×

Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup

This post contains affiliate links, and we may receive a small commission if you purchase through our site.

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.

Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup - Easy Low Carb Keto Recipe

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.

best cabbage roll soup recipe

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.
unstuffed cabbage roll 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.

keto unstuffed cabbage roll soup
  1. Brown the onion, garlic, and beef. Add the chopped cabbage and the rest of the ingredients and let it simmer for about 30 minutes.
  2. 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.

unstuffed cabbage roll soup

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:

best cabbage roll soup recipe

Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup – Easy Low Carb Keto Recipe

5 from 14 votes

Prep time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Author Ioana Diaconu from LowCarbSpark.com

Description
 

This unstuffed cabbage roll soup combines ground beef, chopped cabbage, tomatoes, and herbs in a rich broth. Make it on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, or using the tested pressure-cooker directions.

Ingredients
 
 

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 Facts
Amount per serving.
Calories
253kcal
Total Carbs
8g
Net Carbs
5g
Protein
15g
Fat
18g
Fiber
3g
Sugar
4g

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.

Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword cabbage soup
Tried this recipe?Mention @LowCarbSpark or tag #LowCarbSpark!
Ioana, recipe developer at LowCarbSpark
Hi!
Written by

Ioana

Recipe developer & food photographer
I'm Ioana Diaconu, the recipe developer, photographer, and writer behind LowCarbSpark. I've been doing this for over 10 years, back when low-carb still felt like a fringe thing. Today, after testing more than 800 recipes in my own kitchen, I'm still obsessed with the same thing: real food that works on real weeknights. Every recipe here is tested at least 3 times before it goes live. No shortcuts, no AI-generated copy, no diet talk. Just food that actually works. More about me →
5 from 14 votes (7 ratings without comment)

Leave a Question, comment or review!

Your email address will not be published.

Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




13 comments
  1. 5 stars
    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.

  2. 5 stars
    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!!!!

  3. 5 stars
    This soup is KETO phenomenal. Even those, who say they don’t like cabbage ate it and came back for seconds.

  4. 5 stars
    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.

  5. 5 stars
    Very good, I just used salt pepper, garlic and cayenne for seasonings and I added cauli rice after cooking. Soo yummy!

  6. 5 stars
    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!

  7. 5 stars
    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.


About me

Hello! My name is Ioana Diaconu, and I'm here to provide you with mouthwatering recipes. This blog is all about sharing my favorite tested easy to make, delicious low-carb & keto, nutrient-dense recipes.

Connect with us on Social Media

Do not use the contents of this website as medical or nutrition advice. This website is only intended for informational and educational purpose.

LowCarbSpark.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Copyright © 2015-2026 LowCarbSpark. All Rights Reserved.