This Cabbage Roll Soup Is All the Love and Half the Work

No assembly here, just lots of meaty, cabbage-y goodness.

By
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara is a chef, culinary educator, and author of three cookbooks, The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook, Tasting Ohio and The Fruit Forager's Companion. The latter won a 2019 IACP Cookbook Award.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published January 20, 2026
Sara Bir
Cabbage roll soup served in a white bowl with a spoon garnished with sour cream surrounded by bread

Simply Recipes / Photography by Morgan Hunt Ward / Prop Styling by Prissy Montiel / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling
  • In this easy recipe, all of the savory flavors of classic cabbage rolls come together in a hearty soup.
  • Skip the time-consuming rolling and enjoy cabbage rolls as a weeknight meal.
  • Fire-roasted tomatoes and smoked paprika give the broth a deep, smoky richness.
  • Leftovers hold up well for days and the soup freezes easily for up to 3 months.

I love cabbage rolls. My mother is from northeast Ohio; my dad is not. “I challenge you to go to one family gathering up there and not eat cabbage rolls,” he’s known to say. That’s not a complaint, either. Cabbage rolls are an edible hug, comfort food at its best.

But it’s been years since I’ve enjoyed cabbage rolls with my extended family, and you can probably guess why. They’re a pain to make! Cabbage rolls are a labor of love, and while my relatives and I love each other, we’re over it.

Thankfully, we no longer have to swear off cabbage rolls in my family, because we can soup-ify them! Cabbage roll soup is everything we crave about cabbage rolls but without the rolling, transforming our favorite comfort food to a weeknight meal instead of a once-a-year specialty.

Smoky, tomato-rich broth meets tender cabbage, hearty beef, and comforting rice in a satisfying bowl. Each spoonful tastes like the cabbage rolls we know and love so dearly.

Pot of cabbage roll soup with a ladle on a wooden table accompanied by bread

Simply Recipes / Photography by Morgan Hunt Ward / Prop Styling by Prissy Montiel / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling

The Key Elements of Cabbage Roll Soup

  • Ground beef: This soup is a little spartan without some fat. 90/10 lean ground beef lends balanced flavor and just enough fattiness, saving you from having to skim any excess grease.
  • Cabbage: Look for small, firm green cabbage for leaves that will hold up to simmering. Looser leaves can turn watery.
  • Fire-roasted crushed tomatoes: These add subtle smoky depth for that long-cooked taste. If you don’t have any, use regular crushed tomatoes and increase the smoked paprika by 1/2 teaspoon.
  • Rice: Long-grain white rice plumps the most evenly in the broth. Avoid instant rice, which will break down too quickly.
  • Worcestershire sauce: This uber-savory condiment amps up the beefy flavor in this hearty soup.
Two bowls of cabbage roll soup with bread on the side

Simply Recipes / Photography by Morgan Hunt Ward / Prop Styling by Prissy Montiel / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling

Make It Vegetarian

It’s easy to make a plant-based cabbage roll soup. Swap the ground beef for cooked lentils, chopped mushrooms, or plant-based crumbles. Use vegetable broth instead of beef broth, and keep the rice, cabbage, and tomatoes as-is. Replace the Worcestershire sauce (which usually contains anchovies) with soy sauce.

Freezing Cabbage Roll Soup

This cabbage roll soup freezes well for up to 3 months; thaw it overnight in the fridge and reheat it gently on the stove. If it’s overly thickened, add a splash of broth or water to loosen it before serving.

A bowl of cabbage roll soup served with a slice of bread topped with sour cream and garnished with herbs

Simply Recipes / Photography by Morgan Hunt Ward / Prop Styling by Prissy Montiel / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling

Cabbage Roll Soup

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 55 mins
Servings 8 servings

If you can’t find fire-roasted tomatoes, use plain crushed tomatoes and increase the smoked paprika to 2 1/2 teaspoons.

This recipe was developed by Melissa Gray-Streett.

Keep Screen Awake

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 pound 90% lean ground beef

  • 1 yellow onion, chopped

  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika

  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt, divided

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided, plus more for garnish

  • 4 cups beef broth

  • 2 cups water

  • 1 small or 1/2 medium head green cabbage, roughly chopped (about 5 cups)

  • 1 (28-ounce) can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes

  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped

  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain white rice

  • Chopped fresh parsley and/or dill, for serving, optional

  • Sour cream, for serving, optional

Method

  1. Cook the beef, onion, and seasonings:

    Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, onion, smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the beef is browned and broken into small pieces and the onion is softened, about 10 minutes.

  2. Simmer the soup:

    Stir in the broth and water, using a wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the Dutch oven. Stir in the cabbage, crushed tomatoes, carrots, Worcestershire sauce, the remaining 2 teaspoons of salt and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.

    Reduce the heat to medium-low,  stir in the rice, and cover the pot. Simmer the soup, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables and rice are tender, about 35 minutes.

  3. Serve:

    Divide the soup between bowls and garnish with parsley, dill, sour cream, and additional pepper, if desired, and serve.

    Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
233 Calories
9g Fat
18g Carbs
21g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 233
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 12%
Saturated Fat 3g 16%
Cholesterol 50mg 17%
Sodium 1214mg 53%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 7%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 21g
Vitamin C 40mg 202%
Calcium 106mg 8%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 870mg 19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.