beef makes the broth hearty, and the flavors seem to get even better after sitting overnight.
And the best part? No rolling, no stuffing, and definitely no wrestling with cabbage leaves. Just chop, simmer, and serve.
Ingredients
For the Cabbage Roll Soup
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 medium head green cabbage, chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14–15 oz / 400–425 g) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 oz / 225 g) tomato sauce
- 5–6 cups (1.2–1.4 L) beef broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar, optional
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, if needed
Optional
- 1 cup cooked white or brown rice
- Fresh parsley for garnish
- A splash of lemon juice
- Red pepper flakes for heat
How to Make Cabbage Roll Soup
1. Brown the Ground Beef
Heat a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium-high heat.
Add the ground beef and cook for about 5–7 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it browns.
If there’s a lot of excess grease, carefully drain some of it.
I usually like to brown the beef properly rather than simply cooking it until it’s no longer pink. Those little browned bits on the bottom of the pot add so much flavor to the finished soup.
2. Add the Onion, Carrots, and Garlic
Add the diced onion and sliced carrots to the beef.
Cook for about 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to soften.
Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
At this point, your kitchen should already be smelling pretty amazing.
3. Add the Cabbage
Add the chopped cabbage to the pot.
Don’t worry if it looks like you’ve added way too much cabbage. It will shrink considerably as it cooks.
Stir everything together and cook for about 3–4 minutes.
4. Add the Tomatoes and Seasonings
Stir in:
- Diced tomatoes
- Tomato sauce
- Tomato paste
- Beef broth
- Paprika
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Worcestershire sauce
- Brown sugar, if using
Give everything a good stir and bring the soup to a gentle boil.
5. Simmer Until Tender
Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot partially, and let the soup simmer for about 30–40 minutes.
Stir occasionally.
The cabbage should become tender without completely falling apart, while the carrots should be soft enough to pierce easily with a fork.
I usually give it a taste around the 30-minute mark and adjust the seasoning from there.
Adding Rice
If you want your cabbage roll soup to be extra hearty, rice is a great addition.
You have two options:
Add Cooked Rice
Stir in about 1 cup of cooked rice during the final 5 minutes of cooking.
This is my preferred method because you have much more control over the thickness.
Add Uncooked Rice
You can add approximately 1/2 cup uncooked rice along with the broth, but keep in mind that the rice will absorb quite a bit of liquid.
You may need to add additional broth as it cooks.
Cooking Tips for the Best Cabbage Roll Soup
Don’t worry about perfectly chopping the cabbage
This is a rustic soup, so uneven pieces are completely fine. I actually like having a mixture of smaller and larger pieces.
Brown the beef well
A little browning makes a noticeable difference in the flavor.
Don’t overcook the cabbage
You want it tender but still recognizable. Start checking it around the 30-minute mark.
Adjust the broth to your preference
If you like a thick, stew-like soup, use closer to 5 cups of broth.
For a lighter, soupier consistency, use 6 cups or more.
Add rice carefully
Rice continues absorbing liquid as it sits. If you’re planning on leftovers, I recommend cooking the rice separately and adding it to individual bowls.
Balance the tomato flavor
If your tomatoes taste particularly acidic, a small amount of brown sugar can help balance them. You don’t want the soup to taste sweet—just nicely rounded.
Serving Suggestions
This soup is hearty enough to be a complete meal, but there are plenty of things you can serve alongside it.
I usually pair it with:
- Crusty bread
- Garlic bread
- Dinner rolls
- Cornbread
- A simple green salad
- Sour cream
- Fresh parsley
A dollop of sour cream on top is especially good if you enjoy creamy cabbage soup.
For a little brightness, try adding a small squeeze of lemon juice right before serving.
How to Store Cabbage Roll Soup
Let the soup cool slightly before transferring it to airtight containers.
Store it in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
The soup can also be frozen for up to 3 months. If you’re planning to freeze it, I recommend leaving the rice out and adding freshly cooked rice when you reheat it.
When reheating, warm the soup gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. Add a splash of broth or water if it has thickened.
Approximate Nutrition Information
Nutrition will vary depending on the type and fat percentage of ground beef, broth, and whether rice is included.
Approximate nutrition per serving, without rice or toppings:
- Calories: 320
- Protein: 23 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fat: 16 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
Based on approximately 6 servings.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?
Absolutely. Ground turkey works really well if you prefer a lighter flavor. You can also use ground chicken or pork.
If using very lean meat, adding a little olive oil when sautéing the vegetables can help keep everything moist and flavorful.
2. Can I make cabbage roll soup in a slow cooker?
Yes. Brown the ground beef first, then transfer it to the slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients.
Cook on LOW for about 6–7 hours or HIGH for about 3–4 hours, or until the cabbage and carrots are tender.
If you’re adding rice, I recommend adding cooked rice near the end rather than letting it sit in the slow cooker for hours.
3. Why is my cabbage roll soup too thick?
The cabbage and rice can absorb quite a bit of liquid.
Simply stir in additional beef broth or water until it reaches the consistency you like. If you’ve added rice, expect the soup to thicken even more as it cools.
4. Can I make this soup without rice?
Definitely. The beef and cabbage make this soup plenty hearty on their own.
Honestly, I often make it without rice when I want something a little lighter or simply don’t have cooked rice ready.
5. Can I freeze cabbage roll soup?
Yes. It freezes well, although the texture of cooked rice can become softer after freezing and reheating.
For the best result, freeze the soup without rice and prepare fresh rice when you’re ready to serve it.
Final Thoughts
This easy cabbage roll soup has all the cozy flavors I love about classic cabbage rolls without the extra work. There’s no stuffing cabbage leaves, no rolling, and no worrying about everything falling apart while it cooks.
I usually make this when the weather turns chilly or when I need an easy dinner that will give me plenty of leftovers. It’s inexpensive, filling, and incredibly comforting.
Honestly, once you make it, don’t be afraid to adjust it. Add more cabbage, throw in some extra carrots, make it spicy, use turkey instead of beef, or add rice for an even heartier bowl.
It’s the kind of simple homemade soup that feels like it has been simmering all day—even when it was actually pretty easy to put together.