Homestyle Beef and Tender Cabbage Roll Soup
Cabbage Roll Soup is a hearty, cozy one-pot meal inspired by classic stuffed cabbage rolls. It combines tender ground beef, soft cabbage, tomatoes, rice, carrots, celery, garlic, and herbs in a rich savory broth. Every spoonful delivers familiar comfort-food flavor without the extra work of rolling individual cabbage leaves.
This Cabbage Roll Soup is ideal for chilly evenings, family dinners, or meal prep. The ingredients are simple, the method is straightforward, and the leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors continue to blend.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6–8
Ingredients
For the Beef and Vegetables
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small green cabbage, cored and chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, diced, optional
Soup Base
- 1 can crushed tomatoes, 28 ounces
- 1 can diced tomatoes, 14.5 ounces
- 5 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
For Finishing
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, optional
- Sour cream, optional
- Fresh dill, optional
- Extra black pepper, for serving
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This recipe gives you all the savory flavor of traditional cabbage rolls in a simpler format. There is no need to boil cabbage leaves, fill them one by one, or carefully roll them before baking.
Cabbage Roll Soup is also budget-friendly. Cabbage, rice, tomatoes, and ground beef make a generous meal from everyday ingredients, and the recipe is easy to adjust with different meats, vegetables, or grains.
How to Make Cabbage Roll Soup
Step 1: Brown the Beef
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy soup pot over medium-high heat.
Add the ground beef and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink.
Drain off excess grease if necessary.
Browning the meat first gives Cabbage Roll Soup a deeper, more savory flavor than simply simmering the beef in the broth.
Step 2: Cook the Aromatics
Add the onion, carrots, celery, and optional bell pepper to the pot.
Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften.
Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
Step 3: Add the Seasonings
Stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, salt, and black pepper.
Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.
This helps the tomato paste deepen in flavor and coats the meat and vegetables with seasoning.
Step 4: Add Tomatoes and Broth
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes with their juices, and beef broth.
Add the bay leaf and stir well.
Bring Cabbage Roll Soup to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.
Step 5: Add the Cabbage
Stir the chopped cabbage into the pot in batches if necessary.
The pot may look full at first, but the cabbage quickly softens and reduces. Gently push it into the broth.
Step 6: Add the Rice
Stir in the uncooked long-grain white rice.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, partially cover the pot, and simmer for about 25 to 30 minutes.
Stir occasionally so the rice does not stick to the bottom.
As Cabbage Roll Soup simmers, the rice absorbs tomato-rich broth while the cabbage becomes tender.
Step 7: Check the Texture
After about 25 minutes, check the cabbage and rice.
The cabbage should be tender and the rice soft. Add broth if the soup is too thick, or simmer uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes if it is too thin.
Step 8: Finish the Flavor
Remove and discard the bay leaf.
Taste the broth and adjust the salt and black pepper.
Stir in fresh parsley and optional lemon juice.
The lemon is not essential, but a small amount can brighten Cabbage Roll Soup and balance the richness of the beef and tomatoes.
Step 9: Rest Before Serving
Turn off the heat and let the soup rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
The rice will continue absorbing a little liquid, and the flavors will settle.
Step 10: Garnish and Serve
Ladle Cabbage Roll Soup into warm bowls.
Top with chopped parsley, fresh dill, black pepper, or a spoonful of sour cream if desired.
Serve immediately with bread or another simple side.
Serving Suggestions
Cabbage Roll Soup is hearty enough to serve on its own, especially because it already contains beef, vegetables, tomatoes, and rice.
Serve it with crusty bread, sourdough, garlic toast, or rye bread. For something fresh, pair Cabbage Roll Soup with cucumber salad or roasted vegetables. A spoonful of sour cream adds richness and gives the soup a flavor closer to traditional cabbage rolls.
For another hearty and comforting meal, try our Crockpot Red Beans and Chicken Sausage packed with smoky flavor and tender beans.
Recipe Tips
Use lean ground beef so the soup does not become overly greasy.
Cut the cabbage into medium pieces rather than very thin shreds so it keeps some texture.
Rinse the rice before adding it to remove excess surface starch.
Use low-sodium beef broth so you can control the salt more easily.
Stir the pot occasionally after adding the rice.
Do not overcook Cabbage Roll Soup because the rice can become too soft and the cabbage can lose its texture.
For longer storage, cook the rice separately and add it to each bowl so it does not absorb too much broth.
Easy Variations
Cabbage Roll Soup can easily be adjusted to suit your family.
Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version, or half beef and half pork for richer flavor. Add mushrooms, extra carrots, peppers, or green beans if desired. Brown rice also works, but partially cook it first.
For a lower-carb version, omit the rice and stir in cauliflower rice during the final few minutes.
If you enjoy a little heat, add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or hot paprika.
If you enjoy savory Mediterranean-inspired snacks, you may also like our Air Fryer Garlic & Herb Halloumi Cheese Bites.
Make-Ahead Instructions
Cabbage Roll Soup is excellent for making ahead because its flavor improves after several hours.
Prepare the soup one day ahead, cool it, cover it, and refrigerate. For the best texture, cook the rice separately and add it when reheating. The vegetables can also be chopped a day ahead.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover Cabbage Roll Soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat gently in a saucepan or microwave. Add a little broth or water if the rice has absorbed too much liquid.
Freeze cooled soup for up to 3 months. For the best texture, freeze it without rice and add fresh rice after thawing.
Nutrition Information
Approximate nutrition per serving:
Calories: 390
Protein: 27 g
Carbohydrates: 38 g
Fat: 15 g
Saturated Fat: 5 g
Fiber: 6 g
Sugar: 10 g
Sodium: 640 mg
Nutrition values are estimates and may vary depending on the beef, broth, tomatoes, rice, and serving size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?
Yes. Ground turkey works well; add a little extra paprika or Worcestershire sauce for deeper flavor.
Can I make this soup in a slow cooker?
Yes. Brown the beef, then slow cook it with the vegetables, tomatoes, broth, and seasonings on low for 6 to 7 hours. Add cooked rice near the end.
Can I use cooked rice?
Yes. Add cooked rice during the final 10 minutes so it heats through.
How can I make the soup thicker?
Simmer it uncovered for several minutes, or mash a small amount of the rice and vegetables into the broth.
Can I freeze this soup?
Yes. Cabbage Roll Soup freezes well, although the rice may soften after thawing. For the best result, freeze the soup without rice.
What cabbage works best?
Green cabbage is the classic choice because it becomes tender while still holding its shape.
Can I make it without tomatoes?
Yes. Replace the tomatoes with extra beef broth and add paprika for depth.
Final Thoughts
Cabbage Roll Soup is a comforting way to enjoy the familiar flavors of stuffed cabbage without the extra preparation. Tender beef, cabbage, tomatoes, rice, garlic, and herbs come together in one pot for a meal that feels hearty and homemade.
Because Cabbage Roll Soup stores well and is easy to customize, it works well for weeknight dinners and meal prep.
Keep this Cabbage Roll Soup recipe handy whenever you want a warm, filling bowl of homestyle comfort food.