Ground Beef and Cabbage Soup With White Beans

This cabbage soup with ground beef and white beans is loaded with great flavors and it’s filled with far more vegetables and meat than broth. This easy and comforting one-pot recipe with tender ground beef, rich tomato, cabbage and other veggies tastes even better the next day after the flavors have really come together making it Ideal for make ahead meal prepping or for sharing with friends and family.

Beef Cabbage Soup Recipe Ingredients

• ONION, CARROTS & CELERY: These vegetables create the aromatic base of the soup, known as a soffritto in Italian also known as mirepoix. They get sautéed with olive oil before adding the other ingredients.
• GARLIC: Garlic adds additional depth of flavor to the soup. I always use fresh. Add as little or as much as you like.
• CABBAGE: I always use green cabbage for this recipe or savoy cabbage would work well here too. Not red or purple cabbage. You will need 5 cups of chopped cabbage from approx half of a regular size head of cabbage or one small cabbage.
• GROUND BEEF: I use lean ground beef for this recipe. You could use ground turkey but for more flavor I usually use ground beef or you could do a mix of ground beef and ground pork or ground Italian sausage
• HERBS & SPICES: This recipe has dried thyme, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and chili flakes. I also like to stir in fresh chopped parsley or fresh basil or both and garnish with either as well - feel free to use a seasoning blend like Italian seasoning which includes those two herbs plus oregano and a few others or add a bay leaf too or even cumin. For extra flavour you could also add in a bay leaf.
• TOMATO PASTE & FINLEY DICED TOMATOES: For sweet, tangy flavor. I always have a can or two in my pantry. I like to add canned finely diced tomatoes plus tomato paste for richness.
• BEEF STOCK: We use beef broth or stock but you could also use chicken broth or vegetable broth
• WHITE BEANS: Canned white beans or cannellini beans are easiest but feel free to cook your own if you prefer. Other common options include navy beans, black beans, great northern beans, or chickpeas / garbanzo beans, which can be used interchangeably based on preference.
• PARMESAN CHEESE & RIND: This salty, umami garnish takes the soup over the top. I like to add in a piece of Parmesan rind to the soup as it simmers for extra flavour but that is optional.
• OPTIONAL ADD INS: I often like to toss and stir in some greens right before soup is done for extra vegges. I use fresh spinach or kale. You can also add in frozen if that Is what you have.
  
  

Hot to Make This Easy Beef and Cabbage Soup

• BROWN BEEF: Heat olive oil in soup pot and cook beef until browned.
• SAUTE VEGGIES & SPICES: Add the cabbage and rest of the veggies and cook 5 min, followed by tomato paste
• STIR IN BROTH BEANS & TOMATOES: and Parmesan rind if using
• SIMMER: covered until all the veggies are tender.
• FINISH WITH HERBS & PARMESAN CHEESE: Remove Parmesan rind. Stir in the fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese.
• SERVE: Serve with crusty bread, a drizzle of olive oil, chili flakes and more grated Parmesan cheese
  
  

Beef Cabbage Soup Storage, Make Ahead & Freezing

• STORAGE: Once soup is cool enough to transfer to an airtight container your can do so and store it in the fridge. Leftovers will keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days.
• MAKE AHEAD: The good news is that soups like this taste even better the next day once flavors have come together and meld. Make it 1 day ahead, let it cool, and store it in the refrigerator. Reheat gently on the stove or microwave until hot.
• FREEZING: You can keep the soup in the freezer for 2-3 months, stored in a freezer bag or other airtight container. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Then reheat it in a Dutch oven or other large pot on the stovetop over medium heat or medium-high heat.
  
  

More Recipes You Will Love:

• Roasted Tomatoes and White Beans
• Greek White Bean Soup (Fasolada)
• Creamy White Bean Soup (Italian style)
• Cajun Style Chicken Sausage White Bean Soup
• Classic Minestrone Soup
• Hearty Ribollita Soup