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GET IT NOWWhenever I ask my family what they feel like having for dinner on a given week, they always say soup. Which is pretty awesome because soups are easy, can use up whatever I have on hand, and it’s easy to fit in lots of protein and veggies. This beef cabbage soup is one of our faves. It’s super comforting, and somehow both hearty and light at the same time. Let me show you how to make cabbage soup with ground beef, soft veggies, and just 15 minutes of prep time. Make it with me!
Why You Need My Beef Cabbage Soup Recipe
- Beefy, veggie packed meal – This isn’t your average soup! It’s loaded with bold, beefy flavor and tender vegetables, striking a balance of hearty and cozy without feeling too heavy. If you like my hamburger soup and classic cabbage soup, you’ll love this combo of both.
- Easy to make, with hands-off cooking – There’s almost no chopping involved! And you can choose from three (hands-off) cooking options: Instant Pot, slow cooker, or stovetop.
- Perfect for meal prep – My hamburger cabbage soup stores beautifully, making it perfect for weekend batch cooking. I love it for light lunches all week or as a cozy dinner with a healthy salad and cauliflower breadsticks.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for beef cabbage soup with hamburger, what each one does in my recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Cabbage – That shortcut I talked about? It’s coleslaw mix, so you don’t have to chop the cabbage! But you can easily chop a head of cabbage yourself and throw in some shredded carrots. Use the extras to make my kielbasa and sauerkraut or cabbage salad.
- Ground Beef – I like 85/15 grass-fed beef, which is flavorful without being too greasy, but use whatever you prefer. And while my recipe is for cabbage soup with ground beef, you can easily make it with ground turkey, pork, chicken, or even Italian sausage.
- Onion – White or yellow onions are my go-to, but red onion will work. You can also saute other sturdy veggies with it, like bell peppers or celery.
- Beef Broth – I love using homemade bone broth, but store-bought beef broth works great too. You can even swap in chicken or veggie broth if needed.
- Diced Tomatoes – I use this kind. You can also use fire-roasted for a smoky flavor.
- Herbs & Spices – Italian seasoning, garlic powder, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Want heat? Add a pinch of cayenne.
- Avocado Oil – For sauteing. Olive oil works, too.
How To Make Cabbage Soup With Ground Beef
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Saute the onions. Cook them in olive oil until they’re nice and soft. You can do this right in the Instant Pot if you’re using that method, in a pan for the Crock Pot method, or a Dutch oven or large pot if you’re cooking the entire soup on the stove.
- Brown the beef. Turn up the heat, add the ground beef, and cook it until it’s browned and crumbly.
- Add everything else. Transfer the beef and onions to the slow cooker if that’s how you’re cooking, or leave in the pot otherwise. Add the cabbage, tomatoes (with juice), broth, seasonings, and bay leaves.
- Cook it up. Let the beef cabbage soup cook until everything’s tender. A sprinkle of fresh parsley on top is a nice touch, but totally optional!
My Recipe Tips & Variations
- Do you really have to brown the beef and onions? Yes, I highly recommend it, even if you’re using the slow cooker or pressure cooker. It improves the flavor so much, and doesn’t take very long.
- Prefer a softer texture in your beef? A reader told me she cooked it with a little water and it came out softer. Give it a try if you like!
- Want a thicker beef cabbage soup? Add more cabbage or reduce the amount of broth a bit. It’ll feel more like a stew and super cozy for colder days.
- Want it more hearty? Toss in some drained cannellini or kidney beans, or diced potatoes.
- Flavor doesn’t seem quite right? Oftentimes, if something is missing, I find that something is salt! Add a little more and see if this helps. But if it’s too salty, a tablespoon of lemon juice can fix it. I have more tips on adjusting flavor in my vegetable soup recipe — the same applies here.
More Ground Beef Soup Recipes
If you like this hamburger cabbage soup, try one of my other healthy soup recipes with ground beef next:
Beef Cabbage Soup
This beef cabbage soup is loaded with hamburger and veggies in a cozy broth. Make it on the stove, in the Crock Pot, or in the Instant Pot!
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
Stovetop Instructions:
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Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onions. Cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions start to brown.
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Add the ground beef. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high. Cook, breaking apart with a spatula, for 8-10 minutes, until the beef is cooked through.
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Add the cabbage or coleslaw mix, diced tomatoes, bone broth, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and bay leaves. Stir to combine. Season with more salt and/or pepper to taste.
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Increase the heat and bring the beef cabbage soup to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes, until the flavors develop to your liking.
Crock Pot Instructions:
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Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onions. Cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions start to brown.
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Add the ground beef. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high. Cook, breaking apart with a spatula, for 8-10 minutes, until the beef is cooked through.
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Transfer the beef and onion mixture to a Crock Pot. Add the cabbage or coleslaw mix, diced tomatoes, bone broth, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and bay leaves. Stir to combine. Season with more salt and/or pepper to taste.
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Cook for 5-6 hours on Low or 2-3 hours on High. Remove the bay leaves before serving.
Instant Pot Instructions:
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Press the Saute button on the Instant Pot. Add the oil and chopped onions. Cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions start to brown.
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Add the ground beef. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Increase the saute temperature to "High". Cook, breaking apart with a spatula, for 8-10 minutes, until the beef is cooked through.
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Turn off heat. Add the cabbage or coleslaw mix, diced tomatoes, bone broth, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and bay leaves. Stir to combine. Season with more salt and/or pepper to taste.
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Cover and seal the Instant Pot. Press the Manual button and adjust the time to 20 minutes. When cooking is complete, let pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then use quick release. Remove the bay leaves before serving.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you adjust the flavor and thickness of your soup, or even make it more hearty.
- Store: Cool first, then pour into airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Meal prep: Shred the cabbage (or grab a pre-shredded mix) and cook the onions and beef ahead. Or make the whole soup—it stores great, so I often make a double batch!
- Freeze: Keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Reheat: Heat on the stovetop, in the slow cooker, or in the microwave.
- Note on serving size: 1 cup is a nice amount for a starter before your meal. My family sometimes has this as a light meal by itself and we just triple the serving size!
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Ebook Bundle!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Beef Cabbage Soup
360 Comments
Kristen
0Excellent recipe. My whole family loved it!
Lucinda
0WOW! This was great, even hubby ate it and he hates cabbage. I used my homemade ground sausage, pork bone broth, added chopped mini sweet peppers, olive oil (allergic to avocados). Served it with a sprinkle of cheese and dalop of sour cream. Made scratch herbs me to rolls. Adding this to my winter soup rotation.
Alyssia Villela
0This was amazing, it’s been cold and so post to be colder next few days so I’m happy that I made it today. I’m obsessed with cabbage, my hubby not so much be he loves it I was happy cause it’s dinner next few days lol. Definitely going to be a go to for cold weeks. Loving all the recipes I have found can’t wait to make more.
Candice Contos
0I used Mild Italian Pork sausage instead of ground beef and then used vegetable broth instead of bone broth(only meat I had in freezer and didn’t think bone broth would go with pork) oLove that you can change the some of the items in the recipe to suit different taste. Loved how easy this was to cook in my instant pot! My entire family loved it with the substitutions I made ❤️
Jamie Walsh
0I made this during a “snow day” this week and it was so good! Very filling, great for left overs!
Tina Nolen
0Great recipe and very easy to make.
Tina Kemp
0I made this and although it was good, it needed something. Next time I will experiment with some different spices and maybe add another veggie.
Susan Ingram
0Sounds delicious. We are thinking of using corned beef as well!
Jen
0I decided to make this soup (crockpot style) when unexpected visitors said they would be here the next day. It was so easy and everyone loved it! My husband especially liked that it included some meat.
Janet Johnson
0I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with cabbage, however, this recipe has made me a lover!!!
I make this soup probably two times a month because I love it. It actually gets better when left overnight.
Thank you for sharing this recipe! ❤️
Rindala Antoun Abou Ajram
0I always cook cabbage soup and with different variations, but I had never tried this one until yesterday!!!!! It ranks amongst my favorites. I love experiencing with cabbage and cauliflower and new recipe suggestions r always welcome. I played a little bit with the seasonings though. Kisses all the way from Lebanon.
Michele Todd
0Made this in the pressure cooker. Added riced cauliflower and peppers. Delicious and easy.
Chelsea Halisheff
0Tried this last night for dinner and I can’t wait to try it again this weekend with the temps dropping!
Patricia Copeland
0I made this using hamburger meat, cabbage, jalapeno slices, salt and pepper. My husband likes the simple stuff. LOL.. It was DELISH!
Kim
0Delicious, quick, and easy meal that my family loves.
GC
0I make this soup often, especially in cold weather. I usually use Rotel-type tomatoes & also add some Cajun seasoning. We love it.
Michelle
0We love soups and this one reminds me of abondigas which is a favorite in our home. Nice and cozy on a cold day.
Crystal
0This is one of my favourite soup recipes!!! It’s so quick to make and has so much flavour. I’ve made it in the slow cooker and tried it on the stove top. Both are just as easy depending on the day.
It’s definitely in my winter rotation as a go to meal the whole family loves!
Thanks for this recipe!!
Josh
0Hello, I get migraines from tomatoes. Can I eliminate them or substitute something? What would you recommend?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Josh, You can skip the tomatoes, but I’d add more broth to compensate for the liquid and a bit of extra seasoning for flavor. Alternatively, a can of diced green chilies might be a good substitute for flavor and liquid.
Realynn
0This was delicious and we enjoyed the flavor! My 14 year old and my 8 year old loved it! I used ground turkey, chicken bone broth, and 4 garlic cloves because that’s what I had on hand.
I used a skillet to saute the onion, cook the ground turkey, then I added the rest of the ingredients and put a lid on the skillet and cooked on 5 by stovetop until the cabbage was soft.
Thanks for sharing!
Lisa Hemmerle
0It was delicious and easy. This will become a regular staple. Thanks!
Peggy
0This is the best soup I have ever had in my 74 years old I am a soup lover. Terrific.
Dottie
0I actually have made this soup often. I love it with ground beef but have also made it without meat. Kinda like a dump soup using various vegetables that I have on hand. I use cabbage a lot for my keto recipes.
Frank
0I used a 4 qt. enameled Dutch oven. Better than Bullion chicken broth, (6 cups boiling water w/2 Tbsp. Better than Bullion chicken broth mix. Coleslaw mix. Ground sirloin, a large sweet white onion and a small can of red beans. Success Boil in bag Rice, cooked separately and added to finished soup. Pretty tasty stuff!
Aletta
0Great tasting soup. I omitted the meat and added turmeric bc of inflammation diagnosis. I will definitely make again. Thank you.
Linda Smith
0Delicious soup! I made mine on the stovetop and added kale along with the other ingredients… so good!
Sharon McFarlane
0Delicious! I used fire roasted tomatoes and chicken broth, otherwise followed the recipe. The broth is so flavorful ?
jess
0This soup is super tasty and I love that it has cabbage with hamburger meat, insanely good! thank you for sharing!
Kara
0Delicious! Using the coleslaw mix makes it a snap to whip up, and I love that!
Kellie Hemmerly
0This was simple to make and so deliciously hearty!
Richard
0What is the serving size?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Richard, The serving size is 1 cup as a started, but you can double or triple it for a meal.
Richard
0Once you close the Instapot, what temperature or setting are you using for the 20 minute cook time?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Richard, It would be the Manual setting / High pressure.
CC
0Thanks for this great recipe! Just some things I did differently only because it’s what I had- homemade chicken broth, grated fresh tomato, no Italian seasoning so I added rosemary, added garlic, and I didn’t have coleslaw mix so I just thinly sliced carrot and cabbage. This recipe was great and I absolutely love the simplicity of it. Thanks again! Will definitely be a staple for us!
Joann Kruse
0Delicious soup. I made it with red cabbage because that is what I had and it was great. Thank you for the recipe.
Lisa Sandridge
0I used ground turkey instead of ground beef, but it was still amazing.
Melissa
0I admit, I am not a cabbage lover. But this soup was really good. We used different seasonings and even after a couple days in the fridge, it was even better.
Barb
0Awesome soup!
Stephanie Brown
0Prepared this soup yesterday and it was a big hit! I used both green and purple cabbage and also added some red bell pepper. So delicious! Thanks for the great keto recipes!
Terrie L
0This soup is delicious! My whole family loves it! I like to add a splash of wine vinegar and sometimes green beans. Could eat it almost every day.
Amanda G
0This soup has been a BLESSING. I meal-prepped these and froze them in individual servings. This has made work lunches SO SO SOOOO easy! And it’s a very tasty soup! I typically do a 2 cup serving with some cheese crisps on top for crunch. Thank you for this delicious recipe!
Helena Ruby
0Can I use olive or another type of oil or perhaps duck fat or ghee? I cannot eat a lot of avocados or the oil due to migraines. It is unfortunately one of my triggers.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Helena, Yes, feel free to use olive oil or ghee. I wouldn’t use duck fat for sauteing, because it has a lower smoke point.
Jill
0Just made this today for lunch in my Instant Pot…so easy and DELICIOUS!
Janice
0LOVED this! I made a few modifications, substituting the ground beef for ground turkey, doubling the garlic and pepper ( I like spice ) I made it both in the slow cooker and the instapot and found that the instapot really melds the flavors. It was amazing! Thank you.
Karen
0So good and easy to make. I will definitely make again. I love spice so added some hot sauce and shredded cheese to the bowl before serving.
Aviva Duggan
0I substituted italian spice mix (I ran out of tumeric & oregano) turned out amazing!
Jeannine
0Is the pressure cooker on low or high?
Carol Dobrowlski
0I would like to make this in my dutch oven. How long would it take the cabbage to cook? My friend does not like crunchy vegetables. The cabbage will be from a head not coleslaw. Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Carol, I have stovetop instructions above, but this time range won’t leave the cabbage crunchy. How long it takes to get to the right texture will depend on how you chop it, so I would keep an eye on it until it reaches your desired doneness.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Jeannine, Please use high pressure.
Linda Lowry
0Thank you my husband and myself love the soup it’s filling.
We like vegetables and we know we need them.
We have a large garden here in South Dakota.
But we have to have Meat.
This soup satisfies both needs.
Thanks a ton.
Barb
0I made this for my son and DIL. They said it was delicious. He is recovering from COVID and hasn’t been enjoying his food. One thing I did to speed things up is use a bag of seasoning mix (chopped onion, green & red pepper) in place of the large onion. I am anxious to make this for me and my husband.
Brooke
0This was really delicious! My husband and I have recently started our “keto journey” and are always looking for new recipes. The thought of cabbage soup really didn’t sound super appealing to me, but we decided to give this a try. I made the recipe using my Instant Pot, pretty much exactly as listed. I didn’t have bone broth, so I used regular beef broth (actually bouillon cubes), and I added fresh garlic and red pepper flakes when I was cooking the onions and ground beef. We both really loved it! I bought another head of cabbage at the grocery store this morning, because I definitely plan on making this again soon. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe! 🙂
ThereseCup
0I made this a year ago in my pressure cooker and it was so good we ate the whole pot that night LOL I am making it again tonight on the stove top and I doubled the batch but this time it’s just for dieting… it is so good thank you so much for this recipe
ThereseCup
0Do you drain the ground meat?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Therese, I don’t, but you can if your beef has higher fat content or just looks greasy.
Regina
0Really enjoyed this soup!!
Simplicity!
I added some cheese and avocado to mine!
My husband LOVED it!!
I will be making this again!
Thank you so so much!
Connie
0Been making cabbage soup for years just about the same love it great for freezer but never knew it was so low in carbs bonus thankyou