Saving Room for Dessert

Delicious easy-to-follow recipes for food lovers!

  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Breads & Muffins
    • Breakfast
    • Candy
    • Cookies
    • Cupcakes & Cakes
    • Desserts
    • Frozen Treats
    • Main Course
    • Other Yummy Stuff
    • Pies
    • Pizza
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
    • Smoothies
    • Soups, Stews & Chili
    • Veges & Side Dishes
  • Travel
  • About Me
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Contact
Home
  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Breads & Muffins
    • Breakfast
    • Candy
    • Cookies
    • Cupcakes & Cakes
    • Desserts
    • Frozen Treats
    • Main Course
    • Other Yummy Stuff
    • Pies
    • Pizza
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
    • Smoothies
    • Soups, Stews & Chili
    • Veges & Side Dishes
  • Travel
  • About Me
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Cabbage Roll Soup

  Jump to Recipe |    20 Comments

1.7K shares
  • Share
  • Yum
  • Email

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Flavorful Classic Cabbage Roll Soup

A bowl of beefy Cabbage Roll Soup with carrots, tomatoes and rice

All the flavors we love in our classic stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe but in a deconstructed, easy to make pot of soup!

We adore cabbage rolls but don’t always have time to assemble the ingredients in casserole form. That’s where this brilliant adaptation comes in. This cabbage roll soup is easy to make, hearty and filling making it perfect for lunch or dinner. Serve with a loaf of crusty, rustic bread for sopping up the broth!

 

A pot of cabbage roll soup garnished with parsley

Soup weather is finally here!

I enjoy soup year round but especially this time of year when the days are warm and the evenings are cool. There’s something special about a big pot of soup simmering away on the stove. The aroma is practically seductive as it permeates the whole house, building anticipation for what’s to come. Comfort food at it’s best!

 

A close up of a pot of cabbage roll soup with carrots, tomatoes, rice and parsley

What does cabbage roll soup taste like?

Our cabbage roll soup has a distinct sweet and sour tanginess from the addition of brown sugar and white balsamic vinegar.

The broth has a rich tomato flavor, the beef is tender, and the cabbage has a slight chewiness that I love. For this recipe we add a whole chopped sweet onion. The onion is slightly caramelized which builds the base for this flavorful soup.

Carrots and garlic round out the flavors and the whole pot is simmered to perfection.

 

A ladle filled with cabbage roll soup

Why do we add sugar and vinegar to cabbage roll soup?

When I was very young my grandmother told me to add a spoonful of sugar to cabbage while it cooks. This step will help ease the gassy effects of this leafy vegetable. I can’t find any scientific research supporting this old wives’ tale but I’ve always had good luck with this practice 🙂

In addition to this possible helpful benefit, a little brown sugar adds depth of flavor to this soup. It works to enhance the natural sweetness of the onions, carrots and cabbage.

The sweet and sour flavor combo is classic and beloved in many cuisines. Think Sweet and Sour Chicken, Hot and Sour Soup and one of our all time family favorites, Sweet and Sour Meatloaf. Feel free to adjust the sugar and vinegar in this soup, adding a little more if desired.

 

A bowl of cabbage roll soup

Don’t overcook the cabbage!

You don’t need to cook this soup too long, as the cabbage will become limp, pasty and produce an unpleasant smell. The soup will still be fine to eat, just a little less visually appealing.

Cabbage is great eaten raw, as in our coleslaw recipe so it doesn’t even have to be cooked! Cabbage is so versatile it can be braised, boiled, sautéed and stir-fried.

According to Healthline, cabbage is very low in calories, high in fiber and contains powerful antioxidants.

Cabbage is especially high in vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that may protect against heart disease, certain cancers and vision loss. So load up on the cabbage but don’t overcook it!

 

Thanks for PINNING!
A bowl of cabbage roll soup garnished with parsley

 

Let’s be cooking friends! When you try our recipe please leave a comment on this post. If you loved this recipe we’d appreciate a 5-star rating! Sharing your experience, variations and insights will help all our readers, and it helps me too.

If you’re on Pinterest feel free to leave a comment and photo there if you have one. If you share on INSTAGRAM tag @savingroomfordessert so we can stop by and give your post some love.

FOLLOW Saving Room for Dessert on FACEBOOK| INSTAGRAM| PINTEREST | TWITTER  and subscribe to our YOUTUBE channel for all the latest recipes, videos and updates.

5 from 3 votes

Cabbage Roll Soup

Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
Yield: 10
Course: Dinner, Main Dish, Soup
Author: Tricia
PRINT RECIPE
All the flavors we love in traditional cabbage rolls but in an easy to make pot of soup!

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and diced (1 heaping cup)
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes (do not drain)
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup white balsamic vinegar
  • 5-6 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or beef broth)
  • 1 small head cabbage, cored and rough chopped, about 6 cups
  • ⅔ cups uncooked white or brown rice
  • ¼ cup chopped parsley leaves, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook until it starts to caramelize, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for 30-seconds.
  • Add the ground beef, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper flakes (if using) to the Dutch oven. Sauté until the ground beef is cooked through. Drain the mixture and return to the pot.
  • Add the carrots, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar and broth to the beef mixture. Add the cabbage and rice and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover with a tight fitting lid.
  • Simmer the soup, covered, for 20-30 minutes or until the cabbage is just tender and the rice is cooked.

Recipe Notes

  • This recipe is easily cut in half if you prefer.
  • Our Cabbage Roll Soup freezes well too! Be sure you don't overcook the rice especially if you plan to freeze the soup. 
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Nutrition

Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 494mg | Potassium: 738mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 2226IU | Vitamin C: 43mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 3mg

Here are a few more recipes you might also like:

 

Classic Cabbage Rolls

Next time you see big, beautiful, green heads of cabbage in the market, grab one up and make this delicious Classic Cabbage Rolls Recipe.

 

A bowl of Minestrone soup

Our fresh Minestrone Soup is full of healthy legumes, green leafy vegetables,  plenty of Italian herbs, a handful of pasta, and wonderfully rich tomatoey broth.

 

A bowl of vegetable lentil soup

Vegetable Soup with Lentils & Seasonal Greens – a delicious, hearty and rustic soup with vegetables simmered in a rich flavorful broth with wilted seasonal greens & lentils.

Before you leave

Join my free email list and get a FREE e-cookbook!
Never miss a recipe - sign up today!

You may also like these

Buffalo Chicken ChowderTortellini Tomato Soup RecipeHomemade Chicken and DumplingsTwo jars of homemade chicken brothChicken Broth RecipeA bowl of chicken noodle soup served with crackersChicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Delicious Dinner Inspiration!

from quick & easy to company worthy

Previous Post: Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars
Next Post: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

20 Comments

  1. Jolynn says

    December 7, 2019 at 9:50 am

    5 stars
    The soup smelled wonderful! It was easy to make and my husband loved it. It was a little too tomatoey for me so next time I will leave out one can of the tomato sauce.
    Also I needed to cut the cabbage into a little bit smaller pieces. It was a great recipe and I give it 5 stars!

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      December 7, 2019 at 3:00 pm

      Thank you Jolynn! My husband loves it too. I bet it will still be good with one less can of tomato sauce. Thanks so much for trying it and for the feedback. Have a wonderful holiday season 🙂

      reply to this comment >
  2. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

    October 23, 2019 at 5:05 pm

    I love cabbage rolls but they are a lot of work…what a terrific idea.

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      October 24, 2019 at 7:45 am

      Thanks Karen! If you like cabbage rolls, you’ll love this soup. It tastes almost identical to the real deal 🙂

      reply to this comment >
  3. mimi rippee says

    October 15, 2019 at 11:58 am

    Oh, I just love cabbage in soups. I cannot seriously wait to make this!

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      October 15, 2019 at 12:15 pm

      Thanks Mimi! I hope you love it too.

      reply to this comment >
  4. larry says

    October 11, 2019 at 7:09 am

    I like cabbage rolls but don’t like the time involved in making them so this looks like a fine alternative.

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      October 11, 2019 at 7:14 am

      It really is Larry – hope you get the chance to make it soon. Hope you and Bev are doing well!

      reply to this comment >
  5. Chris Scheuer says

    October 10, 2019 at 9:44 pm

    5 stars
    With all the wonderful veggies and great ingredients, this sounds like a fabulous soup that would make even the dreariest cool weather day seem wonderful! I know the aroma as it cooks is amazing!

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      October 11, 2019 at 7:01 am

      Thanks Chris – we could eat this all winter long!

      reply to this comment >
  6. Candace says

    October 10, 2019 at 3:05 pm

    Tricia, you took the worry out of what to cook for dinner next! We’re waiting for our new professional dual fuel range and currently the only thing I have to cook with is my crockpot! Since it has a sauté feature, I should be able to adjust the recipe to the crock pot! Can’t wait to make it!
    Cheers!

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      October 10, 2019 at 5:02 pm

      Wow you’re going to love your new range! So jealous 🙂 Good thing it’s coming in before the holidays. Mine oven broke two days before Thanksgiving one year – what a headache. Enjoy the soup – it’s a keeper!

      reply to this comment >
      • Candace says

        October 10, 2019 at 7:11 pm

        Oh my, that must have been terrible! Mine has essentially been “broken” since the day we got it! Should have done gas in the first place….live and learn! I’ll let you know how the soup worked out in the crockpot!

        reply to this comment >
        • Tricia Buice says

          October 11, 2019 at 7:01 am

          Thanks Candace!

          reply to this comment >
  7. sue says

    October 10, 2019 at 1:04 pm

    I adore stuffed veggies, and cabbage is one of my faves! This makes the whole thing so much more do-able, love it!

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      October 10, 2019 at 2:08 pm

      Me too Sue – thank you so much!

      reply to this comment >
  8. Lauren S says

    October 10, 2019 at 11:03 am

    I’m not a fan of ground beef, but love the sound of this soup. Do you think ground chicken would get overwhelmed in this soup or be ok?

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      October 10, 2019 at 2:06 pm

      Hi Lauren. I think ground chicken or turkey would be great here. Honestly, I don’t like ground beef myself, but I do in this recipe. The beef is very tender and flavorful in our soup. I would use ground chicken that has a mix of white and dark meat, or all dark. Thanks for the great question. Hope you enjoy!

      reply to this comment >
  9. Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says

    October 10, 2019 at 8:46 am

    5 stars
    I love the idea of cabbage rolls soup! Cabbage rolls are delicious, but a little fiddly to make on a regular basis. I can’t wait to try this 🙂

    reply to this comment >
    • Tricia Buice says

      October 10, 2019 at 2:08 pm

      This soup doesn’t take long to throw together and cooks quickly Jennifer – so it’s a favorite already! The flavor is spot-on for classic cabbage rolls, so winner winner we’ve got dinner!

      reply to this comment >

NEVER MISS A RECIPE

Join my free email list and receive a free e-cookbook!

All Content Copyright Saving Room For Dessert © 2022 • Privacy Policy • Site Design by Emily White Designs

1.7K shares
  • Pin
  • Share
  • Yum
  • Email
1.7K shares