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Hearty Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup

Hearty Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup

Hearty Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup is a comforting and nutritious meal that captures the classic flavors of traditional cabbage rolls in a warm, easy-to-make soup. Featuring tender cabbage, savory ground beef, aromatic garlic and onions, and a rich tomato-beef broth with rice, this slow cooker recipe offers a perfect balance of rustic charm and modern convenience. Ideal for busy weeknights or relaxed weekend dinners, it’s a soul-warming dish that stores well and can be customized to your taste.

  • Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes to 8 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Proteins

  • 1 lb ground beef

Vegetables

  • 1 medium green cabbage, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

Liquids & Broth

  • 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 4 cups beef broth

Grains

  • 1/2 cup white rice, rinsed

Seasonings & Spices

  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme

Instructions

  1. Brown the Meat: Heat a skillet over medium heat and brown the ground beef until fully cooked, breaking it apart as it cooks. This step develops a rich, meaty base essential for depth of flavor.
  2. Prepare the Aromatics and Veggies: While the beef is browning, chop the onion, garlic, and cabbage. These ingredients add aroma and the classic cabbage roll texture to the soup.
  3. Combine Ingredients in the Slow Cooker: Transfer the browned meat, chopped vegetables, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, rinsed rice, and seasonings (salt, pepper, paprika, thyme) into the slow cooker. Stir thoroughly to distribute all flavors evenly.
  4. Slow Cook: Set the slow cooker on low and cook for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until cabbage is tender and rice is fully cooked.
  5. Final Taste and Adjustments: Before serving, taste the soup and adjust seasoning as desired by adding more salt, pepper, or herbs to suit your preference.

Notes

  • Always brown the meat before adding to the slow cooker to enhance flavor and prevent a watery taste.
  • Use fresh cabbage cut into larger chunks to maintain texture and avoid mushiness.
  • Rinse rice before adding it to the slow cooker to remove excess starch and prevent the soup from becoming too thick or gluey.
  • Stir the soup gently once or twice during cooking to ensure even cooking and prevent rice from sticking to the bottom.
  • Let the soup rest for 10-15 minutes after cooking to deepen flavors and slightly thicken the broth.
  • Author: Lina
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6-8 hours (slow cooker low) or 3-4 hours (slow cooker high)
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1.5 cups)
  • Calories: 280
  • Sugar: 5g
  • Sodium: 750mg
  • Fat: 12g
  • Saturated Fat: 5g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 22g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 20g
  • Cholesterol: 65mg

Keywords: cabbage roll soup, slow cooker soup, hearty soup, ground beef soup, comforting soup, easy slow cooker recipes, gluten free soup