Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup

This unstuffed cabbage roll soup gives you all the cozy flavor of old-fashioned cabbage rolls without any rolling. Ground beef, tender cabbage, and rice simmer in a sweet and tangy tomato broth seasoned with paprika and fresh dill. This easy cabbage roll soup recipe is hearty, healthy, budget-friendly, and made in one pot in about an hour.

By Sefa Tedik Published

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Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup
Prep
15 minutes
Cook
45 minutes
Total
1 hour
Servings
8 servings
Difficulty
Easy

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef:

    Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound ground beef and 1 diced onion and cook for 7 to 8 minutes, breaking up the meat, until browned. Drain the excess fat, then stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon sweet paprika for 30 seconds.

  2. Wilt the cabbage:

    Add 8 cups chopped cabbage and cook for 5 minutes, stirring, until it starts to wilt.

  3. Simmer:

    Add 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can tomato sauce, 6 cups beef broth, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1½ teaspoons kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

  4. Add the rice:

    Stir in ¾ cup rinsed rice and simmer, covered, for 18 to 20 minutes, until the rice and cabbage are tender.

  5. Serve:

    Taste and adjust the salt and vinegar, then serve the cabbage roll soup sprinkled with 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill.

Tips

The touch of brown sugar and vinegar gives the soup the classic sweet-and-sour flavor of Eastern European cabbage rolls. For a low-carb version, skip the rice or use cauliflower rice. Half ground beef and half ground pork makes it even more traditional.

Storage

Store cabbage roll soup in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Add a splash of broth when reheating, since the rice absorbs liquid.

Serving suggestions

Serve cabbage roll soup with a dollop of sour cream and slices of rye or crusty bread.

  • Autumn
  • Beef
  • Budget-friendly
  • Freezer friendly
  • Ground beef
  • Healthy
  • One pot
  • Winter

Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup