Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Kielbasa Cabbage Soup
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Kielbasa Cabbage Soup is an easy weeknight soup that can be ready in 30 minutes! Loaded with cabbage, kielbasa and potatoes its hearty and flavorful.
One of my all time favorite comfort food combos is Kielbasa and Cabbage. I have a recipe for the easy skillet kielbasa and cabbage dinner, kielbasa and cabbage tater tot casserole and now Kielbasa Cabbage Soup. I’m telling you guys, when old man winter is hanging around this is one of my go-to combos.
And the family loves it too.
One of my favorite things about this soup, aside from the deliciousness, is the ease that it comes together. You can have this soup on the table and ready to eat in about 30 minutes. That makes this delectable soup perfect for busy weeknights.
Let’s talk about what you’ll need to make it.
Kielbasa Cabbage Soup Ingredients:
- KIELBASA: Kielbasa is a polish smoked sausage that is readily available here in the US. It is in a U-shape and most often found near the other cured meats in the grocery store. You can buy beef or turkey kielbasa. While beef is more traditional, turkey kielbasa would work in this recipe and lighten things up a bit.
- CABBAGE: Green cabbage chopped in chunks works best.
- RUSSET POTATOES: I like to use russets in soups because they hold up pretty well and they add starch to the soup. I peeled mine but for a more rustic soup, you can leave the skins on.
- OLIVE OIL: To sauté the onions and garlic.
- ONIONS/GARLIC: Add a layer of flavor to the soup.
- CHICKEN BROTH: I recommend using low-sodium chicken broth because you can control the final saltiness of the dish. In this case, kielbasa has a lot of salt so you want to be able to balance things out.
- CARAWAY SEEDS: Caraway is one of my favorites to use with cabbage. It adds flavors of citrus and anise. You should be able to find them in the spice aisle at your grocery store.
- CRUSHED RED PEPPER: Optional but I recommend them. They add a subtle heat.
- PARSLEY: Just an optional garnish to add a pop of color.
Step by Step Photos and Instructions:
Making Kielbasa Cabbage Soup could not be easier. It’s all made in one pot and ready in a flash. Follow along with these Step by Step Photos.
Sauté onion in olive oil just until translucent. 
Add in cabbage and sauté until cabbage just starts to wilt. Add in garlic, caraway seeds and crushed red pepper. 
Add in chicken broth and potatoes. Cook until potatoes are fork tender. 
Add in kielbasa and cook until warmed through.
- STEP #1: Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook just until softened and translucent. About 5 minutes.
- STEP #2: Add in cabbage and cook until it starts to wilt, about 3 minutes. Add in garlic, caraway seeds and crushed red pepper, if using. Cook just until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- STEP #3: Pour in chicken broth and add potatoes. Cook over medium heat until potatoes are fork tender. This should take about 10 minutes.
- STEP #4: Add kielbasa to the soup and cook just until warmed through. Season to taste with salt. Garnish with parsley, if desired. Serve.
Storage Tips:
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator and reheat in a pot on the stove or in a bowl in the microwave.
Recipe FAQ:
Kielbasa is a savory Polish sausage that is typically made with beef and pork. You can also find variations made with turkey.
You can use anise seeds as a substitute. But they are more potent so use half as many as the recipe calls for.
Kielbasa Cabbage Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion diced
- 5 cups chopped green cabbage
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper optional
- 8 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 3 russet potatoes peeled and diced
- 13 ounces beef kielbasa sausage diced
- parlsey for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onions, cook just until onions are translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add cabbage and cook just until it starts to wilt, about 3 minutes. Add in garlic, caraway and crushed red pepper. Cook just until garlic is fragrant, 30 seconds – 1 minute.
- Pour in chicken broth and add potatoes. Cook until potatoes are fork tender. This should take about 10 minutes.
- Add in kielbasa and cook just until it's warmed through. Season to taste with salt, garnish with parsley and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Want more cabbage or kielbasa recipes? Try these!
Kielbasa and Potatoes is one of my family’s favorite weeknight dinners!
Serve Kielbasa, Peppers and Onions as is or as a sandwich.
Cabbage Salsa is a crisp, refreshing salsa that is great with chips or on tacos.
Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon is a classic!
Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish that screams comfort with mashed potatoes, cabbage and bacon!
Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Lainey
February 28, 2024 at 7:10 pmThe cabbage soup looks good. I’d like to leave out the potatoes….so what would be a good substitute for them? Could possib;y leave them out altogether too eh!
Deseree
February 29, 2024 at 12:51 pmThere is not a really good substitute for the potatoes, unless you’d like to try making the soup and then ladling it over some noodles. :)