A Cozy Idea for a Busy Day
My grandkids love stuffed cabbage. But rolling all those leaves takes time. One busy Tuesday, I had a thought. What if I put all the good things in one pot? I just chopped and dropped it all in. The result was this wonderful soup. I still laugh at how easy it was.
This soup gives you all the cozy feelings. You get the same tasty flavors without the work. That is why this matters. A warm dinner should bring comfort, not stress. What is your favorite cozy meal from your family?
Let’s Get Cooking
First, we brown the beef right in the pot. Doesn’t that smell amazing? It means dinner is on its way. After you drain the grease, the fun part begins. You just add everything else. No fancy steps are needed.
In goes the onion, garlic, and tomatoes. Then add the broth, vegetable juice, rice, and chopped cabbage. Give it a good stir. Put the lid on and let the pot do its magic. In just 15 minutes, your kitchen will smell like a dream.
A Little Story About Cabbage
My own grandma grew cabbage in her garden. She said it was a humble vegetable. But it could fill a whole family. She taught me to never underestimate it. A head of cabbage can stretch a meal so far.
That lesson has stayed with me. Using simple, hearty ingredients is a smart way to cook. This is why it matters. Good food does not have to be fancy or expensive. *Fun fact: Cabbage is related to broccoli and cauliflower!* Did you know that?
Why This Soup is So Good For You
This soup is a full meal in a bowl. You have your protein from the beef. The rice gives you energy. And the cabbage and tomatoes are full of good things for your body. It keeps you full and happy.
Eating a meal you made yourself feels great. You know exactly what went into it. That is a wonderful feeling. Do you like to help out in the kitchen at home?
Make It Your Own
The best part about soup is you can change it. Don’t have beef? Use ground turkey instead. Want more spice? Add a little pinch of red pepper flakes. Cooking is all about making a recipe work for you.
I love hearing how others change my recipes. It makes the food feel like it belongs to everyone. What is one ingredient you would add to make this soup your own? Please tell me if you try it.
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| lean ground beef | 1 pound | |
| onion | 1 small | chopped |
| garlic | 2 cloves | minced |
| petite diced tomatoes | 1 (28-ounce) can | undrained |
| vegetable juice (like V8) | 3 cups | |
| beef broth | 3 cups | |
| uncooked rice | 1 cup | |
| cabbage | 1 small head | cored and chopped |
| salt | to taste | |
| pepper | to taste |
My Cozy Cabbage Soup, The Easy Way
I have loved stuffed cabbage rolls my whole life. But rolling each one takes so much time. This soup gives you all that cozy flavor without all the work. My grandkids ask for it every time they visit. Doesn’t that smell amazing?
Let’s get started. You will need your Instant Pot for this. It makes everything so fast and easy. I remember the first time I used mine. I was so nervous about all the buttons!
Step 1: Turn your pot to the sauté function. Add your ground beef. Break it up with a spoon while it cooks. You want it to be all brown, no pink left. (A hard-learned tip: drain the extra grease for a less greasy soup!).
Step 2: Now for the fun part. Throw in the onion, garlic, and that chopped cabbage. It looks like a mountain at first. Then add the tomatoes, juices, broth, and rice. Give it a good, hearty stir. The rice will hide in the broth. It cooks right in the pot, you see.
Step 3: Lock the lid on tight. Set it for 15 minutes on high pressure. The pot will do all the work. When it beeps, carefully let the steam out. I still jump a little at the hiss! Give it a taste. Does it need a little more salt or pepper for you? What’s your favorite cozy soup? Share below!
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 6 servings
Category: Dinner, Soup
Three Fun Twists to Try
This soup is like a good friend. It’s happy to change things up. You can make it different every time. I love playing with the recipe. It keeps things interesting in my kitchen.
Meatless Marvel: Swap the beef for a can of lentils. It makes the soup so hearty and kind to the earth.
Spicy Kick: Add a big spoonful of paprika or a dash of hot sauce. It will warm you up from the inside out.
Italian Night: Use Italian-seasoned ground turkey and a can of tomato sauce. It tastes like a whole new dinner.
Which one would you try first? Comment below!
How to Serve Your Masterpiece
This soup is a full meal all by itself. But I love making it feel special. A big soup deserves a good friend on the side. A thick slice of crusty bread is perfect for dipping. My grandson just tears his right into the bowl.
For a drink, a cold glass of apple cider is lovely. The sweet tang goes so well with the savory soup. For the grown-ups, a dark beer is a classic pairing. It reminds me of my own grandfather. Which would you choose tonight?
Keeping Your Cozy Cabbage Soup
This soup is a wonderful friend to your freezer. Let it cool completely first. Then pop it into airtight containers. It will keep for about three months. Just think of a future you having a ready-made meal.
I remember my first big batch of this soup. I froze it in single portions. It was a lifesaver on a busy Thursday. My grandson called it my magic soup. Batch cooking like this saves you time and stress. It means a good meal is always close by.
To reheat, thaw it in the fridge overnight. Warm it gently on the stove. The rice will soak up more broth as it sits. You might need to add a splash of water or broth. Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!
Simple Fixes for Soup Troubles
Is your soup too thick? The rice can drink up all the broth. Just add a bit more beef broth or water when you reheat it. This makes it soupy again. I once added too much rice by mistake. We just called it deconstructed stuffed cabbage. It still tasted great.
If the cabbage seems a bit tough, chop it smaller next time. This helps it cook through perfectly. Getting the texture right makes the whole meal more enjoyable. Do you want more flavor? Always taste at the end. Add more salt and pepper until it sings. Seasoning well makes simple ingredients shine. Which of these problems have you run into before?
Your Soup Questions Answered
Q: Is this soup gluten-free? A: Yes, it is. Just check your beef broth label to be sure.
Q: Can I make it ahead? A: Absolutely. The flavors get even better the next day.
Q: What can I use instead of beef? A: Lean ground turkey works beautifully in this recipe.
Q: Can I double the recipe? A: You can. Just make sure your pot is not too full.
Q: Any optional add-ins? A: A dash of paprika adds a nice, warm touch. Fun fact: Paprika comes from dried peppers! Which tip will you try first?
Until Next Time, Happy Cooking!
I hope this soup warms your kitchen and your heart. It is a hug in a bowl. Making food for others is a special kind of love. I would love to see your creations.
Have you tried this recipe? Tag us on Pinterest! You can find me at Anna’s Kitchen Table. Sharing our cooking stories brings us all closer. Thank you for spending this time with me.
Happy cooking! —Anna Whitmore.
Instant Pot Stuffed Cabbage Soup
Description
Ditch the rolling! This easy Instant Pot Stuffed Cabbage Soup delivers all the cozy flavor in a fraction of the time. A hearty, low-carb family meal.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Turn your Instant Pot (or other electric pressure cooker) to the sauté or brown function and allow it to warm slightly. Add the ground beef and cook with the lid off, stirring frequently, until it is no longer pink. Drain anyway any grease.
- Add the onion, garlic, tomatoes with the juice, vegetable juice, beef broth, rice, and cabbage and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste. Put the lid on the pot and set the steam vent to “sealing” or seal. Set the cooker for 15 minutes on high pressure.
- Once the cook time has finished, carefully use the quick release function to allow the steam to escape. Taste for additional salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
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