Stuffed Cabbage Soup with Ground Beef and Rice

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Stuffed Cabbage Soup is basically cabbage rolls in soup form, making it way easier and just as delicious. This soup combines ground beef, cabbage, and rice with a rich tomato-based broth that the whole family will love!

Two bowls of stuffed cabbage soup with ground beef, and saltine crackers on the side.

Cabbage Roll Soup

If you’re a fan of cabbage rolls, this recipe is for you. Traditional cabbage rolls are tedious and time-consuming to make – while this soup is not. It’s as simple as that.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all about making certain recipes that are labor-intensive. I call those a labor of love. But when it comes to weeknight cooking, time is of the essence!

Why This Recipe Works:

SIMPLE RECIPE – This simple soup is comfort food enjoyed by many, offering the same delicious flavors as cabbage rolls but in a soup form. Some people call it “unstuffed cabbage roll soup”.
FULL OF FLAVOR – We love the hearty flavor of this cabbage roll soup, and you will too. Really great flavor!
NUTRIENT-DENSE – Each serving has 33 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, and plenty of vitamins and minerals.
GREAT MEAL PREP – Adding leftover soup to individual meal prep containers or soup mugs makes it convenient to eat a bowl of deliciousness during the week. Our refrigerator is normally full of meal prep containers (but that’s easy to do for just the two of us).

Overhead view of a large pot of stuffed cabbage soup.

Ingredients Used:

All of these basic ingredients are easy to find in your local grocery store.

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Veggies – yellow onion, red bell pepper, garlic, and cabbage
Ground Beef – We use 90% lean ground beef. We occasionally use ground turkey or ground chicken.
Crushed Tomatoes – I normally use fire-roasted.
Tomato Sauce – Adds a little sweetness to balance the acidic flavors.
Lower-Sodium Beef Broth (or beef stock)
Worcestershire Sauce – A few shakes are good!
Seasonings – kosher salt, black pepper, oregano, paprika, red pepper flakes
Cooked Rice – We use white rice but you could also use brown rice.
Bay Leaves

The ingredients for the stuffed cabbage soup.

How to make Stuffed Cabbage Soup:

Step 1
Prep veggies. Dice the onion and bell pepper. Mince the garlic. Chop the cabbage.

Step 2
Saute veggies and brown beef. Heat a large stock pot (or large dutch oven) over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and diced onions, bell peppers, and lean beef. Break up the beef with a wooden spoon and cook until beef is browned and the veggies are softened, approximately 10-15 minutes. Drain beef if desired.

A bowl of the diced onion and peppers and a large measuring cup of the chopped cabbage.

A pot of the onions, bell peppers, and raw ground beef.

Step 3
Add garlic and seasonings. Add the minced garlic and seasonings, and stir well. Cook for a minute or so.

Step 4
Add cabbage. Stir the cabbage into the beef mixture.

A pot of the browned beef and veggies with seasonings on top.

A pot of the browned beef with chopped cabbage on top.

Step 5
Add tomatoes. Then add the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce and stir well. Bring soup to a rolling simmer and cook for 20-25 minutes or until cabbage is wilted and soft to your liking.

Step 6
Cook rice. Meanwhile, cook rice in an instant pot or on the stovetop until done.

A pot of the soup after adding the tomatoes.

A large pot of stuffed cabbage soup before adding the rice.

Step 7
Add rice. Then add 2-3 cups of cooked rice and stir it into the soup. Simmer for a few minutes.

Step 8
Serve. Serve stuffed cabbage soup with some crackers or crusty bread.

Store leftovers in an airtight container. You can also freeze soup in freezer-safe containers.

Interested in making stuffed cabbage rolls? Try my friend Michaela’s stuffed cabbage rolls next!

A pot of the soup after adding rice on top.

Side view of a large pot of stuffed cabbage soup.

What to serve with Stuffed Cabbage Soup:

Go with some saltine crackers or one or more of the following to pair with this delicious soup.

Bread – Pesto Bread, Cast Iron Naan, or Garlic Sourdough Bread
Salad – A simple green salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette, Spinach Salad Dressing, or Creamy Italian Dressing
Dessert – Oreo Brownie Cookies, Brown Butter Pecan Cookies, or Caramel Swirl Ice Cream

Recipe FAQs:

Where does the name “stuffed” come from in this soup?

The name “stuffed” comes from the concept of the traditional dish where cabbage leaves are filled with a mixture of meat and rice, but in this soup, all the ingredients are combined together to create a delicious and more convenient soup version.

What does stuffed cabbage soup taste like?

It typically tastes like a combination of savory and slightly sweet elements. The ground beef provides a hearty meatiness, the cabbage offers a slightly earthy and mild bitterness, and the rice adds a comforting and starchy component. The tomato-based broth lends a hint of tanginess and sweetness to the soup, creating a balanced and well-rounded flavor.

Is cabbage soup good for you?

This is NOT the typical weight loss cabbage soup recipe. This soup includes plenty of protein from the ground beef along with starchy rice, making it rich in nutrients and ingredients that fill you up.

Can I make this unstuffed cabbage soup in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can make this soup in a crock pot. Follow instructions through Step 3 and transfer to slow cooker. Add cabbage, canned tomatoes, and beef broth, and let simmer for several hours on low. Then add cooked rice during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Other Favorite Soup Recipes:

You can’t go wrong with any of these soup recipes on cold winter nights.

A bowl of cabbage soup with ground beef and crackers.

Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)

xoxo ~Sue