Here's our crockpot cabbage sausage soup recipe. This one calls for simple ingredients, but it's very tasty too. And it's very forgiving as well. a
You can vary the ingredients by what you have in your pantry. You can vary the spices by what you're in the mood for. And you cook it three different ways too.
It's sorta like...oh, I have all this stuff in the refrigerator. And a monster head of cabbage. What do I do with it? Make some crock pot cabbage soup. Use up those ingredients. And feed everyone a yummy dinner.
Add it to your meal plan rotation a few days before shopping day...you can make a batch of leftover soup. And if you aren't in the mood for it. Or you already have stuff cooked. Freeze it. Pull it out on one of those super busy weeknights. 'Cause you can even reheat this in the slow cooker on warm for a couple hrs while you get stuff done.
So without further ado...lets talk ingredients.
Cabbage Soup With Sausage Recipe Ingredients:
- Meat: We used smoked sausage for this recipe. BUT there is zero reason you can't use any meat you want. Add andouille sausage and cajun seasoning. Ohhh, what about some fire-roasted tomatoes too? Then you're talking Creole cooking. Or maybe add some cooked, lean ground beef... now you have hamburger cabbage soup. Don't have ground beef? Use ground turkey. Or leave out the meat entirely, add garbanzo beans and make cabbage vegetable soup. You got this!
- Cabbage: Green cabbage is almost always my go to. First, cause red cabbage is hard to find where I live. Second, I don't like pink soup. I prefer red cabbage in slaw or pickled anyway. If you like it, you do you.
- Carrots: I have no sub for these. Maybe parsnips? Or turnips. But those are hard to find. So unless you grow it all (I'm trying, not there yet) or you have access to an amazing Farmer's market...best to stick with carrots.
- Onion: Yellow or red are now my preference. And I used yellow diced onion. Sadly, I found out in the most painful way this last weekend that I am no longer allowed to eat white onions. Now, that might be just uncooked. I don't think I want to find out. Again, you do you.
- Tomatoes: We used regular diced tomatoes in this recipe. Why? Cause I had 8 cans in the pantry. Next up...use part of the older tomato sauce and tomato paste. I bet we'll be doing something with Italian seasoning soon...
- Broth: We used chicken broth. I think it goes better with pork. Both vegetable and beef broth will work. Use what you think complements the meat you choose to use.
- Potatoes: Hearty and simple. We used russets I believe...I honestly forgot, they may have been Russets. But you can also use sweet potatoes. I have a batch of those that'll need used soon too.
- Seasonings: For this recipe, we just did plain salt and pepper to taste. But like I said up in the meat section...add what works, what you have or what you're in the mood for.
Honestly, after writing all that...this recipe reminds me of my 5 minute potato soup recipe. Not because they resemble at all. But because that one was born out of desperation...but a totally different kind from this and not letting stuff go bad. Anyways, lets talk cooking methods and do this thing!
How to Cook Crockpot Cabbage Soup
One of the best things about this crockpot cabbage soup with sausage recipe is how flexible it is. The slow cooker gives the soup a rich flavor and tender vegetables, but you can also make the same sausage cabbage soup on the stove top or in a pressure cooker if you’re short on time.
Slow Cooker
The slow cooker is the easiest way to make this cabbage soup with sausage recipe. It lets all the flavors blend together while you go about your day.
Add the sliced smoked sausage, chopped cabbage, carrots, diced onion, potatoes, and pinto beans directly to the slow cooker. Pour the diced tomatoes and broth over the rest of the ingredients and give everything a quick stir.
Cover and cook on LOW for about 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the cabbage is tender and the potatoes are soft. Taste the broth and season with salt and black pepper before serving.
Slow cooking allows the smoky sausage and vegetables to create a hearty cabbage soup with a really comforting flavor.
Stove Top
If you want this soup ready faster, the stove top method works great too.
Add all of the ingredients to a large pot or large soup pot and bring the soup to a gentle boil over medium heat. Once it starts bubbling, reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer.
Cook for about 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage and potatoes are tender. The sausage will release some extra flavor into the broth while the soup cooks.
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed before serving a hot bowl of soup.
Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot
The pressure cooker is the fastest way to make this hearty cabbage soup.
Add all the ingredients to the pressure cooker and secure the lid. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. After the cooking time is complete, allow a 5 minute natural release, then carefully release the remaining pressure.
Once the lid is removed, stir the soup and taste the broth. Add salt and black pepper if needed.
This method produces the same tender cabbage and smoky sausage flavor in a fraction of the cooking time.
Simple Seasoning Options
Because this crockpot cabbage soup recipe starts with simple seasoning, it's easy to customize. A few pantry spices can completely change the flavor of the soup.
For a classic sausage cabbage soup, try adding garlic powder, red pepper flakes, or a bay leaf while the soup cooks.
If you want something closer to cabbage roll soup, add a little paprika and fresh parsley near the end of cooking.
For a slightly European style cabbage soup, try fresh dill and a splash of red wine vinegar.
If you're cooking with kielbasa sausage, a little caraway seeds or fresh herbs can add a robust flavor.
And if you're experimenting for the first time, start small. A little bit of seasoning goes a long way in a slow cooker.
Recipe
Printable Cabbage Sausage Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb smoked sausage sliced
- 1 medium cabbage chopped
- 2 medium carrots sliced
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 14.5 oz diced tomatoes
- 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup chopped potatoes
- 14 oz pinto beans canned, drained
- salt and black pepper
Instructions
Slow Cooker Method
- Dice, slice and chop as needed.
- Combine all the ingredients in the crockpot and stir well so everything is evenly distributed.
- Cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the vegetables are tender and the sausage has heated through.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed before serving.
Stovetop
- Add sausage, cabbage, carrots, onion, potatoes, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, and broth to a large soup pot.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce to medium-low heat and simmer 25–30 minutes, until cabbage and potatoes are tender.
- Season with salt and black pepper before serving.
Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot
- Add sausage, cabbage, carrots, onion, potatoes, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, and broth to the pressure cooker.
- Lock the lid and cook on HIGH pressure for 8 minutes.
- Allow a 5-minute natural release, then quick release remaining pressure.
- Season with salt and black pepper before serving.
Video
Notes
- crusty bread
- white rice
- a simple green salad
- roasted vegetables
Wrappin' Up This Easy Cabbage Soup Recipe
And that wraps up our cabbage soup with sausage recipe! Cause in the world of easy soup recipes, this is at the top of the list. Same goes for budget friendly meals too. It's the perfect choice for adding healthy veggies to your diet. And for using up anything that you're worried might go bad soon. Plus, you'll have a hearty soup that's great for lunch as well...'cause it's even better the next day! Give it a shot. Let us know what you think. And enjoy!
