The Ultimate Cabbage Beef Soup Recipe for Cozy Comfort

Cabbage beef delight soup refines humble ingredients into a hearty culinary adventure that warms both body and soul.

Winter’s chill calls for robust, comforting meals that nourish and satisfy hungry families.

Rich, tender meat mingles with crisp vegetable slices, creating complex flavor profiles that dance across your palate.

Nutritious and filling, this soup represents more than just a meal—it’s a celebration of simple, wholesome cooking.

Each spoonful tells a story of traditional home-style preparation, blending classic techniques with modern sensibilities.

Carefully selected ingredients merge into a symphony of taste that elevates everyday dining into something memorable.

Bold yet balanced, this recipe promises a delightful experience that will become a cherished family favorite.

What Makes Cabbage Beef Soup So Hearty

• Quick and Hearty Comfort: This cabbage beef soup delivers a warming, satisfying meal packed with robust flavors that hug your taste buds like a cozy blanket on a chilly day.
• Nutritious One-Pot Wonder: Loaded with protein from ground beef, fiber-rich cabbage, and filling rice, this recipe provides a complete balanced meal that comes together effortlessly in a single pot with minimal cleanup.
• Adaptable Cooking Technique: The slow simmering method allows ingredients to blend beautifully, creating deep, multilayered flavors while transforming tough cabbage into a tender, melt-in-your-mouth component that absorbs all the delicious seasonings.
• Budget-Friendly Culinary Magic: Using affordable ingredients like ground beef, cabbage, and basic pantry staples, this soup offers maximum taste and satisfaction without breaking the bank, making it perfect for family dinners or meal prepping.

Cabbage Beef Soup Ingredients at a Glance

• Ground Beef: Hearty meat that provides rich flavor and protein, choose lean beef for less grease.
• Beef Stock: Deepens the soup's meaty flavor, low-sodium options work well for better control of saltiness.

• Cabbage: Provides crisp texture and mild sweetness, green cabbage is most traditional.
• Onion: Adds depth and aromatic base to the soup, sweet onions bring more subtle flavor.
• Bell Peppers: Contribute color and mild pepper taste, red or green varieties work perfectly.
• Crushed Tomatoes: Offers tangy base and slight acidity, canned varieties are convenient.

• Salt and Pepper: Essential for basic seasoning, adjust to personal taste preference.
• Bay Leaf: Introduces subtle herbal undertone, removes after cooking.
• Dill: Provides fresh, slightly tangy herb flavor, dried or fresh both acceptable.
• Paprika: Adds warm, slightly sweet depth to the soup, Hungarian paprika recommended.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Brings complex umami and tangy notes, enhances overall depth.
• Rice: Adds substance and makes soup more filling, white rice works best.
• V8 Juice or Water: Helps adjust soup consistency if too thick.
• Cooking Oil: Helps sauté initial ingredients, neutral oils like vegetable work well.

How to Simmer Cabbage Beef Soup

Step 1: Sizzle the Meat and Aromatics

• Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat
• Add ground beef, chopped onions, and diced bell peppers
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper
• Cook until beef turns golden brown and vegetables become soft and fragrant

Step 2: Build the Flavor Foundation

• Chopped cabbage
• Crushed tomatoes
• Beef stock
• Bay leaf
• Dried dill
• Paprika
• Worcestershire sauce

Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer uncovered for 45 minutes. The cabbage should become tender but still have a slight bite.

Step 3: Transform with Rice

• Stir in uncooked rice
• Continue simmering for 30 additional minutes
• If the soup seems too thick, splash in V8 juice or water to reach desired consistency

Step 4: Perfect the Seasoning

• Taste the soup carefully
• Adjust salt and pepper to match your flavor preference
• Stir thoroughly to ensure even distribution of seasonings

Serving Suggestion:

Ladle the steaming soup into deep bowls and enjoy this comforting meal that combines hearty beef, tender cabbage, and satisfying rice. Perfect for chilly evenings or when you need a soul-warming dish.

Tips for Full-Flavored Cabbage Beef Soup

• Master Meat Browning: Ensure ground beef is deeply caramelized for maximum flavor development, breaking it into small crumbles while cooking to create rich, complex taste layers.
• Cabbage Cutting Technique: Slice cabbage into uniform, thin strips for even cooking and better texture absorption, allowing each piece to become perfectly tender throughout the soup.
• Liquid Balance Strategy: Monitor soup's consistency carefully, adding V8 juice or water incrementally to prevent oversaturation and maintain ideal thickness during simmering process.
• Flavor Depth Trick: Let soup simmer uncovered to concentrate flavors and allow natural reduction, which intensifies the overall taste profile and creates a more robust broth.
• Rice Cooking Precision: Add uncooked rice toward end of cooking to prevent mushy texture, ensuring grains remain separate and absorb surrounding seasonings without becoming overcooked.

How to Reheat and Store Your Cabbage Beef Soup

• Storing Leftovers: Transfer the cooled soup into airtight containers, ensuring you seal them tightly to preserve freshness. Refrigerate within two hours of cooking and consume within 3-4 days for optimal taste and safety.
• Freezing Method: Pour the soup into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, leaving some space for expansion. Label with the date and freeze for up to 3 months. Frozen soups maintain their flavor and nutritional value remarkably well.
• Reheating Technique: Thaw refrigerated or frozen soup in the refrigerator overnight. Warm gently in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Add a splash of beef stock or water if the soup seems too thick, restoring its original creamy consistency. Stir until heated thoroughly, ensuring the rice and beef are warm throughout.

Cabbage Beef Pairings You’ll Want to Try

• Pair with Hearty Red Wine: A bold cabernet sauvignon or merlot complements the rich beef and earthy cabbage, cutting through the soup's robust flavors with its tannic structure.
• Serve with Crusty Artisan Bread: A rustic sourdough or whole grain bread provides the perfect vehicle for soaking up the flavorful broth, adding textural contrast and extra satisfaction.
• Match with Crisp Side Salad: A light green salad with a tangy vinaigrette balances the soup's hearty nature, offering a fresh, zesty counterpoint to the warm, comforting dish.
• Finish with Smooth Sour Cream: A dollop of creamy sour cream adds a cool, velvety touch that softens the soup's bold spices and provides a luxurious finish to each spoonful.

Variations on the Classic Cabbage Beef Soup

• Hearty Cabbage Beef Skillet: Skip the soup format and transform this recipe into a one-pan skillet meal. Brown the beef with vegetables, then layer cabbage on top and cover to steam, creating a quicker weeknight dinner option.
• Spicy Southwest Beef Cabbage Soup: Enhance the base recipe with diced green chiles, cumin, and a splash of hot sauce. Top with fresh cilantro and a dollop of sour cream for added southwestern flair.
• Mediterranean Cabbage Beef Stew: Swap beef stock for chicken broth, add oregano and fresh mint. Replace Worcestershire sauce with red wine, and finish with crumbled feta cheese for a Mediterranean-inspired version.
• Slow Cooker Cabbage Beef Soup: Convert the stovetop method to a hands-off approach by adding all ingredients to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, allowing flavors to meld and beef to become incredibly tender.

Cabbage Beef Delight Soup Recipe

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4.6 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty Cabbage Beef Delight Soup brings Polish comfort straight to your kitchen with robust flavors and nourishing ingredients. Rich beef, tender cabbage, and savory seasonings create a warming meal that connects families around steaming bowls of pure culinary satisfaction.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 ½ pounds ground beef (85% lean recommended)
• 1 small head of cabbage, cored and coarsely chopped (or 2 bags of pre-shredded coleslaw)
• 6 cups beef stock or broth
• 1 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced

Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
• ½ cup uncooked rice
• V8 juice or water (for thinning soup, if necessary)
• Salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, warm of olive oil over medium heat. Crumble of ground beef into the pot, accompanied by 1 diced medium onion and 1 chopped bell pepper.
2. Season the meat and vegetable mixture with of salt and of black pepper. Sauté until the beef is completely browned and the vegetables turn translucent, approximately 8-10 minutes.
3. Add of chopped green cabbage, 1 can (/411 grams) of crushed tomatoes, of beef stock, 1 bay leaf, of dried dill, of paprika, and of Worcestershire sauce.
4. Increase heat to high and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Immediately reduce heat to low, creating a gentle simmer. Allow the soup to cook uncovered for 40-45 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
5. Incorporate of uncooked white rice into the soup, ensuring even distribution. Continue simmering for an additional 25-30 minutes until rice is tender and soup has thickened.
6. If the soup appears too dense, gradually thin with of V8 juice or water. Taste and fine-tune seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired.
7. Remove bay leaf before serving. Ladle into warm bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if preferred.

Notes

• Hearty one-pot meal packed with protein and vegetables, perfect for chilly evenings or meal prepping.
• Ground beef provides rich flavor while cabbage adds nutritional density and satisfying texture.
• Simmer time is crucial for developing deep, complex flavors and tenderizing ingredients gently.
• Rice transforms this soup from light to substantial, making it filling and comforting.
• V8 juice can rescue the soup’s consistency if it becomes too thick during cooking.
• Optional garnishes like fresh parsley or a dollop of sour cream can elevate the final presentation.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 390 cal
• Sugar: 7 g
• Sodium: 680 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 25 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 28 g
• Cholesterol: 85 mg