Cabbage Soup

This cabbage soup recipe is deeply flavorful, thanks to aromatic veggies and fire-roasted tomatoes. Pair it with good bread for a simple, nourishing meal.

Cabbage soup

This cabbage soup recipe does the impossible: it uses an entire head of cabbage in one go! Nearly every time I buy a cabbage, I whittle away at it for weeks, adding some to a slaw, some to a bowl, more to a taco, and so on. So the first time I made this cabbage soup recipe, I was shocked. I started by adding half of my cabbage. As it wilted down, it melted into the soup with the aromatic veggies and herbs. I didn’t want it to disappear – I was making cabbage soup, after all – so I added more. Before I knew it, every last ounce of my cabbage was in the pot!

If you’re on the fence about cabbage, don’t despair. All that cabbage doesn’t overwhelm the soup at all. Instead, it adds a slight sweetness, which balances perfectly with a touch of tangy white wine vinegar. As a whole, the soup is deeply flavorful and comforting. It’s healthy, nourishing, and soup-er (sorry!) simple to make. I think you’re going to love it.

Cabbage soup recipe ingredients

Cabbage Soup Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy cabbage soup:

  • Cabbage, of course! You’ll need one small green cabbage for this recipe, about 1 pound.
  • Onion, carrots, and celery – This classic trio fills the soup with aromatic flavor.
  • Garlic and dried thyme – They add even more depth to the soup.
  • Potatoes – They make the soup nice and hearty.
  • White beans – For plant-based protein! I often use little navy beans in this recipe, but other white beans, such as cannellini beans, would work here too. Chickpeas would also be great.
  • Diced fire-roasted tomatoes – Along with vegetable broth, they create the soup’s brothy, flavorful base.
  • White wine vinegar – For tang.
  • Extra-virgin olive oil – It adds richness.
  • And salt and pepper – To make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Pot of soup with potatoes and vegetables in tomato broth

Cabbage Soup Serving Suggestions

When you’re ready to eat, ladle the cabbage soup into bowls, and garnish each one with a sprinkle of fresh parsley. Enjoy the soup on its own, with good crusty bread for sopping up the flavorful broth, or pair it with a sandwich or salad for a larger meal. I love it with a classic grilled cheese or this sweet potato salad.

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It’s easy to reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Can you freeze cabbage soup?

Yes! Cabbage soup also freezes well. Allow it to cool to room temperature. Then, transfer it to freezer-safe containers and store it in the freezer.

Frozen cabbage soup will keep for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating on the stove or in the microwave.

Cabbage soup recipe

More Favorite Soup Recipes

If you love this soup, try one of these delicious soup recipes next:

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Cabbage Soup

rate this recipe:
4.97 from 483 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Serves 6
This easy cabbage soup recipe is healthy, comforting, and deeply flavorful. Serve it with crusty bread for a simple, delicious meal.

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the carrots, onion, celery, salt, and several grinds of pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes.
  • Add the vinegar, stir, and then add the tomatoes, broth, beans, garlic, potatoes, cabbage, and thyme. Cover and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the potatoes and cabbage are tender.
  • Season to taste, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve.

391 comments

4.97 from 483 votes (327 ratings without comment)

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Margo
    04.11.2025

    5 stars
    This is the second time I have made it and love it! I do use chickpeas instead of white beans – they are my favorite! What about nutrition information?

  2. Jeanine
    04.06.2025

    Any idea how sweet potato would work in this recipe? I look forward to making this, this week. Thank you!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      04.08.2025

      I think they would be fine! You could use them in place of the carrots.

  3. Alicia
    04.03.2025

    4 stars
    This came together so easily and it was so good. I had to make some alterations to avoid going to the store. Instead of white wine vinegar I used fresh lemon juice. Instead of fire-roasted tomatoes I used a can of tomatoes with green peppers and added a dash of paprika to give it that smoky roasted flavor. I had a bag of coleslaw mix so I used that instead of dicing up a whole cabbage, added it towards the end so it still had a nice bite to it. Adding this to my “favorites” cookbook. Delicious and highly adaptable!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      04.04.2025

      I’m so glad you loved it, Alicia!

  4. Jeannie Phillips
    03.29.2025

    5 stars
    Delicious. Uber easy, and is now added to my soup making schedule. I doubled the recipe so I would have lots of extra to freeze. Glad I did, as this soup is tres-yummy!! (Another excuse to use my Le Creuset ;)) Oh, added some grated parm for flair.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      04.04.2025

      Hi Jeannie, I’m so glad you loved it! A perfect use for a Le Creuset. 🙂

  5. Andrea
    03.27.2025

    5 stars
    I made this soup and it is amazing!!! I added crushed red pepper to give it a little more spice. It is very hearty and filling. My family loved it, too. Thanks for the recipe!
    Does anyone have the nutrition information/calories for this?

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      03.28.2025

      Hi Andrea, I’m so glad you loved the recipe! We don’t calculate nutrition facts unfortunately, but you could use an online nutrition calculator to get the nutrition facts for this.

  6. Kay Hoisington
    03.26.2025

    5 stars
    I made this Cabbage Soup per the recipe yesterday. OMG, I’d give it 10 stars if I could. So much flavor and wonderful textures. My neighbor was walking by my place and knocked on my door to ask what I was cooking! He ended up with a jar of it. This is definitely going into the rotation.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      03.28.2025

      Hi Kay, aww I love that! I’m so glad you enjoyed the soup.

  7. louise
    03.18.2025

    Made this recipe for St. Pat’s Day. The fire-roasted tomatoes made a little bit too spicy for me. Any suggestions on how to de-spice this large pot of leftover, otherwise delicious soup?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      03.18.2025

      Hi Louise, you could add a few more splashes of vinegar to balance it out.

      • Sandra Treadway
        03.27.2025

        5 stars
        I made this soup today for me My husband and my son’s family And it was delicious. Can’t wait till tomorrow. To eat more

        • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
          03.28.2025

          Hi Sandra, I’m so glad you loved it!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.