Cabbage Soup

This Cabbage Soup is a simple, hearty, and comforting meal packed with tender cabbage, vegetables, tomatoes, and a savory broth. Serve it with my homemade garlic bread and a simple green salad.

Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Cabbage Soup

Flavor: This soup has a savory, tomato flavor with tender vegetables, fragrant herbs, and a rich, warm broth.
Why It Works: Cooking the cabbage briefly before adding the broth allows it to soften evenly while bringing out its natural sweetness and flavor.
One Pot: Everything cooks together in one pot, making this soup easy to prepare with minimal cleanup.

Cook Time: 45 Mins (15 Min Prep) Servings: 8 Cook Method: Stovetop

Ingredient Notes

Quick Cabbage Soup ingredients with labels

Green Cabbage: Choose a firm, heavy head of cabbage with crisp, fresh leaves and cut it into evenly sized pieces. Savoy cabbage can be used and will cook slightly faster.
Beef or Chicken Broth: Beef broth adds a deeper, richer flavor, while chicken broth keeps the soup lighter. For a meatless version, use vegetable broth instead.
Diced Tomatoes: Use the tomatoes along with their juices to add acidity, color, and body to the broth. Use fire-roasted diced tomatoes for an extra layer of smoky flavor.
Carrot: Shredded carrot cooks quickly and adds a touch of natural sweetness to the soup. Thinly sliced carrots may require a few extra minutes of simmering.
Italian Seasoning: A convenient blend of savory herbs that complements the vegetables and broth. Substitute with a mixture of dried basil, oregano, and thyme or make your own homemade Italian seasoning.

Variations

Cooked Meat: Stir in cooked ham, sausage, ground beef, turkey, or chicken during the final simmer. For a heartier version made with chunks of beef and potatoes, try my beef cabbage soup recipe.
Beans: White beans, kidney beans, or chickpeas add protein and make the soup more filling. Drain and rinse before adding in Step 3.
Pasta or Rice: Add cooked pasta or rice to individual bowls when serving to prevent them from soaking up the broth. For a heartier soup made with cabbage, beef, pork, and rice, try my cabbage roll soup recipe.

This healthy cabbage soup combines crisp green cabbage, sweet carrots, diced tomatoes, and herbs in a flavorful beef, chicken, or vegetable broth. It is naturally light, yet the tomato paste and seasonings make every spoonful taste warm and comforting. The soup makes eight servings, reheats well, and freezes beautifully without pasta. Portion it for lunches or keep a batch ready for quick dinners. Save this simple cabbage soup for easy meal prep. #spendwithpennies

How to Make Cabbage Soup

Cook the diced onion, then add the chopped cabbage (full recipe below)
Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, then let it simmer uncovered.
Remove the bay leaf, season to taste, and ladle into bowls.

Want to make it hands-off? Try my slow cooker cabbage soup instead!

Cut Cabbage into Similar-Sized Pieces: This ensures even cooking, so some pieces do not become soft while others remain firm.
Avoid Simmering Too Long: The cabbage should be tender but still hold its shape. Simmering it for too long can make it mushy.
Taste Test: Taste the broth after simmering and before adding the salt. Since different broth brands vary in saltiness, you may not need it!

Storing Cabbage Soup

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 4 months.

More Ways to Use Cabbage

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image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

In a large pot, cook onion in olive oil until tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
While onion is cooking, dice cabbage into ½” pieces. Add cabbage to the pot and cook over medium heat until it starts to soften, about 8 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients to the pot, bring to a boil, and simmer uncovered 15 minutes or until cabbage is tender.
Discard bay leaf, season with salt & pepper to taste and serve.

Add spices like basil or a sprinkle of fresh parsley for additional flavor. For some added heat, try adding red pepper flakes.
Cooked meat such as ham, sausage, or chicken can be added.
If adding pasta, cook it on the side and add it to each bowl for serving.
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dinner, Entree, Lunch, Soup

Cuisine American

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