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Home » INSTANT POT RECIPES

Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup Instant Pot

Sep 24, 2020 · Modified: Apr 15, 2023 by Foodies Terminal 27 Comments 2261 words. [feast_sponsored_disclosure before=“”]

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Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup Instant Pot recipe is the deconstructed version of your classic cabbage rolls in the soup form. This savory Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup get's done in less than 30 minutes and is filled with huge flavors. Don't miss the tips & the recipe video.

Don’t miss our collection of Instant pot recipes!

unstuffed cabbage roll soup instant pot in a grey bowl with spoon
Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup

Note: This post has been updated with Ingredients photo, reheating directions, serving Ideas, leftovers and storage and also frequently asked questions!

Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup

Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup is packed with hot Italian Sausage (you can also use ground beef or even pork & beef in equal proportions), white rice, fresh cabbage and lots of great seasoning in a tomato based soup base.

This soup is an insanely filling, economical and extremely flavorful healthy meal so perfect to feed a large crowd or a big family. We love garlic bread as a side or sometimes need nothing at all.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Find the Ingredients with actual measurements at the bottom of the post. The list below is just a reference.

recipe ingredients on a black surface
Ingredients
  • Ground Meat: We used hot Italian Pork Sausage casings removed. You can use both ground beef and pork in equal proportions or use only ground beef. Choice is yours.
  • Cabbage: We picked fresh organic cabbage and used half head of a medium cabbage.
  • Uncooked white rice: Use long grain white rice or White Jasmine rice. We would not recommend using Basmati rice because it has a distinct aroma which will change the aroma of the unstuffed cabbage roll soup.
  • Tomatoes: 3 varieties is all you'll need. Crushed Tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato paste.
  • Aromatics: Yellow onion and garlic.
  • Seasonings: Paprika, ground black pepper powder, Italian Seasoning and Worcestershire sauce. This combo will give the soup amazing flavor boost. You can certainly play around with the quantities and make it your own. For a spicy kick you can also throw in some red pepper flakes. We didn't use any.
  • Bay Leaf.
  • Oil: You can use any neutral oil. We use light olive oil.
  • Stock: You can use chicken stock, vegetable stock or even beef stock. We chose better than Bouillon (chicken) and diluted the amazing paste in warm water.
unstuffed cabbage roll soup in instant pot with a ladle
Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup Instant Pot Recipe

Tips & Tricks

  1. Low Carb Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup: Omit the white rice and reduce the stock quantity ( 1 cup). You can also replace the white rice with cauliflower rice (⅔ cups cauliflower rice for todays recipe). In that case do not change the stock quantity.
  2. Cabbage: Chop the cabbage into large squares about 1 inch, this will make a hefty soup. If you chop the cabbage fine it'll completely disintegrate and turn mushy in the soup.
  3. Amount of stock: Todays Instant Pot cabbage roll soup is thicker and resembles the consistency of a stew. We love it that way. However, If you prefer a thinner soup use 7 cups stock.
  4. Ground Meat: For a complex flavor make the recipe with 1:1 ground beef : ground pork or sausage. You can also make the recipe with exclusively ground beef. We used hot Italian Pork sausages with casings removed and skipped beef.
  5. Brown the meat: This will add tons of complexity and bold flavor to the soup.
  6. Seasoning: There's no right amount of seasoning for a cabbage roll soup recipe. Add as much as you love or as little as you want 🙂 We love well seasoned unstuffed cabbage roll soup that's so rustic.
  7. Canned Tomatoes: Use crushed or diced canned tomatoes. You can always go for extra flavors and use fire roasted spicy canned tomatoes or diced canned tomatoes with oregano, garlic and chilies. We used regular caned crushed tomatoes and went heavy on the seasoning part.
  8. Rice: Pick either long grain white rice or Jasmine rice. Do not use minute cooking rice. You can also use left over rice from previous day. In that case mix the rice after the pressure cooking cycle is over. The consistency of the soup will change and it will be slightly on the thinner side as there will be no starch from the rice to thicken the soup.

Method

Find the detailed step by step recipe along with measurements + Video at the bottom of the post.

Step #1 Brown the Meat

browning the ground pork sausage in instant pot
Brown the meat

Brown the ground meat first. I nicely browned the hot Italian sausage with casings removed in olive oil and use the SAUTE on HIGH heat setting. This will add tons of hefty flavor to the cabbage roll soup and make it taste outstanding.

Once the meat is nicely browned you may drain the excess fat or use it. I drained the fat with the help of a ladle.

Step #2 Pressure Cook the soup

pressure cooking cabbage and sausage
Pressure Cook to make Cabbage Roll Soup
cabbage roll soup in the instant pot in a ladle
Super healthy & filling Cabbage Roll Soup

Add the onion and garlic and saute with the meat until the onions begin to become translucent. Now, pour in the chicken stock and de-glaze the pot very well with the help of a spatula scarping the sides and the bottom of the pot.

This will help loosen any stuck food particles. This step is absolutely essential to avoid the BURN error!

Add all the seasonings and salt. Add the rice, tomatoes, give everything a good stir. This will help incorporate the tomatoes in the stock, especially the tomato paste. Add the cabbage, CANCEL the SAUTE function, close the lid and PRESSURE COOK on HIGH for just 4 minutes followed by a quick pressure release (QPR).

Open the lid carefully, check for seasoning, add more salt if needed. Serve the Instant Pot unstuffed cabbage roll soup with chopped fresh parsley. We love it with garlic bread, so Yum!

What goes with Cabbage Roll Soup?

You can serve this Cabbage roll soup instant pot recipe with healthy sides like this Instant pot steamed broccoli, instant pot green beans no steamer basket, instant pot steamed carrots.

We even love this soup with pastas like this instant pot cajun chicken pasta, instant pot crack chicken pasta, instant pot pesto chicken pasta, instant pot Italian sausage pasta , instant pot salmon pasta , instant pot penne pasta and meatballs, instant pot rigatoni and meatballs. You can also make it more of a complete meal by serving it with the below items:

  • Cheesy Garlic Bread.
  • Bread Sticks.
  • A light crisp salad.
  • Lightly toasted sour dough bread.
  • Corn bread.
  • Regular crusty bread like sourdough.

Leftovers and storage

Fridge: You can store this stuffed cabbage roll soup in the fridge in air tight containers for 4-5 days. Follow the reheating directions shared below.

Freezer: You can freeze cabbage roll soup for upto 2 months. We love to freeze it in individual freezer safe bags. Thaw them over night in the fridge and re-heat on the stove top over medium heat.

The consistency of the soup will not remain the same once thawed and re-heated. The rice will become slightly over cooked and also the cabbage.

How to reheat

Microwave Oven: Thaw the healthy cabbage roll soup in the fridge overnight. Re-heat in the microwave oven until warm or hot. You may add splashes of stock or water to bring back the right consistency.

Stove-top: You can also reheat this soup in a heavy bottomed saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat. Stir the soup frequently to prevent it from burning. You can also add a splash of water or stock before reheating the stuffed cabbage roll soup with rice. This will help to thin out the fridge cold soup!

FAQs

How long is cabbage soup good for?

Cabbage soup is good for 4-5 days in the fridge.

Can you overcook cabbage soup?

Yes, you can definitely overcook cabbage soup if you cook it too long. The cabbage will become limp, pasty, disintegrate in the soup and leave an unpleasant smell.

Why is my cooked cabbage bitter?

The bitterness in cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables is due to organic compounds known as glucosinolates. These compounds contain sulfur, which has a distinctive odor and flavor. Under cooking the cabbage might leave a bitter flavor.

Can I freeze homemade cabbage soup?

Yes, you can freeze homemade cabbage soup for 2 months. Store the soup in individual portion sized containers or heavy duty freezer safe bags for convenience.

More instant pot soups you’ll love

  • Lemon chicken orzo soup instant pot.
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  • Alaskan salmon chowder.
  • Instant pot creamy chicken noodle soup.
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  • Chili’s chicken enchilada soup instant pot.
  • Chicken gnocchi soup instant pot.
  • Instant pot stuffed pepper soup with sausage.
  • Creamy chicken tortilla soup instant pot.
  • Instant pot chicken corn chowder.
  • New England clam chowder instant pot.
  • Instant pot Olive Garden zuppa toscana copycat.
  • Instant pot cheesy potato soup.
  • Creamy chicken tortellini soup.
  • Herbed white bean and sausage stew.
  • Lamb stew recipe instant pot.
  • Instant pot easy lasagna soup.

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Thoughts from readers who tried this soup

I made this on Monday.., loved it so much, made a second batch on Tuesday and froze it!"

- Loraine Kenemy.

I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU! If you try this Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup instant pot recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I would love to hear how it turned out for you, or any changes you make. You can also follow me on Pinterest or subscribe our free NEWLETTER for new recipes every week!

Cabbage roll soup in instant pot garnished with parsley

Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup Instant Pot

5 from 13 votes
Print Recipe Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 peolpe
Calories: 257kcal
Author: Meghna

Watch Recipe Video

Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup Instant Pot is the deconstructed version of classic stuffed cabbage rolls in the soup form. This Cabbage roll soup Instant Pot recipe can be a scrumptious economical meal any day.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Hot Italian Pork Sausage (**casings removed. You can use ground beef and pork in the 1:1 ratio or use only ground beef.)
  • 5 cups cabbage (**½ head of a small cabbage. Chopped into large ½ inch squares.)
  • ½ cup long grain white rice (**or jasmine rice)
  • 1 cup onion (**roughly chopped yellow onion)
  • 2 tbsp garlic (**minced)
  • 15 oz crushed tomatoes (**1 can. 425 g or use canned diced tomatoes.)
  • 8 oz tomato sauce (**1 can)
  • 3 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 5.5 cups chicken stock (**use 7 cups for a thin soup. I used 3 tbsp better than bouillon dissolved in warm water.)
  • 3 tbsp Olive Oil
  • Salt (**according to taste.)

Seasonings

  • ½ tbsp Paprika
  • 1.5 tsp Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Bay leaf
Want more Recipe Videos?Check out our Youtube channel!

Equipment Used

Instant Pot DUO 6 quart

Instructions

  • Set the Instant Pot on SAUTE function and keep it at HIGH heat setting. Add oil and when the oil becomes really hot gently release the hot Italian Sausage meat casings removed and brown the sausage really well. You may either drain out the excess sausage fat or use it in the recipe.
  • Once the meat is well browned add the chopped onion and garlic and saute until the onion becomes translucent.
  • Now, pour the chicken stock and de-glaze the pot very well scraping the sides and the bottom of the pot with the help of a spatula. There should not be any food particles stuck at the bottom of the pot. This is to avoid the BURN error.
  • Now, add the seasonings like paprika, black pepper powder, Italian seasoning and Worcestershire Sauce and give everything a quick stir. If you prefer a slight heat add red pepper flakes. We did not add any.
  • Next, add the diced tomatoes , tomato sauce and the tomato paste and stir well to incorporate them into the the stock.
  • Add the long grain white rice and the chopped cabbage. Also, throw in the bay leaves and salt. Give everything a quick stir. CANCEL the SAUTE function.
  • Close the lid of the Instant Pot and PRESSURE COOK on HIGH for just 4 minutes.
  • Once, the pressure cooking cycle is over the Instant Pot will begin to beep. Immediately do a quick pressure release (QPR). Open the lid carefully.
  • The unstuffed cabbage roll soup is ready. Check for seasoning and add more salt if needed. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot. This is a thick soup, more like a stew like consistency. If you prefer a thinner consistency read NOTES below. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. Want the soup spicy: Add ½ tbsp red pepper flakes while adding the other seasonings. You can also add choppe Jalapeno peppers for extra heat. We didnot add any kind of peppers.
  2. Thinner consistency Soup: Add 7 cups chicken stock. Todays recipe is more like a stew, a thick soup. That's how we love our cabbage roll soup.
  3. Seasonings amount: Well, we would recommend that you play around with the seasonings and certainly can add more than what's recommended in the recipe. It's totally upto you.
  4. Cabbage Size: Do not chop the cabbage finely or into smaller pieces, The cabbage will totally disintegrate into the soup. Chop the cabbage into 1 inch squares for a good mouthfeel.
  5. Ground meat which one to use? You may use Italian sausage + ground beef in 1:1 ratio. You can also make the recipe with only ground beef or with only Italian pork sausage just like we did.
  6. Rice: Use either white long grain rice or Jasmine rice. DO NOT use any other rice variety.
  7. Something about crushed tomatoes: You can use regular crushed tomatoes or diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano. If you love spicy food you can also use Rotel diced Tomatoes. We used regular crushed tomatoes. Honestly I make the soup with whatever I have in my pantry.
  8. Storing Tips: The unstuffed cabbage roll soup will last for 4 days in the fridge. Store it in air tight containers. The soup tends to thicken in the fridge. You can add splashes of water while re-heating.
 
Calorific details are provided by a third party application & are to be used as indicative figures only.
 
Nutrition Facts
Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup Instant Pot
Amount Per Serving
Calories 257 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 7mg2%
Sodium 737mg32%
Potassium 820mg23%
Carbohydrates 34g11%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 774IU15%
Vitamin C 33mg40%
Calcium 77mg8%
Iron 3mg17%
* Read our privacy policy - Calorie information is provided as a courtesy only and should be leveraged as an estimate rather than a guarantee.Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 737mg | Potassium: 820mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 774IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 3mg
Course :Entree, Soup
Cuisine :American
Keyword :Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup, Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup Instant Pot
Hungry for more?Never miss a new recipe follow us on Pinterest @Foodiesterminal & search for recipes using #foodiesterminal on Pinterest.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Erin Santiago says

    January 21, 2024 at 3:57 pm

    5 stars
    Do you rinse your rice before adding to instant pot?

    Reply
    • Foodies Terminal says

      June 10, 2024 at 11:11 pm

      Hey Erin,
      No you do not need to rinse the rice. The starch from the rice would help thicken the soup and make it tasty. Let me know if you have any more questions regarding the recipe. Thanks so much 🙂 - Meghna.

      Reply
  2. Cristine says

    August 29, 2023 at 12:02 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! I followed the recipe exactly. I made Red Lobster biscuits to go with it. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Foodies Terminal says

      June 11, 2024 at 10:11 pm

      So glad you enjoyed this recipe so much Cristine 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful feedback with us. - Meghna.

      Reply
  3. Barbara says

    May 01, 2023 at 10:04 pm

    5 stars
    This soup is absolutely delicious! I added a dollop of sour cream on top.

    Reply
    • Foodies Terminal says

      June 12, 2024 at 2:40 pm

      Hey Barbara so glad you enjoyed the recipe so much 🙂 Thanks a lot for sharing your wonderful feedback with us 🙂 - Meghna.

      Reply
  4. Jen says

    February 05, 2023 at 1:37 pm

    have you ever doubled the recipe to save for future use? Seems like the 6 qt instant pot could hold the volume, just curious to see if it’s been done. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Foodies Terminal says

      February 07, 2023 at 1:53 am

      I've not yet tried to double this recipe in my 6 quart pot! I think a 8 quart pot might be helpful here. - Meghna xoxo.

      Reply
  5. Michelle Woods says

    November 05, 2022 at 11:42 pm

    Hi Meghna,

    I will be making this soup tomorrow and will be using the Better Than Bouillon. I see you used 3 tbsp of the BTB, did you use 5.5 cups of water? There was no mention of how much water to use with the Better Than Bouillon. Thanks a bunch!!!

    Michelle

    Reply
    • Foodies Terminal says

      January 12, 2023 at 8:03 pm

      Hello Michelle huge apologies for super late reply!! Yes for 3 tbsp BTB you need to add 5.5 cups water (Same amount as chicken stock). Thanks a lot, hope you enjoy the recipe 🙂 - Meghna xoxo.

      Reply
  6. Arlene says

    February 16, 2021 at 12:46 am

    I wanted a sweet and sour soup so I used the juice of 2 lemons and 1/2 cup light brown sugar and cut back on the chicken stock.

    Reply
    • Foodies Terminal says

      February 19, 2021 at 6:12 pm

      Awesome! Glad you made the soup by adding your own touches 🙂 - Meghna.

      Reply
  7. Lexi says

    January 24, 2021 at 6:02 pm

    5 stars
    Followed to a T! Excellent recipe.... so delicious!

    Reply
  8. Laurie says

    January 20, 2021 at 2:15 am

    5 stars
    This was so good. The broth was perfectly spiced. I did not use rice. We ate soup with French bread and butter. Will make again

    Reply
    • Foodies Terminal says

      January 25, 2021 at 7:40 pm

      That's awesome Laurie! So glad that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for the wonderful feedback 🙂 Hope you try our other recipes as well 🙂 Take care Laurie. - Meghna. xoxo

      Reply
  9. Brenda says

    January 07, 2021 at 8:11 pm

    Can I cook this on crockpot?

    Reply
    • Foodies Terminal says

      January 25, 2021 at 8:05 pm

      Hello Brenda, I've added the crockpot instructions in the post please check 🙂 Hope you enjoy the recipe, thanks so much! - Meghna. xoxo

      Reply
  10. Barbie Ensor says

    December 13, 2020 at 4:28 pm

    5 stars
    I followed the recipe, except i added a can of tomatoes because i like tomatoes in my soups. it was very good. Thanks for the recipe!!! i will make this again. Barbie

    Reply
    • Foodies Terminal says

      December 17, 2020 at 3:55 am

      So glad that you enjoyed the recipe so much Barbie 🙂 Thanks a lot for such an amazing feedback and for giving the recipe a try, totally appreciate it 🙂 Hope you try our other recipes as well. Take care Barbie. - Meghna. xoxo

      Reply
  11. Tiffany says

    December 06, 2020 at 11:22 pm

    5 stars
    This soup was delicious! I followed the recipe exactly and used ground beef. Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Foodies Terminal says

      December 09, 2020 at 6:40 pm

      So glad that you enjoyed the recipe so much Tiffany 🙂 Thanks a lot for sharing your wonderful feedback with us and for giving the recipe a try! Hope you'll enjoy our other recipes as well. Take care Tiffany 🙂 - Meghna. XOXO

      Reply
  12. Amanda says

    November 12, 2020 at 1:53 pm

    How much is one serving?

    Reply
    • Foodies Terminal says

      November 14, 2020 at 12:32 am

      Hey Amanda I would would say one serving would be about 1.5 cups approximately 🙂 Hope you give it a try. - Meghna, xoxo.

      Reply
  13. Nicole Sciamarelli says

    October 30, 2020 at 6:08 pm

    Hi, how can I make this in a crockpot?

    Reply
  14. Nicole says

    October 28, 2020 at 12:29 am

    How can I make this in the crockpot?

    Reply
  15. Mayra says

    October 27, 2020 at 1:09 pm

    I don’t have crushed tomato or tomato paste, could i just “crush” the fresh tomatoes i have and add the tomato sauce with that? We’re iced in today so no grocery trips today 🙁

    Reply
    • Foodies Terminal says

      October 28, 2020 at 5:39 pm

      Hey Mayra I have not tested the recipe with fresh crushed tomatoes as yet, so not very sure how the end product would turn out in terms of taste. However, if there's no other option than you may try boiling the whole fresh tomatoes first, peel them, crush and than use them in the recipe. Tomato sauce would definitely work as a sub for tomato paste. Hope you enjoy the soup 🙂 Take Care Mayra. - Meghna.

      Reply
5 from 13 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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