Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup (Printable)

Hearty soup combining ground beef, rice, cabbage, and tomatoes in savory Eastern European-style broth.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 It:

01 - In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - Add the diced onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 4–5 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in the chopped cabbage and cook for another 2–3 minutes.
04 - Add the rice, beef broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, thyme, paprika, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
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.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • All the comfort of stuffed cabbage rolls without spending an hour rolling individual leaves
  • A complete meal in one pot that actually tastes better the next day
02 -
  • The rice will continue absorbing liquid as the soup sits, so leftovers will be thicker and you may need to add more broth when reheating
  • Brown rice works beautifully but requires an extra 10 to 15 minutes of simmering time and more liquid
03 -
  • Use a box grater to shred the cabbage instead of chopping for a texture that mimics traditional rolled cabbage more closely
  • Sweet paprika provides color without heat, but smoked paprika adds an incredible depth if you enjoy subtle smokiness

Go back