Classic Comfort Cabbage Roll Soup Recipe for 2025

Craving cabbage rolls but short on time? This Cabbage Roll Soup has all the rich, comforting flavors without the hours of prep.

Tender cabbage, savory beef, tangy tomatoes, and fluffy rice come together in one hearty bowl. It’s cozy, satisfying, and made in just one pot.

Perfect for busy weeknights, chilly evenings, or when you want comfort food fast. This recipe is simple to follow and uses ingredients you probably already have at home.

Why You’ll Love This Cabbage Roll Soup

If you’ve ever made traditional cabbage rolls, you know they’re delicious, but they also take a fair amount of time and patience.

You need to boil the cabbage leaves, prepare the filling, roll each one neatly, and then bake them until tender. The results are worth it, but not exactly weeknight-friendly.

That’s where this Cabbage Roll Soup comes in. It takes all the same comforting flavors of Polish-style cabbage rolls and transforms them into a hearty, easy-to-make soup that’s ready in a fraction of the time.

Here’s why you’ll fall in love with it:

• All the flavor, none of the fuss. No need to boil, stuff, and roll individual cabbage leaves. Just chop, simmer, and enjoy.
• One-pot wonder. Everything cooks in a single pot, making cleanup a breeze.
• Perfectly balanced texture. The cabbage is cooked before adding tomatoes to keep it tender and melt-in-your-mouth soft, while the rice adds satisfying body.
• Deep, rich flavor. A whole stick of butter, flavorful beef, and savory broth create a base that’s both hearty and indulgent.
• Customizable, you can make it as thick or as brothy as you like, spice it up, or swap the protein.
• Budget-friendly comfort food. Simple, affordable ingredients that stretch to feed a crowd.
• Meal-prep friendly. Tastes even better the next day and freezes beautifully.

It’s the kind of soup that warms you up from the inside out. The kind that makes your kitchen smell incredible and has everyone coming back for seconds.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Below is a detailed breakdown of every ingredient from the subtitle content, including its purpose in the recipe.

💡 Tip: While Basmati rice is used here for its aroma and texture, you can swap in other long-grain varieties, brown rice (longer cook time), or even barley for a heartier twist.

Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Make Cabbage Roll Soup

This Cabbage Roll Soup recipe keeps all the comfort and flavor of classic cabbage rolls but skips the time-consuming rolling and baking.

Here’s the full breakdown of how to make it from scratch:

Step 1 – Prep the Cabbage

The heart of this recipe is fresh, green cabbage, so prepping it right is essential.

How to cut cabbage for soup:

1. Cut in half. Place the cabbage on a cutting board, stem side down. With a sharp chef’s knife, slice straight through the middle to make two halves.
2. Remove the core. On each half, locate the rigid white core at the bottom. Use two angled (about 45°) cuts to remove it. This part is fibrous and won’t soften nicely in soup.
3. Slice into strips. Place the flat, cut side of each half down on the board for stability. Slice into strips about 1–1½ inches wide.
4. Chop into bite-sized pieces. Then, turn the strips and cut across into squares or rectangles. Aim for pieces small enough to fit comfortably on a spoon. This makes eating the soup much easier and more enjoyable.

💡 Pro Tip: Keep the cabbage pieces fairly uniform in size so they cook evenly.

Once chopped, set the cabbage aside. You’ll use about half a large head for this recipe, but if you love cabbage-heavy soups, you can use the whole thing. Just increase the broth and seasoning.

Step 2 – Sauté the Aromatics

Aromatics are the building blocks of flavor in any good soup, and here we start with onions cooked in butter.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Place a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
2. Add a whole stick of butter (½ cup) and let it melt completely. This butter will create the rich, indulgent base that makes this soup so comforting.
3. Once melted, add the diced onion and a generous pinch of salt. The salt helps draw out moisture, softening the onions more quickly and seasoning them from the start.
4. Cook for about 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions turn translucent and release their sweet aroma. You’re not looking for browning here, just a soft, glossy texture.

💡 Chef’s Note: Using butter instead of oil adds a luxurious richness that mimics the flavor you’d get from baking cabbage rolls in a tomato-butter sauce.

Step 3 – Brown the Beef

The protein in this soup comes from ground beef, which brings hearty flavor and satisfying texture.

Steps for perfectly browned beef:

1. Add 1 pound of ground beef directly into the pot with the softened onions.
2. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to break the meat into crumbles.
3. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until no pink remains. Aim for small crumbles rather than large chunks. They’ll mix better with the cabbage and rice.
4. Season the beef with freshly ground black pepper, a few shakes of cayenne pepper for gentle heat, and 1 bay leaf for classic soup aroma.

💡 Flavor Tip: At this stage, you could also add minced garlic for extra depth. In the original process, it’s easy to forget. But don’t worry, garlic can be added later (see Step 7 note).

Step 4 – Add the Broth

Here’s where the soup begins to take shape. The beef and onions are now rich and fragrant, ready to be bathed in savory broth.

How to add the broth:

1. Turn the heat to high.
2. Pour in about 2 cups of beef broth.
3. Let the mixture come to a rolling boil. This step helps emulsify the butter, beef juices, and broth into one cohesive base.

⚠ Do not skim the fat! The golden layer floating on top is mostly butter and a little beef fat. It’s liquid gold for flavor and gives the soup its signature richness.

Step 5 – Add the Cabbage

Timing is key when it comes to cabbage in soup. If you add acidic tomatoes too early, they can toughen the cabbage, making it chewy rather than tender. That’s why we give the cabbage a head start before adding tomatoes.

Steps for adding cabbage:

1. Add your chopped cabbage directly into the boiling broth and beef mixture.
2. Use a spoon or spatula to press it into the liquid gently.
3. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 10–15 minutes.

💡 Texture Control: If you prefer cabbage with a bit of bite, lean toward the shorter cook time. For soft, almost melt-in-your-mouth cabbage, go for the full 15 minutes.

Step 6 – Add Tomatoes and Simmer

Once the cabbage has softened, it’s time for the tomato element, the soul of cabbage roll flavor.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Add one large can (about 28 oz) of crushed tomatoes, tomato puree, or plain tomato sauce.
2. Pour 1½ cups of water into the tomato can or measuring cup, swirl it around to catch every bit of tomato, and add that to the pot.
3. Stir well and wait for the soup to return to a gentle simmer.

Simmer time: Let the soup cook for about 50 minutes before adding the rice. This slow simmer is crucial because:

• It allows the beef to become tender.
• It deepens the tomato flavor.
• It lets the cabbage soften fully into the broth.

💡 Flavor Development Tip: The longer this stage goes, the richer the flavor. Keep the heat low so it simmers gently.

Step 7 – Add Parsley and Rice

Rice is what transforms this from a broth-based soup to a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs meal. Adding fresh herbs at this stage helps lock in their brightness.

Steps for this stage:

1. Stir in half of the freshly chopped Italian parsley. The other half will be added at the end for fresh flavor.
2. Add 1 cup of long-grain rice. Basmati works beautifully, but any long-grain variety will do.
3. Stir well so the rice is evenly distributed.
4. Continue cooking for another 20 minutes, or until the rice is done to your liking.

Rice Texture Choices:

• Tender with structure, Cook just until the grains are soft but still hold their shape.
• Thick and hearty. Cook longer until the rice begins to break down, naturally thickening the soup.

💡 Garlic Fix: If you forgot to add garlic earlier, sauté minced garlic in butter in a separate pan for 30–60 seconds, deglaze with a splash of beef broth, and stir it into the soup now.

Step 8 – Adjust Consistency

As the rice cooks, it will absorb broth and thicken the soup. You get to decide precisely how you want it.

For a thicker, stew-like soup:

• Let the rice cook until it starts breaking apart, releasing starch.
• Skip adding extra liquid unless it gets too dry.

For a looser, brothier soup:

• Add extra beef broth or water, a little at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.

💡 Serving Consistency Tip: Aim for a soup thick enough to hold chunks of cabbage and beef on the spoon, but still have a rich broth that pools at the bottom.

Final Taste Test & Serving

Once the rice is cooked and the texture is perfect, taste for seasoning. Add salt or pepper as needed. Stir in the remaining parsley for fresh, vibrant flavor. Remove the bay leaf.

Ladle the soup into bowls and serve hot, optionally garnished with extra parsley or a dollop of sour cream for creaminess.

Serving Suggestions for Cabbage Roll Soup

This Cabbage Roll Soup is a complete meal in itself, rich, filling, and full of wholesome ingredients. But a few well-chosen accompaniments can turn it into an even more satisfying dining experience.

Here are some delicious ways to serve it:

1. With Crusty Bread or Rolls

A warm, crusty loaf is perfect for soaking up the flavorful tomato-beef broth.

• Try a rustic sourdough, baguette, or Polish rye bread.
• Garlic bread is also an excellent choice for a little extra flavor punch.

2. With a Side Salad

A crisp, fresh salad balances the richness of the soup.

• A cucumber and dill salad complements the Polish-inspired flavors beautifully.
• A simple green salad with lemon vinaigrette works well, too.

3. Garnished with Fresh Herbs

Sprinkle extra chopped Italian parsley or even fresh dill on top just before serving.
This not only makes the soup look vibrant but also adds a fresh, aromatic lift.

4. Add a Creamy Element

For a richer, tangier finish, add:

• A dollop of sour cream (a classic Eastern European touch)
• A swirl of heavy cream for a velvety texture

5. Serve as Part of a Comfort Food Spread

Pair it with other cozy favorites for a complete meal:

• Pierogi or dumplings
• Mashed potatoes
• Roasted root vegetables

💡 Portion Tip: This soup is hearty enough for lunch or dinner. Serve smaller portions as a starter or larger bowls for a main course.

Pro Tip for Perfect Cabbage Roll Soup

One of the secrets to this soup’s incredible texture is the addition of the tomatoes.

Cabbage is a delicate vegetable when it comes to acids. Adding tomatoes too early can cause the leaves to stay firm or even turn slightly tough. That’s why, in this recipe, the cabbage is cooked for 10–15 minutes before the tomatoes go in.

Why this works:

• Cooking cabbage in broth first allows it to soften and sweeten.
• The gentle simmer develops flavor without breaking the cabbage down too much.
• Adding tomatoes later keeps the soup balanced and the cabbage tender.

Extra Cooking Tips from the Recipe Process:

1. Don’t Skim the Fat: The butter and beef fat emulsify into the broth, giving the soup richness and depth. Removing it would strip away flavor.
2. Rice Timing Matters: If you like thicker soup, cook rice longer so it breaks down. For a lighter texture, stop cooking as soon as it’s tender.
3. Garlic Rescue Plan: Forgot to add garlic early? No problem, sauté minced garlic in butter, add a splash of broth, simmer briefly, and stir it into the finished soup. It will taste just as if you said it at the start.
4. Consistency Control: Add water or broth a little at a time if the soup becomes too thick before the rice is done. This keeps it hearty but still “soup-like.”

Final Thoughts

This Cabbage Roll Soup is proof that comfort food doesn’t have to be complicated.
It’s hearty enough for a main meal, simple enough for a weeknight, and packed with the flavors of a classic Polish family recipe.

Whether you’re cooking for one, feeding a family, or stocking your freezer for busy days, this soup is a winner every time.

So next time you crave cabbage rolls but don’t have the time to roll them, grab your pot and make this soup instead. You’ll have a steaming bowl of savory, rich, and soul-warming goodness without the extra work.

You Might Also Like These Cozy Soup Recipes

If you loved this cabbage roll soup, you’ll want to try these other comforting, hearty soup recipes for your next dinner:

• Healthy Tomato Basil Soup Recipe for Dinner – Fresh, vibrant, and perfect with a grilled cheese sandwich.
• Easy 40-Min Stuffed Pepper Soup Recipe for Fall – All the flavors of stuffed peppers in a quick, one-pot soup.
• Quick & Creamy Corn Chowder Recipe for Dinners – Sweet corn, potatoes, and creamy broth in just 30 minutes.

Each of these soups is packed with flavor, easy to prepare, and guaranteed to bring comfort to your table, no matter the season.

Ella Foster

Ella Foster, co-founder of FoodBears.com, is a skilled writer whose love for cooking fuels her creative work. Her passion for experimenting in the kitchen brings authentic flavor and culinary inspiration to every piece she crafts for the platform.