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A white bowl filled with a hearty soup containing ground beef, rice, chopped tomatoes, and cabbage, placed on a white and green striped kitchen towel on a marble surface.
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Quick and Easy Cabbage Roll Soup

A cozy, one-pot cabbage roll soup with all the classic flavours of traditional cabbage rolls—made quick and easy for busy days. Hearty, comforting, and perfect for serving with warm sourdough bread.
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Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:35 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American, Polish
Keyword: cabbage roll soup, easy cabbage soup, quick cabbage roll soup, winter soup
Servings: 8 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 pound ground sausage
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper plus more to taste
  • 1 head green cabbage chopped
  • 8 cups chicken broth plus more as needed
  • 15 ounces diced tomatoes with juices
  • 8 ounces tomato sauce
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice rinsed
  • 3 bay leaves
  • grated parmesan

Instructions

  1. Brown the meat: Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the ground beef and sausage, cooking until browned and crumbled. Drain excess grease if needed.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: Stir in the diced onion and cook until softened. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper, cooking for about one minute until fragrant.
  3. Add the cabbage: Fold in the chopped cabbage and let it cook down for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Simmer the soup: Pour in the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and bay leaves. Bring the pot to a gentle boil.
  5. Cook the rice: Add the rinsed long-grain rice and reduce the heat to low. Let the soup simmer for 20–25 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the cabbage is soft. Add more broth if you prefer a thinner soup.
  6. Finish and serve: Adjust the salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm with grated Parmesan.

Notes

  • Add more broth when reheating, rice absorbs liquid as it sits.
  • Brown rice works but requires a longer simmer or par-cooking.
  • Freeze without the rice for the best texture (add rice when reheating).
  • Great with sourdough bread or a simple side salad.