The Best Cozy Cabbage Roll Soup For Fall

An Easy One-Pot Recipe That Tastes Like Home. This is the Best Cozy Cabbage Roll Soup For Fall!

There’s something about fall that makes me crave the flavors of my childhood. Warm, savory, nostalgic comfort food that fills the house with the coziest scent. When I was a kid, my mom used to make traditional cabbage rolls. She’d stuff them so perfectly, roll them up with love, and simmer them until they were melt in your mouth delicious. I always loved them, but let’s be honest, cabbage rolls are a labor of love, and I just don’t always have the time (or energy) for all the wrapping, stuffing, and layering.

So this fall, I decided to create a shortcut version, The Best Cozy Cabbage Roll Soup For Fall! And oh my, it’s everything I hoped it would be and more.

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I pulled out my favorite Le Creuset Dutch oven. Tossed in all those familiar ingredients, and let it simmer low. All while I cleaned the kitchen and listened to music. It felt like fall in a pot. And when my son came in, took one bite, and said, “Wow, this is amazing,” my heart just melted. (my boy doesn’t hand out compliments easily, so this is a big deal!)

So if you’re looking for the perfect easy fall soup recipe that’s super delicious and fills your home with cozy vibes. And even impresses even the pickiest eaters, this is the one to try!

Jump to Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Cabbage Roll Soup

This soup has all the rich, nostalgic flavor of cabbage rolls but in a much simpler, one-pot format. Here’s why it’s a must make for fall:

️ One-pot easy: no rolling, no baking, no mess
Budget-friendly: uses simple pantry staples
️ Feeds a crowd: perfect for meal prep or cozy gatherings
️ Freezer-friendly: makes delicious leftovers
️ Kid-approved: even picky eaters will ask for seconds

It’s hearty, savory, slightly sweet from the carrots and spices, and ultra satisfying.

The Best Cozy Cabbage Roll Soup For Fall

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s everything I used to make this magical fall soup. Most of it you probably already have on hand!

1 small head of green cabbage, chopped
1/2 stick of butter
2 lbs of ground beef (or sub turkey for a lighter version)
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 can (14 oz) of diced tomatoes
4–5 cups of beef broth (or enough to cover)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup uncooked white rice
Salt + pepper to taste
1 dash of ground cloves
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 dash of nutmeg
2 cloves of garlic
1 tsp of herbs de Provence
1 onion
bay leaf for extra flavor
sour cream for topping (trust me this makes it so good)

How to Make The Best Cozy Cabbage Roll Soup For Fall

Step 1: Melt butter in a large dutch oven. Add chopped onion and carrots.

Step 2: Brown the beef
Cook your ground beef over medium high heat until fully browned. Season with salt and pepper. Add the garlic sauté with the beef until fragrant.

Step 3: Add the Cabbage
Toss in the chopped cabbage. Stir everything together and let it cook for about 5 minutes until the cabbage starts to soften.

Step 4: Add liquids and spices
Pour in the diced tomatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, clove, and nutmeg. Stir to combine. The cloves and nutmeg may seem unusual, but trust me — they give this soup that cozy, fall spice warmth without overpowering it.

Step 5: Add the rice
Stir in your uncooked rice. You can use any kind of rice, but white long grain gives the perfect texture.

Step 6: Simmer
Reduce the heat, cover, and let the soup simmer on low for 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally. The rice will cook, the cabbage will become tender, and the flavors will marry into the most delicious fall comfort soup. Add water as needed, the rice thickens it pretty quickly.

Step 7: Serve + top with a dollop of sour cream
Ladle into bowls, add a generous dollop of sour cream on top, and maybe a sprinkle of fresh parsley if you’re feeling fancy.

The Best Cabbage Soup

Easy and delicious!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 15

Servings: 8

Course: Dinner, Fall, Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Mediterranean

Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients

1 half stick of butter
1 small head of green cabbage chopped
2 lbs of ground beef or sub turkey for a lighter version
3 carrots peeled and diced
1 can 14 oz of diced tomatoes
5 cups of beef broth or enough to cover
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup uncooked white rice
salt + pepper to taste
1/4 tsp ground cloves
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 nutmeg
2 garlic cloves minced
1 tsp herbs de Provence
1 onion
bay leaf for extra flavor
sour cream for topping

Equipment

1 dutch oven
1 cutting board
1 large spoon

Method

Step 1: Melt butter in a large dutch oven. Add chopped onion and carrots.
Step 2: Brown the beef
Cook your ground beef over medium high heat until fully browned. Season with salt and pepper. Add the garlic sauté with the beef until fragrant.
Step 3: Add the Cabbage
Toss in the chopped cabbage. Stir everything together and let it cook for about 5 minutes until the cabbage starts to soften.
Step 4: Add liquids and spices
Pour in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, clove, and nutmeg. Stir to combine. The cloves and nutmeg may seem unusual, but trust me — they give this soup that cozy, fall spice warmth without overpowering it.
Step 5: Add the rice
Stir in your uncooked rice. You can use any kind of rice, but white long grain gives the perfect texture.
Step 6: Simmer
Reduce the heat, cover, and let the soup simmer on low for 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally. The rice will cook, the cabbage will become tender, and the flavors will marry into the most delicious fall comfort soup. Add water as needed, the rice thickens it pretty quickly.
Step 7: Serve + top with sour cream
Ladle into bowls, add a generous dollop of sour cream on top, and maybe a sprinkle of fresh parsley if you’re feeling fancy.

Fancy My Way Tips & Variations

Because I always like to make my recipes flexible for different moods or pantry situations, here are a few Fancy My Way swaps and ideas:

Make it low-carb: Skip the rice and add extra veggies like zucchini or cauliflower rice.
Use ground turkey or chicken: Lightens up the dish while still keeping it hearty.
Serve with crusty bread or garlic knots: If you’re not doing low-carb, dip something delicious into this broth — you’ll thank me later.
Freeze leftovers: This soup freezes beautifully in mason jars or zip bags. Perfect for meal prep or last-minute cozy dinners.