Unstuffed cabbage soup is the perfect blend of hearty flavors and low-carb goodness. It's a tribute to the classic comfort of a stuffed cabbage roll but without all the carbs! Just imagine: tender cabbage, savory ground meat, and a flavorful tomato broth coming together in one nourishing bowl.
Why you'll love this recipe for unstuffed cabbage soup
- Unstuffed cabbage soup is a delicious and filling meal that's perfect for cold winter nights. It's a great way to enjoy the flavors of traditional cabbage rolls without all the work.
- This soup is loaded with healthy ingredients like ground beef, vegetables, and tomato sauce, making it a great option for those following a low-carb or keto diet.
- It's easy to make in one pot and comes together in about an hour. Plus, it makes plenty of leftovers for meal prep throughout the week.
- This soup is also freezer-friendly, so you can make a big batch and save some for later. Just thaw and reheat for a quick and delicious meal option!
- You can also customize this soup to your own preferences by adding different spices or vegetables. Try adding some diced bell peppers or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for an extra kick of flavor.
Everyone will love this soup, even your picky eaters!
What's in an unstuffed cabbage soup?
This soup recipe has a few main ingredients, but the most important one of all is, of course, cabbage! It's a nutritious and low-carb vegetable that adds bulk to the soup.
You'll also need ground beef for protein and flavor, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste for the tomato broth base. I actually used Miracle Rice to keep it authentic, but you can skip that if you want.
Chicken bone broth adds even more flavor and nutrition, but feel free to use beef bone broth if you have it.
To season the soup, I kept it as simple as possible with some salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. I prefer to make my own Worcestershire sauce since I know what's it in and I can make sure all the ingredients are keto-friendly.
I also added some fresh garlic and onions for extra flavor.
These simple ingredients come together to create a rich and flavorful broth that pairs perfectly with the cabbage and beef.
Tip: If you're looking for a super easy way to enjoy more cabbage without any hassle, just grab some pre-shredded coleslaw mix without the added carrots. It's a game-changer!
How To Make Unstuffed Cabbage Soup
Making this homemade cabbage soup is actually super simple and really delicious on a cold day. Here's how to do it!
Step 1: Prepare the Miracle Rice
If you're using Miracle Rice, go ahead and rinse/soak it under cold water for a couple of minutes. Then drain the rice well and boil it dry. Set it aside.
Step 2: Brown the ground beef
Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once hot, add in a bit of olive oil and saute onion and garlic.
Once they are soft, add in the ground beef and cook until it's browned. Be sure to break up the meat into small pieces as it cooks.
Step 3: Add the remaining ingredients
Once the beef is cooked, stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, bone broth, and Worcestershire sauce.
Bring the soup to a simmer.
Step 4: Add cabbage
Add the shredded cabbage to the simmered soup. I like to add it in small amounts, stirring between each addition.
Once all the cabbage is added, cover and cook over medium-low for 30 minutes. Stir the soup every once in a while. You'll know it's done once the cabbage is soft.
Step 5: Stir in the Miracle Rice
Once your cabbage is soft, sprinkle in the boiled and dried Miracle Rice. It should be heated through within 5-10 minutes.
You can add a bit more chicken bone broth if you prefer your soup thinner.
How to serve keto cabbage soup
Serve your hot unstuffed cabbage soup topped with some fresh parsley, grated Parmesan cheese, or just a sprinkle of black pepper.
It's a hearty and filling meal on its own, but you can also serve it with some keto-friendly crackers or a slice of bread for dunking.
If you don't plan to use Miracle Rice, you can serve this low carb cabbage soup over some cauliflower rice or add cooked shirataki noodles to make it into a more filling meal.
Storing and reheating unstuffed cabbage soup
This soup keeps well in the fridge for up to 5 days. Just make sure to store it in an airtight container.
You can reheat the soup on the stove or in the microwave. If it thickens up too much, just add a bit of bone broth when reheating.
If you want to freeze this soup for later, I recommend freezing it without the Miracle Rice and adding that after thawing and reheating.
If you are going to freeze it in a freezer bag, lay it flat in your freezer, not on a shelf with slits. The liquid soup will sag in between the slits on the shelf and expand as it freezes, making it get stuck.
It will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions I get most about making keto cabbage soup. If I don't answer your question here, please leave it in the comments down below.
So, I tried this cabbage soup, and let me tell you, it was surprisingly filling, even with just a small cup! You can have it as an appetizer or make it a main meal. For us, it was perfect for lunch or dinner.
Miracle rice is made from Konjac flour. It has zero net carbs and is gluten-free - a perfect choice for keto meals!
Miracle rice gives this soup bulk, makes it a lot more filling, and adds to the texture too. It really does taste and feel just like white rice.
The Miracle Rice is incredible stuff. It has zero net carbs and fills you up.
Instead of Miracle Rice, you can always use cauliflower rice. You can also leave both options out entirely.
This soup will taste just as delicious without any rice; it just won't fill you up as much if you don't use it.
This unstuffed cabbage soup recipe made a lot of servings. I'd say it was about 16 bowls!
Chicken bone broth will make the soup thicker. It also has more nutrients in it, and it fills you up more. I always use bone broth over normal broth if I have the option.
Tomatoes are actually quite low in carbs and can be enjoyed on a keto diet in moderation. They add great flavor and nutrition to this cabbage soup without adding too many carbs.
Just make sure to use diced tomatoes with no added sugar for the best results.
Like This Keto Cabbage Soup Recipe? Try These!
I hope you enjoy this tasty low carb soup. It's certainly a comforting meal to come home to on a chilly fall evening! If you like this recipe, you may want to take a look at my unstuffed cabbage casserole and stuffed pepper casserole.
And if you want more soup recipes, here are a few top picks:
- Instant Pot Low Carb Taco Soup tastes even better with a dollop of sour cream.
- Broccoli Cauliflower Cheese Soup is filled with hearty vegetables and sausage.
- Vegetable Beef Soup is super easy to make in the slow cooker.
- Romaine Lettuce Soup is dairy-free and still super full of flavor.
- Roasted Brussels Sprout Soup is creamy and has the salty crunch of fried bacon on top.
Follow us on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, and INSTAGRAM for even more tasty keto-friendly recipes!
Recipe
Keto Unstuffed Cabbage Soup Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 packages Miracle Rice (7 ounces each) optional (or use riced cauliflower)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion
- 3-4 cloves garlic
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- dash pepper
- 2 cans diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces each)
- 1 can tomato paste (6 ounces)
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 32 ounces chicken bone broth
- 1 head cabbage sliced into strips
- extra chicken bone broth optional
Instructions
- Prepare Miracle Rice (if using) by draining, soaking in water for 5 minutes, draining again, then boiling dry. Set aside.
- In large stock pot (I used 12 quart), heat oil and saute onions and garlic unit tender.
- Add ground beef to stock pot and season with salt and pepper. Cook until browned.
- Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer.
- Add the cabbage and stir in. Cover and cook on medium low for about 30 minutes or until cabbage has softened.
- Stir in prepared Miracle Rice if using. Add additional chicken broth, if desired. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes.
Notes
- The Miracle Rice can be replaced with cauliflower rice, or you can leave it out entirely.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days in a sealed container. You can also freeze the soup for up to 3 months and heat it on the stove frozen.
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
Notes on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Copyright
© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.
First Published October 28, 2016... Last Updated: September 23, 2020 with additional recipe tips.
Margaret
This soup is ssooooo good. I used cauliflower rice and was just so good.
Lori
After reading this recipe, the recipe for cabbage lasagna, and the recipe for cabbage rolls, I opted for the soup since I figured slicing cabbage would be easier than rolling it. The lasagna recipe put me in the mood for Italian flavoring though, so I used half Italian sausage and half ground beef. I also subbed in 16 ounces of mushrooms since I was sans miracle rice and cauliflower rice. Great recipe and perfect for a chilly December evening! Thank you!
James Maverick ( USMC Retired )
The Best Recipe the wife and I have tried in a very long time!
This recipe was absolutely the best we have ever tried!
Well done Lisa, well done!!
KathyR
This is really good and healthy but it seems a little bland to me. What other spices might help?
Helene Bahnman
Great soup recipe. I omitted the rice and added konjac spaghetti noodles and served it with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Thanks for all of the recipes you share.
Jamie
Do we not need to drain the grease from cooking the hamburger first?
Lisa MarcAurele
You don't have to drain the grease unless you want to.
Keisha
I've made this a few times already using cauliflower rice, and I love it. I meal prep it for a week of meals, and I look forward to eating it every day.
Lynn O’Brien
Awesome soup, will make this again.
Ruth Siegel
THANK YOU for providing an "honest" low carb recipe for beef and cabbage soup. Other recipes claiming to be KETO or LOW CARB have carrots and cooked onions in them which jack up the carb counts. Their recipes pictures show carrots and onions that "stare" back at you while you are trying to keep your net carbs at 40 grams. This is a recipe that I can pass on to my clients. Kudos to you!
I am an Ideal Protein coach and will pass your site on to my graduates and clients!
Lisa MarcAurele
Thanks for the recommendation. It's definitely best to avoid or restrict carrots and onions on keto!
Aaron Rpberts
is a cup a serving?
Lisa MarcAurele
It's a little more than a cup.
Rosa rizk
Hi, what would be the carbs total if I added cauliflower rice instead of the miracle rice?
Charles
Notify when book is for sale
Lisa MarcAurele
The cookbook
Rose
I made this last night and it was AMAZING. I had to use ground turkey because I left my chop meat at the store, but it didn’t matter, delicious (and I’m polish!). I used cauliflower rice and I will absolutely be making this again. THANK YOU!!
Joan
Try using 1/3 ground pork to 2/3 ground beef. I’m Polish too. ????
Susan
How did you cook the cauliflower rice? I have a frozen bag. I'm afraid if I cook too long it will be mushy.
Lisa MarcAurele
If using frozen cauliflower rice, add it at the end of cooking just until it's heated.
Dana
I make this quite often. I use brown rice and add some of my own seasonings. It literally lasts all week long. My fiancé and and so love it !
Donna
Made this to take to work for our SuperBowl Friday celebration. Didn't change a thing (I used riced cauliflower )......everyone loved it! I will make again. Great recipe!
lorie
I made this with ground turkey and it was 1 WW Freestyle point for 1 cup. Very good!
Lisa
Good to know about the WW points!
Chris
Can this be frozen with the Miracle rice? With the cauliflower?
Lisa
Yes. The soup freezes well.
Becky
If I use riced cauliflower do I cook it before adding to the soup?
Lisa
You shouldn't have to if you cook it in the soup.
Martine
Made this tonight. Should I read your blog, as I didn't realize just how much soup it makes. I know what's for supper do the rest of the week!
Once I made the recipe I turned it over to my husband to adjust the flavours. He is quite picky and will complain if anything is at all bland. So he added some hot sauce, Sherry peppers, 2 generous glug of sherry, a cube of onion soup, and whole pepperscorn . . I added a bay leaf, some caraway seeds, some fennel seeds. It turned out really tasty and flavourful
Kristine
I was wanting to know that serving size for each person?
Lisa
It's roughly a cup size.
Jenny
What is exactly is a serving? Can you break it down?
Lisa
It's about a cup or so.
Elle
Just made this and added a dollop of full fat Greek yogurt to my bowl. Great recipe!
MONA ABRAHAMSON
I tried using preshredded cabbage in a cooked recipe and I thought the cabbage tasted "off". Wondering if the shredded cabbage has been treated with a preservative?
Lisa
It could be. I always shred it in my food processor.
N
This recipe for "No Tomato Sauce" could help fit your recipe into some tricky diets. I love this just as, and will be my go to tomatoes for your recipe. http://www.shockinglydelicious.com/no-mato-sauce-tomato-free-pasta-sauce-for-secret-recipe-club/
I am enjoying many of your creations, chocolate pudding was great tonight!
`N
Lisa
I have been eating fewer tomatoes so I love the no tomato sauce idea.
Bobbi
How long in a crockpot?
Lisa
I'd do the standard 6 hours low, 3 hours high.
Terry
I just made this and I used the riced cauliflower from the grocery store. It smells and tastes amazing.
Lisa
I should probably add that in to the recipe card as riced cauliflower is a great sub for the shiratake rice.
Anita
how much cali rice?
Lisa
I'd say 2 cups, but there's really no set amount.
Kathy R
I used a 20 bag of cauli rice and it was good.
Diana
I loved this recipe but now I can no longer have hamburger meat how about it being made with ground chicken and rotel can not have sugar either
Lisa
You can make it with ground chicken or turkey too!
Suzanne
I just made it with ground turkey and rotel and it was fantastic! I didn't have the miracle rice so I added celery and carrots, and it was a success!
Lisa
Veggies are a great alternative to rice!
Debbue
How do you handle frozen riced cauliflower ? Just add toward end?
Lisa
You can add it in the end just to heat and thaw it in the soup.
Andrea
What do you mean by "boiling dry"?
Lisa
When you put the Miracle Rice in a hot pan, you want to cook until all the water has boiled dry. In other words, the rice should begin to stick to the pan.
Yvonne
Sorry but is this rice Keto friendly
Lisa
It's a near zero carb rice replacement made with shiratake (konjac root).
txgrandma
Very good. I did add cauli-rice instead of Miracle Rice because that's what I had. I also cut the cabbage to 1/2 head as it wouldn't fit into the large pot I was using. I also used Rotel in place of the tomatoes because they don't have sugar.
It's a keeper but next time I will most likely cut this in half for just the two of us. It is very filling.
Thanks!
Lisa
It does make a lot of soup. I made mine in a large Dutch oven.
KathyR
Cauli rice is pretty easy to make from fresh cauli in a food processor.
Sherry
How was it with the cauliflower rice?
Paulette
I have found that whatever I use riced cauliflower in, it takes on the flavor of the type of dish I made. Like chili, meatloaf. It's pretty versatile, and my 5 year old grandson thinks he is eating rice ?
Lisa
Yes. Cauliflower has a pretty neutral flavor so it's great to add into dishes without affecting the flavor.
!
Jayjay
How do you make cauliflower rice? Or can you buy it?
Lisa
They do sell riced cauliflower frozen and fresh.
Robin
What is considered the "serving size" to go with listed nutritional facts?
Lisa
For me it was about a cup.
Steve
Me too
Kdavis
Where do you purchase miracle rice?
Lisa
I buy it on Amazon
Tony wise
I love this recipe.
Lisa
Me too!
Delilah
Looks delicious!
Lisa
Thanks Delilah!
Ronnie
What is miracle rice. I added some spices to it It seemed a little bland to me
Lisa
Miracle Rice is shirataki noodle bits. It's made from konjac root fiber (glucomannon). There's really no taste to it.
LakeladyP
What is Miracle Rice? Is that Minute Rice? It is just something that I have never heard of before.
Lisa
Miracle rice is a low carb rice substitute made from konjac root. It's also known as shiratake pasta.
Danielle
Im trying this recipe and those rice noodles are at walmart for 8oz its $14! Do you ever try it with regular rice or noodles?
Lisa
I've never paid more than a few dollars a bag. The noodles are optional and can be left out. If you do not mind the carbs, regular rice or noodles could be used.
William Kerby
Go to an Asian supermarket! $2 for a 12oz bag. Rinse well. The noodles will have a funny smell that will go away.
Ruth
Lisa, this is a great recipe to make in the Instant Pot. So fast and it tastes wonderful.
Thanks for all the wonderful low carb recipes. I can't wait to try some of them.
I do not eat any processed foods and I feel so much better. One of my favorite things to make is cheesecake in the instant pot. I see you have an instant pot listed in the kitchen tools. It is my favorite cooking utensil. I am always looking for recipes that can be made faster in the instant pot. No need to watch or stir until it is ready to serve. Thanks again for the good recipes.
Lisa
Thanks for the tip on making this in the Instant Pot! I will try that next time. And, I do need to try the IP cheesecake!
Lou Pope
What is the instant pot? Do you have to order or buy from store?
Lisa
It's just a mult-function electric pressure cooker. I bought mine off Amazon.
Kristine Hawk
Oh this just looks YUM. I'm excited about trying this recipe. And I sure do love me some "easy" being as busy as I am these days. Thank you for posting it!!
Lisa
Hope you like it Kristine!
Kathleen Hoffman
Looking forward to making this soup!
Lisa
Enjoy Kathleen!
Julia
Been meaning to try this recipe as it sounds delicious. Perfect now that the weather is getting g colder here on the east coast. I also have a son that is away at school, but he's close enough to come back and visit on weekends, so I'll be able to share some of this that he can take back with him. Thanks!
Lisa
My son is away at college and come home on the weekend. I sent him away with about half the recipe. He enjoyed it at school.
Shannon
Looks really tasty. I've been searching for a great soup recipe like this one. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
Lisa
We loved it and hope you do too.
Rebekah
I literally printed another cabbage soup recipe last week and was going to make it Saturday because it's a crockpot recipe. I came across this recipe and it is so much easier and faster. I'll be making this Wednesday instead. Thank you for the recipe. I'm really glad I found it.
Lisa
Thanks for giving it a try!
Pam
Yummy looking
Lisa
Thanks Pam!
Tracey
Looking forward to trying this
Lisa
Hope you love it as much as I do.
Stephanie KL
I've made this delicious dish. It is a comfort food staple during the winter.
Lisa
I agree!
Crystal Colgrove
I've made my fair share of unstuffed cabbage soup, but this one is amazing.
Lisa
Thanks Crystal!
Lori Kling
Can't wait to try this!
Thank you for all of your recipes!
Lisa
You're welcome Lori!
Lisa
This looks so good!
Lisa
It is good! ?
Michelle Harmon
Love this site so maNY great ideas. Makes this WOE so much easier. Thank you
Lisa
You're welcome Michelle. Thanks for visiting!
Karin
made this last night... it was awesome! not to mention easy and fast. thanks for the great low-carb version of cabbage rolls.
I omitted the miracle rice and also added some smoked paprika and creole spice for a little kick. It turned out great! my husband and I gobbled it up.
It's definitely going on the keeper list.
Lisa
Love the spices you added! But, I'd have to tone it down for the rest of the family.
Joan Estep
Love your website. This recipe looks like a keeper. Thank you very much.
Lisa
Thanks Joan!
Catherine
Sounds great!
Lisa
🙂
Angie
This is delicious!!! Thanks for the recipe!
Lisa
You're welcome Angie!
Tiffany
I love cabbage and I love soup! I can't wait to try this one.
Lisa
I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
Carly
This looks positively delicious. I've never made cabbage rolls, but I'm a huge fan of crack slaw, so this looks like it can easily be a regular addition to my rotation.
Lisa
Cabbage rolls are great if you have the time to make them. Thankfully, the soup is much quicker to prepare.
Jennie Camphuysen
Love this recipe - it's a family pleasing one for sure!
Lisa
And, it's certainly plenty for a large family. Enjoy!
Nora
Great recipes, thank you for the hard work
Lisa
Thanks Nora!
Rose
Thank you.
Lisa
You're welcome! 🙂
Valerie G
I love stuffed cabbage and this looks like an easy but delicious version!
Lisa
Hope you like it Valerie!
Karen June Miller
Sorry... The cabbage was cut off by an ad. I see it now. I can't wait to try this!
Smiles, Karen
Lisa
Sorry about the ad covering it up! Not really cabbage soup without the cabbage! 😉
Karen June Miller
I just noticed that cabbage is not included in the ingredients, but it is included in the directions.
Smiles, Karen