This unstuffed cabbage roll soup packs all the flavor of cabbage rolls, and it can be made easily in the instant pot, slow cooker or on the stove. It’s the perfect low carb dinner because it’s hearty, full of vegetables, and fuss-free.

A bowl of warm soup under a cozy blanket is all I need for these cold days.
I love cabbage rolls, but that’s a ton of work involved, and as you know me, I’m a fan of easy recipes.
This deconstructed cabbage rolls soup is budget-friendly and you can feed your family members with a nutrient-dense, delicious meal. Also a dish great for meal prep!
Today I’m showing you how to make this tasty soup, and I’ll provide the instructions to make it in the Instant Pot, Crock-Pot, or on the stove.
No matter the cooking method, this low carb unstuffed cabbage soup it’s effortless to make and packed with tons of flavor.
To make the soup low carb and keto-friendly I don’t use rice. You can use Shirataki Rice cauliflower rice instead.

Unstuffed Cabbage Soup Ingredients
To make this easy cabbage roll soup, you’ll need just a few super common and cheap ingredients.
- Ground beef: I recommend using lean ground beef so the soup has plenty of flavor without becoming greasy. Ground turkey also works, but it will give the soup a slightly lighter flavor.
- Onion and garlic: These give the broth a flavorful base. Cook the onion until it begins to soften, then add the garlic and cook it briefly before adding the meat.
- Cabbage: Green cabbage works best for this soup. Chop it into small, bite-size pieces so it cooks evenly and is easy to eat. You’ll need about 12 cups of chopped cabbage.
- Olive oil: You’ll need a little olive oil to sauté the onion and brown the ground beef. If your beef releases a lot of fat, drain the excess before adding the remaining ingredients.
- Beef broth: This creates the base of the soup and adds more flavor than water. I prefer using low-sodium beef broth so I can adjust the salt before serving.
- Diced tomatoes: Add the tomatoes along with all the juices from the cans. The tomato liquid becomes part of the broth and gives the soup its familiar cabbage roll flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce: A tablespoon adds a deeper, savory flavor without making the soup taste strongly of Worcestershire sauce. Check the label if you need it to be gluten-free.
- Seasonings: Smoked paprika, dried basil, dill, cumin, salt, and black pepper add plenty of flavor to the broth. Red pepper flakes are optional, but they do add heat, so reduce or leave them out if you prefer a milder soup.

How to Make Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup
There are a few basic steps you need to follow if you want a belly-warming bowl of cabbage soup that’s full of nutrients and low in carbs.
You’ll need 2 pounds of ground beef, turkey, or pork. For some extra smokey flavor, add in a few slices of bacon.

- Brown the onion, garlic, and beef. Add the chopped cabbage and the rest of the ingredients and let it simmer for about 30 minutes.
- To make keto cabbage soup in the Instant Pot, start by sauteeing the veggies and ground beef. Then, use the Soup function, and your soup will be ready in 10 minutes. The instructions are very similar if you want to use a slow cooker.
Carbs in Unstuffed Cabbage Roll
The best part of this unstuffed cabbage soup is that there are only 4g of net carbs making this a perfect low carb soup. The serving size is about 1 1/2 cup!
Can I Make Vegetarian Cabbage Roll Soup?
Absolutely! If you want to make a vegetarian version of this easy soup, just swap the meat in this recipe with veggie ground beef. It’s so delicious that you won’t even notice the difference.

How to Store
- Fridge – Store cabbage soup leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer – Freeze the soup in individual freezer-safe bags for up to 2 months.
- Reheating – Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stove over medium heat.
Other Soup Recipes:
- Easy Cabbage Soup – Weight Loss Cabbage Soup
- Low Carb Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipe
- Easy Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Simple Creamy Pumpkin Soup Recipe
- Creamy Garlic Shredded Chicken Keto Soup
- Super Creamy Cauliflower Soup

Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup – Easy Low Carb Keto Recipe
Description
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef ground turkey or sausage
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 small head cabbage about 12 cups
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 3 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon cumin optional
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions
- Cook the onion. Select Sauté and heat the olive oil. Add the onion and cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
- Brown the beef. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it into small pieces, until browned. Drain excess fat if needed. Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
- Add the broth. Press Cancel. Pour in the broth and scrape the bottom thoroughly with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits.
- Add the remaining ingredients. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and seasonings, starting with 1 teaspoon of salt. Add the cabbage, then spoon the diced tomatoes and their juices over the top without stirring them in. Before closing the lid, make sure all food and liquid are below the PC MAX two-thirds line. If the mixture exceeds the line, use a larger cooker or finish the soup on the stovetop.
- Pressure cook. Secure the lid and turn the steam release handle to Sealing. Select Pressure Cook or Manual, set the pressure to High, and cook for 10 minutes. The timer begins once the pot reaches pressure.
- Release the pressure naturally. When cooking finishes, turn off Keep Warm and leave the pot undisturbed until the pressure releases completely and the float valve drops. Do not force the lid open.
- Season and serve. Carefully open the lid away from your face. Stir the soup and taste before adding more salt. If you prefer a thinner broth, add a little extra broth and heat through using Sauté.
Stovetop Instructions
- Cook the onion. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Brown the beef. Add the ground beef and cook for 7–8 minutes, breaking it into small pieces. Drain excess fat if needed, then stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
- Combine. Pour in the broth and scrape up any browned bits. Add the cabbage, undrained tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings, starting with 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir well.
- Simmer. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, and cover. Simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is tender.
- Finish. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Add a little extra broth if you prefer a thinner soup, then heat through before serving.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Brown the meat and onion. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the onion for 3–4 minutes, then add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it into small pieces.
- Add the garlic. Drain excess fat, then stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
- Transfer to the slow cooker. Add the meat mixture, cabbage, broth, undrained tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings, starting with 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir to combine. Use a slow cooker large enough to stay within its recommended fill limit.
- Cook. Cover and cook on LOW for 7–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the cabbage is tender. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Video
Notes
- Meat substitutions: Replace the beef with the same amount of ground turkey, chicken, pork, or a combination. If using sausage, reduce the added salt and seasonings, then adjust to taste.
- Cabbage texture: Chop the cabbage into pieces that fit comfortably on a spoon. The Instant Pot method produces soft cabbage; the stovetop makes it easier to stop cooking at your preferred texture.
Nutrition information is shared to make meal planning easier. Values are estimates and can vary depending on the ingredients, brands, and serving sizes used. Learn more in my nutrition policy.


Great recipe. I’m on a low carb low fat diet so I used ground turkey. It is delicious, super easy to prepare and great leftover. I am making this for the second time exactly by the recipe but no cumin this time. I love cumin I just want to try it without.
I am a native Hungarian and this is by far the most delicious soup I have prepared on my keto journey so far. Thank you so much!!!!
I made this recipe and it was so good. I love the INSTANT POT KETO recipes. 🙂
This soup is KETO phenomenal. Even those, who say they don’t like cabbage ate it and came back for seconds.
This was absolutely amazing! I made it in the Instantpot, the only thing for me was I did add a cup or so of spaghetti sauce to give it a boost of flavor and more spices to my taste. I highly recommend it!! I’m doing low carb & my daughter is no (or low)sugar, dairy, grains etc so this was perfect for both of us.
Very good, I just used salt pepper, garlic and cayenne for seasonings and I added cauli rice after cooking. Soo yummy!
I see it makes 16 servings. What is the serving size? I made it and it was absolutely delicious!
Made this in the crock pot today. I’m not the best cabbage chopper, but I did my best. 🙂 It was FABULOUS!! The only ingredient I left out was the cumin, otherwise, I followed the directions exactly. The recipe is easy to follow, and the end result was really, REALLY good. Not only will I be making this again, but I’m definitely trying some of the other soup recipes, as well!
This was fabulous! Made in IP but halved the recipe except the spices. Question: can this be frozen?
Sure, you can freeze this cabbage roll soup for up to 2 months.
I used 1lb Hamburger & 1lb Sausage I didn’t have any Dill so I left it out. Let me tell you. That was so Delicious it was making our Tongues slap our Foreheads.
wondering what size are the 2 cans of diced tomatoes
I use the standard 14.5 oz (400g) cans for diced tomatoes So you’ll need two of those.