Description

This hearty and comforting Cabbage Roll Soup captures all the flavors of traditional cabbage rolls in an easy-to-make soup form. Made with ground beef and sausage, fresh vegetables, rice, and a savory tomato broth with a hint of smoked paprika and Worcestershire sauce, it warms you up with every spoonful. A perfect family-friendly meal that’s simple to prepare and full of classic taste.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

1 lb lean ground beef
½ lb ground sausage

Vegetables

1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, quartered and sliced
5 cups chopped cabbage (packed)
4 cloves garlic, minced

Liquids & Canned Goods

5–6 cups low-sodium beef broth
2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce
1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Juice from ½ of a small lemon

Grains & Herbs

¾ cup dry jasmine or long-grain white rice
1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Seasonings

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Brown meat: Heat a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and ground sausage, breaking the meat into small pieces with a spoon. Cook until the meat is fully browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Sauté vegetables: Add the chopped onion to the browned meat and cook for 2 minutes until slightly softened. Then add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Next, add the quartered and sliced carrots and chopped cabbage, cooking for another 2 minutes while stirring to combine flavors.
Finish soup base: Pour in the beef broth, tomato sauce, and petite diced tomatoes. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, dried oregano, dried thyme, and add the bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, stir in the dry jasmine or long-grain white rice to allow it to cook in the flavorful broth.
Simmer soup: Cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Let the soup simmer gently for about 25 minutes, stirring once or twice during cooking to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking. Check that the rice is tender before proceeding.
Season and serve: Remove the bay leaf from the soup. Taste the soup and add additional salt and freshly ground black pepper if needed. Stir in the fresh lemon juice and chopped parsley to brighten the flavors. Optionally, serve with crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. Ladle hot soup into bowls and enjoy your cozy cabbage roll soup!

Notes

Use low-sodium beef broth to control the salt level in the soup.
If you prefer a soupier consistency, add more beef broth after simmering.
Substitute ground pork for sausage if desired for a different flavor profile.
The dried rice can be swapped for prepared rice to reduce cooking time—just add it at the end of cooking and heat through.
Garnish with additional fresh parsley or a squeeze of lemon for extra brightness before serving.
This soup stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and freezes nicely.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Soup
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: cabbage roll soup, easy cabbage soup, ground beef soup, comforting soup, tomato rice soup, homemade soup, winter soup recipe