See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.

This Cabbage Soup is one of the best ways to enjoy fresh cabbage! It’s incredibly flavorful, packed with healthy veggies, and perfect for lunch or dinner. 

Cabbage soup in a dutch oven pot with a ladle.

I never thought I would be singing the praises of a soup made with cabbage, but this cabbage soup is crave-worthy. When I was testing this recipe, it immediately became one of our favorite soups, right along with our most-loved Vegetable Soup and this hearty Lentil Soup.

In this easy soup recipe, a few simple seasonings and lots of healthy vegetables come together to make a soup that’s incredibly flavorful and nutritious. After it simmers on the stove, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice is the perfect finishing touch and really brightens up the flavors. We’ve been making this recipe on repeat because it’s just so good. 

This cabbage soup comes together quickly and smells so delicious as it simmers on the stove. I like to serve it with some crusty bread for dunking, or homemade Garlic Knots if I’m in a baking mood. The best part about this hearty soup is that it becomes even more flavorful after a day or two in the fridge, as the flavors meld together. The leftovers reheat wonderfully and are perfect for lunches later in the week.

Cabbage Soup Recipe Ingredients

This cabbage soup recipe calls for simple ingredients that combine to make the best cabbage soup!

Ingredients for cabbage soup recipe.

  • Olive Oil: The vegetables are sautéed in a generous amount of olive oil, which adds flavor and richness to this healthy soup. 
  • Onion, Celery & Carrots: This trio of vegetables is used as the base of many soup recipes. The onion, carrots and celery bring lots of flavor.
  • Garlic: There’s no substitute for the flavor of fresh garlic!
  • Green Cabbage: Fresh green cabbage is first sautéed to develop its flavor, and then simmered in the soup until tender.
  • Seasonings: Dried thyme, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper are a delicious combination of seasonings that gives this cabbage soup the best flavor. It’s a little smoky, savory, and all around delicious!
  • Diced Tomatoes: Canned diced tomatoes are an easy way to add more flavor.
  • Vegetable Broth: I recommend using low sodium vegetable broth so that you can better control the amount of salt in the soup.
  • White Beans: To add some filling protein and make the soup heartier. Cannellini beans or small white beans work well, or feel free to use chickpeas.
  • Lemon Juice: I highly recommend adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the soup after it cooks. It really makes the flavors pop!

How to Make Cabbage Soup

A few simple steps make all the difference in making the most flavorful cabbage soup. Here’s an overview of how to make this recipe. Find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card below.

  1. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or other heavy pot. Then add the onion, celery and carrot to the pot and sauté until the vegetables soften. Chopped onion, carrot and celery in dutch oven pot.
  2. Meanwhile, prepare the cabbage. Wash it and then cut it into quarters and slice out the core. Chop the cabbage into pieces that are about 1/2-inch by 2-inches in size. See my Coleslaw Recipe for photos that show how to core cabbage.
  3. Add the cabbage, garlic and seasonings to the pot. Then cook, stirring often, for about 3 minutes. This step of sautéing the cabbage with the seasonings adds so much flavor to the soup. Sauteing cabbage with seasonings.
  4. Next, stir in the diced tomatoes, vegetable broth and white beans. Diced tomatoes, white beans and broth added to pot.
  5. Cover the pot and simmer the soup for 20-25 minutes, until the veggies are tender.
  6. Finally, stir in the lemon juice. Taste the soup and season it with more salt and pepper, if needed. Then serve and enjoy!

Cabbage soup in a white bowl with bite of soup on a spoon.

What to Serve with Cabbage Soup

Enjoy this cabbage soup with a Green Salad or Kale Salad and some crusty bread, Dinner Rolls or Cornbread.

Storage & Reheating Tips

This soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat soup in a pot on the stove over medium heat, stirring occasionally, or in the microwave.

Cabbage soup served in two white bowls.

More Vegetable Soup Recipes

If you love this cabbage soup recipe, you might also enjoy these easy soup recipes:

Cabbage soup in a dutch oven pot.
4.60 from 5 ratings

Cabbage Soup

Servings: 6 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
This Cabbage Soup is healthy and full of flavor! Cabbage, veggies, beans and a delicious combination of seasonings make this cabbage soup the best. It's one of our favorite vegetarian soup recipes, perfect for lunch or dinner.
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Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 ribs celery, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, sliced into ¼-inch thick rounds
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ large green cabbage, or 1 small cabbage
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¾ teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
  • 15 ounces canned diced tomatoes, with their juices
  • 4 cups low sodium vegetable broth
  • 15 ounce can white beans, or chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or to taste

Instructions
 

  • Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion, celery and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, wash, dry, and core the cabbage. Slice the cabbage into pieces that are approximately ½ inch by 2 inches.
  • Add the garlic, cabbage, dried thyme, cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper to the pot. Cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes.
  • Add the diced tomatoes, vegetable broth and white beans. Stir. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the soup to a boil. Then reduce the heat to a low simmer, cover the pot, and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
  • Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Serve.

Notes

  • Leftover soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Calories: 204kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Sodium: 1062mg, Potassium: 729mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 4040IU, Vitamin C: 39mg, Calcium: 129mg, Iron: 4mg
Nutrition information is an estimate.
Cuisine: American
Course: Main Course, Soup
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