Cabbage Roll Soup

Name: Cabbage Roll Soup with Ground Beef
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 lb ground beef; 1 medium onion, diced; 2 medium carrots, diced; 1 head savoy cabbage, core removed and roughly chopped; 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp paprika; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 4 cups chicken stock, plus more if needed; 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce; 1 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 2 bay leaves; 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked; salt, to taste; 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish; 1 lemon, cut into wedges for serving

Cabbage Roll Soup is a hearty one-pot meal that delivers all the flavors of traditional cabbage rolls—ground beef, tender cabbage, and savory tomato broth—without the rolling. A squeeze of fresh lemon brightens the rich, warming flavors.

🌍American 🏷️Cabbage roll soup 🏷️Soup 🏷️Ground beef 🏷️Cabbage Rice

🏷️

🏷️Comfort food

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TikTok

Total

55 min

Servings

6

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$35–$58

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

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TikTok

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
2 medium carrots, diced
1 head savoy cabbage, core removed and roughly chopped
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp paprika
2 tbsp tomato paste
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups chicken stock, plus more if needed
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
salt, to taste
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped, for garnishoptional
1 lemon, cut into wedges for servingoptional

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Instructions

1
In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add olive oil and brown the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. This should take about 5 minutes.
2
Add the diced onions and carrots to the pot and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3
Add the chopped cabbage, stir, then cover the pot and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring a few times, until the cabbage has wilted down.
4
Stir in the red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, tomato paste, and minced garlic until fragrant.
5
Pour in the chicken stock and tomato sauce. Add the brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and bay leaves. Stir everything to combine.
6
Bring the soup to a boil.
7
Once boiling, stir in the uncooked rice.
8
Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and let it simmer for 25 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
9
After 25 minutes, the soup will have thickened. If it's too thick for your liking, stir in a bit more chicken stock.
10
Season generously with salt to taste. Remove the bay leaves.
11
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot with fresh lemon wedges on the side.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the ground beef thoroughly before adding onions and carrots—this builds a flavorful fond that deepens the broth.
Chop the cabbage roughly; it will soften and break down during the 25–30 minute simmer, so large pieces are fine.
Stir the tomato paste into the oil and meat for 1–2 minutes before adding liquid to bloom the flavor and reduce any raw taste.
Add the lemon juice at the very end, just before serving, to preserve its brightness and acidic punch.

Substitutions

Ground beef → ground pork or ground turkey (use same amount; cooking time unchanged)
Savoy cabbage → green cabbage (flavor slightly more assertive; cook time the same)
Rice → egg noodles or small pasta (add 2–3 minutes before the end so they don't overcook)

Storage & make-ahead

Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of water if needed to restore broth consistency.

Common Questions

Can I make this soup ahead of time?

Yes. Prepare through the final simmer, cool, and refrigerate up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat, adding the lemon juice just before serving.

What type of cabbage works best?

Savoy cabbage is recommended for its tender leaves and mild flavor, but green cabbage works equally well if that's what you have on hand.

Can I substitute ground beef?

Ground pork, ground turkey, or ground lamb are solid swaps. For vegetarian, use cooked lentils or crumbled tofu in place of the beef.

How do I know when the rice is done?

The rice should be tender and the vegetables soft, usually 20–25 minutes of simmering after the rice is added. Taste a grain of rice to confirm doneness.