Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup (Printable)

Hearty Eastern European-style soup with tender beef, rice, and cabbage in a rich tomato broth.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 pound lean ground beef

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 4 cups green cabbage, chopped (about 1 small head)
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 (use gluten-free if needed)
09 - 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
10 - 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
11 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste

→ Spices & Seasonings

12 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - 1 teaspoon paprika
15 - 1 bay leaf
16 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
17 - 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

→ Optional Garnishes

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

# How-To Steps:

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. 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.
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 Advice:

01 -
  • It delivers all the cozy flavors of traditional cabbage rolls in a fraction of the time and with much less effort
  • The soup freezes beautifully, making it perfect for meal prep or unexpected dinner guests
  • Everything cooks in one pot, meaning less cleanup and more time to relax with a warm bowl
02 -
  • The rice will continue absorbing liquid as the soup sits, so leftovers will become much thicker than when first served
  • Browning the beef well before adding liquids creates a flavor base that watered down versions simply cannot achieve
03 -
  • Cut your cabbage into uniform pieces so everything cooks evenly and no one gets an overwhelming chunk in their bowl
  • Let the soup rest off the heat for ten minutes before serving to allow the flavors to settle and the temperature to become perfect for eating

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