Easy Cabbage Soup
This super easy, healthy soup takes less than 20 minutes, start to finish. It's always good with chicken stock but I usually use water. - Jenny Jones
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Makes: 3-4 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 clove of garlic, crushed
- 4 cups cabbage, coarsely chopped
- 4 cups water, chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon salt + pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Heat oil in a medium soup pot and saute onion & garlic for 2 minutes.
- Add cabbage, cook and stir for a minute.
- Add water or stock, bay leaf, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Variation: I sometimes add one carrot, sliced 1/8-inch thin, along with the cabbage.
Do you have the calories for one cup?
How many calories are in one cup?thanks
This looks reallly good – I’m wondering if I could add corned beef to this? Any modifications if I do?
Thanks so much
This is a marvelous recipe! Thank you! I made it tonight, adding some crushed red pepper, instead of the black pepper.
So simple and easy! Added a tad of ranch mix(dry) to it…good! Had a bowl and gonna freeze the rest!
I’d like to use my Instapot, how do I cook it with that?
Very simple and delicious! Made mine with purple cabbage and chicken stock. Will make again and freeze some as well! Thanks!
The best cabbage soup for minimal effort! I double the recipe and freeze…still wonderful!
Beautifull! I just finished chopping it all and throwing it together , of course mine I added extra veggies but I followed the recipe and I cannot wait to enjoy!
If making it right now we’ll have for lunch smells good
Thank you very much for the information my grandparents I’m sure made this all the time during the winter but I never really got the recipe so I appreciate yours very much thank you .Frank
This is so was so easy to make and delicious! I’ll definitely be making once a week during the fall and winter. Thank you!
What would happen if you have no bay leaf or garlic?
Thanks
The soup will have a bit less flavor but will still taste good.
Do you have receipe for small batch? I have a 2 quart slow cooker I would love to make it in.thank you
It cooks in 10 minutes, why do you need a slow cooker? Just reduce the ingredients by half.
My mom would cut up cabbage in chunks. She’d use pork hocks & ribs some bay leaf and pepper corns. Cook til ribs & hocks are tender. That’s when you add the sour cream. When ready you’d ladel it over mashed potatoes. I’m thinking it was her own recipe or a variation of her mom & families recipe. Anyway its awesome but only my brothers & I like it. My sister didn’t inherit the Polish cabbage gene. She’s been gone some 20+ yrs so I try to do it like she did. She called it kapusta, different than the one for Christmas Eve with the yellow split peas & kraut, bacon , I believe that’s grau- I can’t spell it- kapusta. Sorry too lazy to get the 1947 red Polish cook book out for the spelling. Thank you for your time teri b
Kapusta is cabbage in Hungarian. At leas, that’s what we called it. This tastes really good! Thank you Jenny!
I start my cabbage soup sautéed garlic in evoo add 2 cans of navy beans. Then add small head of cabbage, chicken broth and simmer. This is our vegetable.
Healthy, filling and good.
I start my cabbage soup sautéed garlic in evoo add 2 cans of navy beans. Then add small head of cabbage, chicken broth and simmer. This is our vegetable.
Healthy, filling and good.
Hi, I made the soup today, it was delicious. I made some changes, I grated a little carrot 1- tablespoon . fresh tomatoes: (half a Roma tomato) 1/2 a small sweet red pepper 1- teaspoon. No bay leaf ! And half water half chicken stock ❤️💥DELICIOUS!!!!
How many calories are in it?thanks
Becca, I can’t see there being over 500 calories in the entire pot. Head of cabbage is about 300 calories, check the label on you 4 cups of stock, onion, garlic, oil are negligible. Divide by 4 for 1 cup of soup. Maybe 150 total? 200 max if chicken stock holds more than I think.
This looks good, Jenny. My mom used to use cream of wheat or oatmeal as a thickener. Varied meats too from beef ribs to pork, to kielbasa. It was always good to come home from school on a frosty day to have cabbage soup or borscht cooking. She mixed packaged kraut with fresh cabbage once in a while too. But NEVER tomatoes! lol. Had to have a chunk of dark rye bread too!
Thank you so much for your no-ad recipes. I’m so tired of the hassle.
Cabbage soup is my favorite and I can’t wait to try this easy recipe.
I was looking for a health conscious cabbage soup recipe with no tomatoes! I love how simple and easy this is to make. I bought everything to make cabbage soup, but I forgot the tomatoes 🤷 anyhow thanks for the recipe and I’m going to check out many more as in the comments below I see you are very popular chef 👳🍽️
was this a tasty soup?? did you try it????
This recipe is delucious.!! I put a bag of mix ed veggies in it and added more bullion. So tasty.. going to freeze whatever is left over for later
Made mine out of Cole slaw mix.
Kathleen,
How did your soup turn out by using the cole slaw mix? That’s a good idea because everything is already cut up in the cole slaw mix. I’m gonna try using the cole slaw mix..
Thanks for sharing your easy quick tip
Nutrition values?
I love how simple this recipe. Keep them coming.
Hi Jenny I simply love your recipes. You make it so easy and fun to cook. I love the humor that you bring 2 each presentation. I will be trying your cabbage soup this weekend. it looks delicious. I’ve made cabbage soup before and to put a spin to it I would blend it all together in my bullet and make it so that it’s drinkable. It’s an easy on the go way two of continuing my diet. Thanks so much!
Sandra
I am a former Chef but no longer want to spend time making plates look pretty or take hours to put a meal together.
Now prefer Simple; Easy; Basic.
This is THE Recipe for Cabbage Soup !!!!
Thanks for your post, Jenny!!
No babcia I knew used olive oil for kapuśniak. Definitely bacon fat.
Bacon fat is what the purist use. For authentic taste you must use Bacon fat. Bacon fat for frying liver, eggs, etc. everything! Olive oil is for salads and dipping bread into ONLY when eating Italian
Just made this. It is delicious. Added a carrot. No Bay leaf on hand
This wa always a meatless Friday dinner. My Mom would make a roux with flour to thicken the soup and add peas What’s for dinner ‘Peas and Cabbage soup’ YUM A lot of Polish in her cooking. Love your recipes!!
I love soups except green pea. When I make cabbage soup I add turmeric potatoes, celery shallots and carrots. Some times I’ll put a bit of shredded pork too. I’m allergic to chicken.
How do you prep & cook said the tumeric potatoes? Are they a leftover? Thank you
Hi Jenny, I am HOOKED on your recipes. Been making bread, hamb buns, dinner rolls, and made your stuffed cabbage. Per your recomendation, I am refrigerating it until tomorrow. But it smells fantastic. I’ve had cabbage soup from Fannys in Cleveland. Loved it. Theirs has potatoes in it as well. At what stage would I add potatoes. What about bacon or ham?
Thanks for your wonderful recipes, have also turned on my nephew (former Marine) to it. He tells me it my fault and yours if he gets chubby. Have a blessed Christmas season, filled with love and loved ones.
Hi Jenny,
I love Cabbage and this sounds delicious. I had an amazing Cabbage Soup from a restaurant in Fall River MA. Of course, it’s a secret family recipe. There’s Cannellini Beans in it and some of it’s emulsified. It’s very hearty and full of flavor. Have you ever tried adding white beans? I will try your recipe first exactly as is though. Simple and quick. Thanks Jenny.
I made this soup this evening. It is so delicious! I sprinkled dill over it.
Thank you!
This is delicious!!! I had been looking for a cabbage soup recipe that had no tomatoes because I get migraines from all night shade foods. I had thought about making this soup and then found your recipe. I had about 2 cups of chicken broth in the fridge and added 2 cups of water. I took another commenter’s suggestion and added 3 stalks of celery, some turmeric and a little cream and I added some summer squash and carrots for color and sweetness. It came together so fast. I will definitely make this again on a regular basis!
Thank you for these suggestions of variances. I’ve been looking for ideas not using tomatoes, can’t have them due to kidney failure. Looking forward to using your advice.
Rosemary, I have just been diagnosed with stage 3 CKD and I saw that you have CKD also. I’m having a hard time on what I should eat and what I should not eat . Do you have any suggestions. I would really appreciate it ! Thank you so much !
God Bless you and have a great day ! 🙏
Connie Jo Callis
Hello to you,
My name is Nara Alivia from Escon dido,California.
I ate cereal this morning standing up in the kitchen and while I was eating my cereal for breakfast I got busy making cabbage soup on the stove.
I will eat cabbage soup for lunch and for dinner too. I never ate cabbage soup before. This will be my first time.
I am looking forward to it.
Thank you for this very easy cabbage soup recipe.
I had cabbages to spare,wife couldn’t eat but could manage soups.Looked for. “easy cabbage soup” on google.
Perfect.Thank you,went down very well. (I had to liquidize my wifes but I took mine ‘lumpy’. Both great!!
This was great exactly per your specs! I used chicken stock.
My grandmother made Czarnina to celebrate my long-ago seventh birthday and I loved it. Wanting more and more, she cautioned me “..not TOO much now !! ” Of course I snuck into the kitchen after the lights went out and got more anyway it was so good. She was right, more was NOT better. I guess there’s a reason you don’t list this peasant classic in your repertoire 🙂 And that was a lesson I’ll never forget. A little goes a long way.
Thanks–I’m stuck in China with this virus going around, so I am trying to find simple, healthy recipes to make since I can only leave my apartment every 2 days due to a quarantine. I try this bad boy out tomorrow.
Would 4 cups cabbage be a small or medium head of cabbage?
Small.
I love all your recipes because I can follow them easily and make them exactly the way you say you are an excellent cook and thank you so much for having this program and showing me how I can cook different things
This was delish! I was looking for a recipe without tomatoes. I also took it up a notch and added 2 stalks of celery, diced as well as a quarter teaspoon of turmeric and a half-cup of cream. Try it out.
I have been looking for this cabbage soup recipe for years. My mother would make this soup during the cold winters when we lived in New York.
It was fantastic, but she never left the recipe for us before passing away.
This recipe of yours tastes exactly the same as my mothers. I made the soup today and really enjoyed it tremendously. Thank you Jenny
So glad you could replicate your mom’s recipe here. There’s something so comforting about recreating Mom’s cooking.
I love this soup. Been looking for one that doesn’t have tomatoes in it. And, the cabbage isn’t cooked to death but retains a slight crispness and brighter color. I love the simplicity of this recipe. This is a keeper, I’ve bookmarked this one. Thank you Jenny.
how long do i boil the cabbage before making the soup
You do not boil the cabbage before adding it to the soup. You add it raw and only stir-fry it for one minute (step #2) and then when you add the liquid, the cabbage cooks up nice and soft in 10 minutes (step #4).
How many calories is it per serving? and How many servings does it yield?
is that really your question honey ?
Becky coming in hot with an attitude ?
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Makes: 3-4 servings
You can Google calories in a small cabbage, and look on the box or what ever kind of Chicken Broth you choose to use. A wee bit of math, but you can do it!! How’s that sound? 😉
It makes 3 to 4 servings. I don’t count calories but with only vegetables and water, the total calories will be minimal.
Nice answer. I am going to make this this afternoon. A foggy chilly day in southern Oregon. Sounds perfect. Thanks Jenny.
Omg!…looks delicious. Very tasty I’m sure. A must try…
Love the photo, Jenny ?
Jenny I love your style, you’re so funny and dish excellent stuff ! thank you …Love cabbage soup and slimming too !!
Sad anniversary today – will always remember the injury to your people and country …may they get their deserve.
Mirella in Italy
I could eat soup every day- just love it. Can’t wait to make this one.
And yeah– how bout some more videos. I love watching them and see all the fun you have when you cook. very inspiring.
I just made your baby back ribs and, Jenny, I’m in love with you. They are fabulous!!
Thank you for such an easy and delicious recipe!! You are an incredible woman and cook, and I have completely enjoyed your videos and all the wonderful and down to earth advice for cooking. You never cease to just crack me up as well…what a sense of humor!! 🙂
This soup is very good and I could eat it every day. Thanks so much for the receipe.
First time. Where can I see your videos. I WILL TRY the cabbage soup tomorrow. Looks good.
Sounds very good!! Thank you for the simple recipe.
I love this recipe and make it 2 or 3 times week. I usually add a couple carrots. I cook it in my electric pressure cooker for 3 minutes.
your receips will not print.
Please look here: https://www.jennycancook.com/cant-print-a-recipe/
Hi Pat. If you press Control and P at the same time on keyboard you should be able to print.
Hi, Jenny! I recently had a heart attack and I am now modifying my diet to low sodium, etc. I LOVE cabbage and was wondering if I would get the same health benefits by using red cabbage? Would it taste any different? Thanks for all your wisdom and recipes!
Hey Steve. Years ago when I was on Weight Watchers I made the WW Vegetable Soup using Red Cabbage. The only thing I noticed was that it bled a bit into the soup. I never noticed any flavor difference from red cabbage at all. And it was just as hearty just red. Also with you on low sodium increase other spices or use Mrs. Dash to provide more flavor.
Thank you, John, and thanks for the tips! I can’t wait to try this soup!!
Thanks for this recipe you are the best
thank you for this recipe so easy to make and sooooo delicious
you are the best,,,I’M FRENCH SO PLEASE EXCUSE MY FAULTS ,,HAVE A NICE DAY,,
STUPID!?! EASY??! — Caught my attention! YES – cabbage soup is delicious. Love how naturally sweet cabbage becomes when cooked. My daughter was in a cooking contest during high school and one of the entries was a cabbage and chicken soup. Not something I thought I’d like at all
However, it was incredible and stupid and easy. Looking forward to your recipe! P.S.y son is a Chef and he loved your “Artisan Bread” when I prepared it. I’ll be making it to accompany the soup!
Thnaks! I love cabbage so I will make this asap. My Mom used to make “New England boiled dinner with ham carrots potatoes onion and cabbage and I always loved the cabbage the best! Comfort food for me.
Shell- my mom used to make the exact same thing only she would use a corned beef… and now that I think about it that would be on St. Paddy’s day. And she’d used smoked sausage the other times… and you’re right- the cabbage was always the best. She called it “boiled dinner” too!
Just brought hom a big beautiful and fresh cabbage and I also
finished making 8 quarts of turkey broth all jellied and yummy.
BTW over labor day weekend, I made the cabbage rolls (delish)
and your oven cooked ribs. Got lot’s of compliments and I love
your simple, delicious, healthy recipes. More U Tubes please.
Hugs and good cooking,
Barbo
Hi Jenny,
This recipe looks very delicious and healthy ! But i have one (1) question for you ;
Are you going to make some more video on youtube or no more ??? I like to see some visual explanation for the recipes, to see you first and to have some ideas !
Anyway, have a wonderful week-en ahead !
I have the same question about you putting out some more videos. I’ve been waiting for a new one ever since I subscribed. You are very good in the videos and several of your recipes are regulars for me now. Please put out more videos. -from a Loyal Fan
I’m making it tomorrow. With a piece of fresh bakery bread, sounds like heaven. Like I used to eat as a kid. Thanks.
May I suggest making a loaf of Jenny’s 30-minute bread. It would perfect addition to a Stupid Easy meal!