Beef & Cabbage Soup
A thrifty, hearty pot of ground beef, tender cabbage and tomatoes in a smoky paprika broth — the kind of soup that tastes even better on day two.
Nutrition per serving
1¾ cups- Net carbs
- 7g
- Calories
- 366kcal
- Protein
- 29g
- Fat
- 23g
- Total carbs
- 12 g
- Fiber
- 4.6 g
Calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for each ingredient (optional ingredients excluded). Brands vary — check your labels if you track closely.
Ingredients
Kielbasa & cabbage: Smoked sausage in place of ground beef for a smoky, Polish-style pot that browns quickly and needs no draining.
- Brown the sausage coins in the oil for 4–5 minutes, then add the onion and celery and cook 5 minutes, until soft, before continuing.
- A pinch of caraway seeds is a classic addition. Check the sausage label for added sugar.
Ground turkey: Ground turkey makes a lighter soup; brown it well for the best flavor.
- Brown the turkey in the oil with the onion and celery until no pink remains (165°F/74°C); there is no fat to drain.
- Nice to have (optional)
- Also add
- Nice to have (optional)
- Also add
- Nice to have (optional)
Estimated cost $26.24 for 6 servings ($4.37 each) · how we estimate
Instructions
-
Brown the beef with the onion and celery in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat, for 8–10 minutes, until no pink remains (160°F/71°C). Spoon off all but about 1 tablespoon of fat.
-
Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, smoked paprika and thyme and cook 1–2 minutes, until the paste darkens.
-
Add the broth, water, tomatoes with their juices, cabbage, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer 20–25 minutes, until the cabbage is tender.
-
Discard the bay leaves, taste for salt and serve sprinkled with parsley.
Tips for success
-
Cut the cabbage into bite-size squares rather than shreds so it holds its shape and is easy to eat with a spoon. - A splash of apple cider vinegar or a few dashes of hot sauce at the table brightens each bowl.
- This is a great freezer soup: make a double batch and freeze single portions for quick lunches.
Storage & meal prepMeal-prep friendly
- Keeps 4 days in the fridge
- Freezes up to 3 months
Reheat: Reheat on the stove or in the microwave until steaming.
Prep tip: Freeze single portions in microwave-safe containers for grab-and-go lunches.
Refrigerate up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Variations
2 variations, each with its own ingredients and macrosKielbasa & cabbage
ProteinSmoked sausage in place of ground beef for a smoky, Polish-style pot that browns quickly and needs no draining.
- ground beef (80/20) → smoked sausage or kielbasa
- + 1 tbsp olive oil
7.7 g net · 332 kcal · 18 g protein · 24 g fat · ≈$3.46 per serving (+0.7 g net carbs vs the original)
Ground turkey
ProteinGround turkey makes a lighter soup; brown it well for the best flavor.
- ground beef (80/20) → ground turkey
- + 1 tbsp olive oil
7 g net · 266 kcal · 31 g protein · 12 g fat · ≈$4.07 per serving (same net carbs as the original)
Save it for later
Pin this recipe to your keto board so it’s there when you plan next week.
Save to Pinterest
