Tasty Hearty and Easy Cabbage Roll Soup Recipe – Delicious & Easy!

Do you ever yearn for the rich, comforting, and deeply savoury taste of traditional cabbage rolls, but simply don’t have the time to make them? We certainly do. The thought of meticulously blanching cabbage, creating the ideal filling, and then rolling each one with care can seem quite overwhelming on a busy weeknight. But what if there was a way to capture all that glorious flavour in a straightforward, warming bowl of soup?

Well, we’re delighted to tell you that it’s entirely possible! We are thrilled to introduce our Hearty and Easy Cabbage Roll Soup Recipe. This dish embodies the very soul of the classic, featuring tender cabbage, a robust tomato broth, flavourful mince, and fluffy rice—all transformed into a simple, one-pot masterpiece. It’s the perfect answer for a nourishing family meal that feels like a warm embrace, without any of the intricate steps. For us, this has become a go-to comfort food recipe that we cherish and make repeatedly.

Why We Absolutely Adore This Recipe

Before we get to the how-to, let’s chat about why this soup has earned a permanent spot in our hearts and our recipe book. It is so much more than just a meal; it’s a wonderfully versatile and fulfilling dish that truly delivers on every front.

• One-Pot Simplicity: The entire dish is prepared in one large pot or Dutch oven. This results in less time spent washing dishes and creates a much more enjoyable cooking experience. It is the very definition of an easy weeknight soup.
• Packed with Flavour: We carefully construct layers of taste by browning the mince, gently sautéing the aromatic vegetables, and then simmering everything together until all the flavours have beautifully married into a rich, cohesive broth.
• Incredibly Nourishing: Brimming with vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, and celery, this soup is as wholesome as it is tasty. Cabbage itself is a nutritional titan, celebrated for its high content of vitamins C and K. To learn more, you can read about the impressive benefits of cabbage from health experts.
• Perfect for Meal Prep: This soup develops even more flavour overnight, making it even more delicious the next day! We find it’s an excellent choice for making a large batch on a Sunday to enjoy for lunches during the week.

Ingredients for Your Cabbage Roll Soup

Here is the full list of what you will need to put together this wonderful soup. We focused on easy-to-find ingredients available at your supermarket.

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 500g lean beef mince (or turkey, pork, or a plant-based alternative)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 celery sticks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small head of green cabbage (about 600g), core removed and roughly chopped
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 (800g) tin of chopped tomatoes
• 1.5 litres of beef or vegetable stock
• 150g long-grain white rice, uncooked
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tbsp brown sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley or dill, chopped, for garnish
• Soured cream or plain Greek yoghurt, for serving (optional)

A Note on Ingredients

Please feel free to adjust this recipe to suit your tastes. You can use any ground meat you have available. For a wonderful vegetarian alternative, green lentils or a quality plant-based mince are fantastic substitutes. The secret lies in creating a delicious, savoury base.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Are you ready to begin? Just follow these easy steps, and in about an hour, you’ll have a steaming bowl of unstuffed cabbage roll soup on your table. It’s a superb one-pot meal that streamlines your dinner plans.

1. Brown the Mince: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until warmed. Add your beef mince and cook, using a wooden spoon to break it apart, until it is browned all over. This first step is essential for developing a rich and savory flavor. Once done, carefully drain away any excess fat.
2. Cook the Vegetables: Incorporate the diced onion, carrots, and celery into the pot with the ground meat. Sauté the vegetables for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften. Next, stir in the garlic, oregano, paprika, and thyme, cooking for an additional minute until their fragrant oils are released.
3. Combine and Simmer: Pour the tinned chopped tomatoes and the stock into the pot. Incorporate the tomato purée and, if desired, mix well, the brown sugar. Bring the soup to a vigorous boil, then immediately reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer.
4. Add Cabbage and Rice: Gently stir in the chopped cabbage and the uncooked rice. After giving it all a thorough mix, place the lid on the pot and allow it to simmer for 20–25 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the rice is perfectly cooked and the cabbage is lovely and tender.
5. Season and Serve: When the soup is ready, it’s time for the final tasting. Season it with a generous amount of salt and freshly ground black pepper until the flavours are just right. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and top with fresh parsley or dill. For an extra creamy finish, we adore serving it with a spoonful of soured cream.

Watch How to Make Cabbage Roll Soup

Sometimes, a visual guide is the most helpful way to master a new recipe. Below is a fantastic video that shows the process of making a similar and equally tasty cabbage roll soup. This resource is particularly beneficial for individuals who learn best through visual information!

Tips for the Perfect Soup

Would you like to transform your soup from being merely great to absolutely phenomenal? Here are some of our most dependable tips and tricks.

• Don’t Crowd the Pan: When browning the minced meat, make sure your pot is large enough to accommodate it. If it’s too crowded, the mince will steam rather than brown, and you’ll lose out on that wonderful, deep flavour.
• Toast Your Spices: By cooking the dried herbs and spices for about a minute before adding your liquids, you help to awaken their flavours and release their aromatic essential oils.
• Let It Rest: If time permits, allow the soup to sit off the heat for about 10 minutes before you serve it. This short rest gives the flavours a chance to settle and deepen beautifully.
• A Squeeze of Lemon: To introduce a touch of brightness that cuts through the soup’s richness, a small squeeze of fresh lemon juice stirred in at the very end can do wonders.

Variations and Customisations

One of our favourite aspects of making soup is its adaptability. This recipe for deconstructed cabbage rolls serves as the ideal foundation for your own culinary experiments.

How to Customise Your Soup

• Make It Spicy: For a gentle heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a little of your preferred hot sauce when you add the other spices.
• Add More Veggies: You can add any other vegetables you have in your fridge as well. Diced peppers, mushrooms, or courgettes would all make delightful additions.
• Try Different Grains: If you’re not keen on white rice, feel free to replace it with brown rice (you might need to adjust the cooking time) or other grains such as barley or quinoa.
• Make it Creamy: For a richer, more luxurious broth, stir in 100ml of double cream or coconut milk during the final 5 minutes of simmering.

Storing, Freezing, and Reheating

This soup is truly a gift that continues to give. Here is our advice on how to store this item so you can enjoy it again later.

Proper Storage in the Refrigerator

Allow the soup to cool to room temperature, then place it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to four days. Because the rice keeps soaking up liquid, add a splash of stock or water when reheating to loosen the consistency.

Instructions for Freezing

Freezer-Friendly Tip: After the soup has cooled, pour it into freezer-safe containers or resealable bags. Leave some space for expansion. It can be stored for up to three months. To serve, defrost it overnight in the refrigerator and gently reheat it on the stove.

And if you are considering a simple, sweet bake to follow your comforting soup, we wholeheartedly suggest our classic Banana Bread. It’s the ideal conclusion to a wholesome, satisfying meal.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We’ve put together answers to some of the most common questions you might have about making our hearty and easy cabbage roll soup recipe.

Can I prepare this soup using a slow cooker?

Yes, you certainly can! To adapt this recipe for a slow cooker, start by browning the mince and sautéing the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic on the hob as per the instructions. Then, transfer this flavourful base to your slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients, excluding the rice. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 5-6 hours. Stir in the rice during the last 30-45 minutes of cooking.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Provided you use a stock that is certified gluten-free, this recipe is naturally free from gluten. We always advise double-checking the labels on all your ingredients, especially stock and pre-mixed spice blends, just to be certain.

Can I use pre-shredded cabbage?

Absolutely! Using a bag of ready-shredded cabbage or a coleslaw mix (just the cabbage and carrot, without the dressing) is a brilliant way to save time. It makes this recipe even more convenient for a busy evening.

What can I serve with this soup?

While this soup is a complete and satisfying meal in itself, we particularly enjoy serving it with a side of warm, crusty bread or a toasted cheese sandwich for dipping. A simple side salad topped with vinaigrette provides a delightful and fresh contrast.

A Perfect Pot of Comfort

So there we have it—our genuinely hearty and easy cabbage roll soup recipe that provides all the nostalgic comfort of the traditional dish with significantly less effort. It’s a warm, fulfilling, and wholesome meal that we believe will become a favorite in your home, just as it is in ours.

We firmly believe that cooking should bring joy, not stress, and recipes like this one demonstrate that you don’t need to be in the kitchen for hours to produce something truly delicious. If you enjoyed this simple yet flavour-packed recipe, we think you’ll also fall in love with our incredibly simple 3-Ingredient Banana Bread for another easy kitchen triumph.

We would be thrilled to see what you create! If you try this soup, please do leave us a comment below or tag us on your social media. Happy cooking!