Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup (Printable)

Comforting soup with beef, cabbage, rice, and tomatoes in savory broth.

# Ingredient List:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 4 cups green cabbage, chopped
05 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
06 - 2 celery stalks, diced

→ Grains

07 - 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain white rice

→ Liquids

08 - 6 cups beef broth
09 - 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
10 - 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
11 - 2 tbsp tomato paste

→ Spices & Seasonings

12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1 tsp dried thyme
14 - 1 tsp paprika
15 - 1 bay leaf
16 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
17 - 1 tsp salt

→ Optional Garnishes

18 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
19 - Sour cream, for serving

# How to Make:

01 - Cook the ground beef in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - Add the diced onion, garlic, carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in the chopped cabbage and cook for another 2-3 minutes until slightly wilted.
04 - Add the rice, beef broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, thyme, paprika, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
05 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rice and vegetables are tender.
06 - Remove the bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - Ladle into bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley and a dollop of sour cream if desired.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • All the comfort of traditional cabbage rolls without spending hours at the stove
  • One pot means almost zero cleanup which is everything on busy weeknights
  • The leftovers actually taste better the next day if they last that long
02 -
  • The rice continues absorbing liquid as the soup sits so it will thicken considerably in the fridge
  • Removing the bay leaf before serving is crucial because biting into one is extremely unpleasant
  • Ground turkey works beautifully here if you want something lighter
03 -
  • Let the soup rest for 10 minutes off the heat before serving to let flavors meld
  • The soup tastes even better made a day ahead so do not hesitate to prep it in advance

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