This Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup recipe is a quick and easy alternative to traditional cabbage rolls.
My family loves cabbage rolls, but I rarely have time to make them with our busy schedule. So I decided to combine all the flavors of the cabbage rolls that we love into a quick and easy deconstructed cabbage roll soup. It has the same great taste for a fraction of the work. Bonus: This filling cabbage soup is healthy, low-carb, and low in calories.
Tips for Making Cabbage Roll Soup
To quickly cut the cabbage into bite-size pieces, I cut the cabbage in a grid. Then I turn the cabbage on its side and slice through the cabbage.
To save on dishes, I cook everything in the soup pot. I cook the onion, celery, and garlic with the turkey. But before I add the turkey, I add one tablespoon of olive oil to the diced vegetables. This will prevent them from sticking to the pan while waiting for the turkey meat to release fat as it cooks.
When you add all of the ingredients to the turkey mixture, it won’t look very soupy. Resist the urge to add more broth!
As the vegetables cook they will wilt and release liquid and the Cabbage Roll Soup will actually begin to look like soup. You’re going to have to trust me on this.
Ingredient Substitutions:
Olive Oil: You can substitute your favorite oil or even replace the oil with a little broth.
Ground Turkey: I made my cabbage roll soup with ground turkey. However, feel free to substitute, ground beef, ground chicken, or ground pork if you wish.
Broth: When I have homemade turkey broth on hand, I use it in this soup recipe. When I don’t, I use either chicken broth or vegetable broth.
Soup Prep-Ahead Tips
To speed up the prep time on this recipe, you can dice your onion, slice the celery, julienne the carrots, and chop the cabbage ahead of time. Then store the onion and celery in one container and the carrots and cabbage in another container. That way the ingredients that are used in the same step can easily be added at the same time.
Cabbage Roll Soup Recipe with Ground Turkey
You can make this soup ahead of time, so all you need to do is reheat it on a busy night.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 20-ounce package of Ground Turkey
- 1 cup carrots, julienned or use matchstick carrots
- 4 cups cabbage, chopped
- 2 – 14.5 ounce cans of diced tomatoes
- 4 cups turkey, chicken, or vegetable broth
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- 1 teaspoon sage
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Directions:
- Add the olive oil, onions, celery, and garlic to a large soup pot. Toss to coat. Add turkey and cook over a medium flame until turkey is cooked through.
- Add the carrots, cabbage, diced tomatoes, the broth, and the spices to the turkey mixture. Cook over medium-high heat until it reaches a boil.
- Once it begins to boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the cabbage wilts and carrots are tender, approximately 5 minutes.
Soup Storage Tips:
This soup keeps well. Place any leftover soup in a lidded container in the refrigerator where it will keep for up to 5 days.
To freeze this soup, allow it to cool, then place it in a lidded container leaving 1 inch for expansion. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Thaw the soup in the refrigerator overnight or place the container in a bowl of cold water for 1 hour. Ensure the water does not go above the lid while the container is in the water.
Reheat the soup in a pan on the stovetop over medium heat until it reaches a boil. Then turn off the heat and serve.
Printable Recipe for Cabbage Roll Soup with Ground Turkey
Cabbage Roll Soup Recipe with Ground Turkey
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 celery stalks thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 20- ounce package of Ground Turkey
- 1 cup carrots julienned or use matchstick carrots
- 4 cups cabbage chopped
- 2 - 14.5 ounce cans of diced tomatoes
- 4 cups turkey chicken, or vegetable broth
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- 1 teaspoon sage
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Add the olive oil, onions, celery, and garlic to a large soup pot. Toss to coat. Add the ground turkey and cook over a medium flame until the turkey is cooked through.
- Add the carrots, cabbage, diced tomatoes, broth, oregano, basil, parsley, sage,, thyme, and pepper to the turkey mixture. Cook over medium-high heat until it reaches a boil.
- Once it begins to boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the cabbage wilts and carrots are tender, approximately 5 minutes.
Nutrition
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April @ The 21st Century Housewife says
We love cabbage rolls too, but I rarely make them due to the time involved. Your delicious cabbage roll soup is the perfect solution 🙂
Sara @ CleverPinkPirate.com says
This looks perfect for chilly Winter weather, yummm!
Marie Czarnecki says
After my house gets back to order from carpet renivation, I will do the soup…and my SHELTIE’S WILL LOVE IT TOO!!. YES, I COOK FOR MY SHELTIE’S, and they are spoiled..
Alea says
Your shelties are spoiled, but I must admit to spoiling our horses and cats. I would absolutely love to have a sheltie, but my husband is severely allergic to dogs.
Marie Czarnecki says
Yes, this CABBAGE SOUP looks delicious, and healthy. I love cabbage, and being POLISH the rolled cabbage(or piggy in the blanket if you use pork)takes time if you do it right..
Alea says
I am related to some Czarneckis. I have lots of great food memories with my Polish relatives!
Eileen K says
This looks absolutely delicious, can’t wait to try this.
Kevin Morrice says
Oh, yum!! I am always looking for new soup ideas and this is so easy but clever. Thanks for sharing!
Laura @ Stealthy Mom says
Love it! You get the gist of cabbage rolls without the time-consuming, rolling part.
Alea says
And since there was only pot, the clean up time was reduced too. 🙂
Ginny says
That looks so good! I love cabbage rolls, but don’t love the time they take. Problem solved! Thanks.
Alea says
Thank you! It really was delicious.