Crockpot Cabbage Soup with Ground Beef

Cozy Crockpot Cabbage Soup with Ground Beef — The Ultimate One-Pot Winter Comfort!

There’s something deeply satisfying about the aroma of soup simmering on a chilly evening, the kitchen warm, light fading outside the window, and the promise of a hearty bowl that feels like a hug. As a chef who loves creating comforting but health-conscious meals, I’m thrilled to share this cabbage soup with ground beef crock pot recipe that checks all the boxes: healthy, low carb, diet-friendly, perfect for fall and winter, and absolutely easy to pull together.

I still remember the first time I made this soup. It was mid-October, the rain was tapping on my kitchen window in Bandung, and I wanted something warming but not heavy. I pulled out my slow cooker, chopped a big head of cabbage, browned some lean ground beef, added tomatoes and broth, and set it to cook while I went about my evening. A few hours later, the house smelled incredible, and the bowl I served felt like comfort on a spoon. That moment inspired the full recipe you’ll find here.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy & effortless: Just prep and let the slow cooker (or crock pot) do the work.
• Healthy smart comfort: Lean ground beef for protein, cabbage and veggies for fibre, minimal carbs — great for a low carb diet without sacrificing flavour.
• Fall & winter perfect: The kind of hearty soup you crave when the evenings draw in.
• One-pot convenience: Fewer dishes, more time to relax — ideal for busy weeknights.
• Sweet and sour balance: Just enough tang and a hint of sweetness to make the soup interesting and crave-worthy.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here are the exact measurements for the ingredients (serves about 6-8):

• 1 lb (≈ 450 g) lean ground beef (preferably 90% lean or better)
• 1 medium head green cabbage (about 2 lb / 900 g), cored and thinly sliced
• 1 large onion (about 1 cup chopped) — roughly 150 g, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium carrots (about 1 cup chopped) — roughly 130 g, sliced
• 2 celery stalks (about 1 cup chopped) — roughly 100 g, sliced
• 1 (14.5 oz / 410 g) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (6 oz / 170 g) can tomato paste
• 4 cups (about 960 ml) low-sodium beef broth
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) apple cider vinegar — for the sweet and sour touch
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) honey or pure maple syrup (optional – if you like a hint of sweetness)
• 1 teaspoon (5 g) smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon (5 g) dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste (start with ~½ teaspoon salt, adjust later)

Step-by-Step: How to Make It in Your Slow Cooker

1. In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until just cooked through (about 5-7 minutes). Drain any excess fat if needed.
2. Transfer the beef to your slow cooker (crock pot).
3. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, carrots, celery, and sliced cabbage into the slow cooker.
4. Pour in the diced tomatoes (including juice), tomato paste, and beef broth.
5. Add the smoked paprika, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
6. Stir in the apple cider vinegar and honey (if using).
7. Cover and cook: On **Low** for 6-8 hours or on **High** for 3-4 hours. The cabbage should be tender but still hold its shape; the flavours will meld beautifully.
8. About 10 minutes before serving, taste and adjust: add more salt if needed, a little extra vinegar if you’d like more tang, or a pinch of honey for more sweetness.
9. Remove the bay leaf, serve hot in bowls, optionally garnished with chopped fresh parsley or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for warmth.

Pro Tips from the Chef

Here’s where I share a few of the little things I’ve learned along the way – so you can make this soup even better:

• If you’re following a strict low-carb diet, you can reduce or skip the carrots (they add sweetness but also carbs) and add extra chopped zucchini or cauliflower instead.
• Use lean ground beef (90% or leaner) to keep the dish healthy and lower in saturated fat.
• For deeper flavour, you can lightly sauté the onion & garlic before adding to the slow cooker — this gives a richer base without much extra time.
• Use a slow cooker liner if you like — cleanup is much easier. Trust me, that counts after a busy day.
• If you want to meal-prep, double the batch and freeze leftovers in single-serve portions; it reheats beautifully and still feels like “fresh” winter comfort.

Product Recommendations — Tools to Make It Even Easier

Over the years I’ve found a few tools that consistently help me deliver this kind of easy, healthy, slow-cooker soup. If you’re building your kitchen arsenal (or gifting a friend who loves cooking), these are excellent picks:

1. Slow Cooker / Crock Pot

Why it’s worth investing: A dedicated slow cooker means you can set your cabbage soup with ground beef crock pot recipe early, walk away, and return to a house full of incredible aromas and perfectly cooked food.

Example: The “Crock-Pot 8 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker” features a digital timer, warming mode, and large capacity.

Shop the Crock-Pot 8 Qt Programmable Slow Cooker on Amazon and make your fall/winter dinner routine easier than ever.

2. Quality Soup Ladle

Why it matters: When you’re serving up a one-pot meal like this, you want a ladle that’s comfortable, durable and brings your soup to the table with ease.

Example: The “Zulay Kitchen Premium Soup Ladle – 12″ Stainless Steel” is sturdy, has a comfortable grip and is perfect for deep bowls of hearty soup.

Grab the Zulay Kitchen Soup Ladle on Amazon and serve your soup like a pro.

3. Digital Kitchen Scale (for precise diet-friendly measurements)

Why it’s helpful: Because this recipe is great for healthy and low carb eating, having a kitchen scale means you can measure portions, track macros and stay consistent.

While I don’t link a specific model here, you’ll find excellent digital scales on Amazon that support grams and ounces and have high accuracy.

Search “digital kitchen scale” on Amazon and pick one that fits your budget — it’ll be worth it for your diet-friendly cooking.

Variations You’ll Love

If you want to mix it up while keeping the same cosy vibe, try one of these twists:

• Sweet & Sour Cabbage Soup: Increase the apple cider vinegar to 3 tablespoons, and add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar or maple syrup for stronger contrast.
• Cabbage Roll Style Soup: Replace ground beef with ground turkey, add chopped green bell pepper and simmer with tomato sauce to mimic cabbage rolls — rice omitted for a low-carb twist.
• Keto Friendly Version: Skip the carrots entirely; use extra-lean ground beef, add chopped cauliflower florets in the last hour, and use bone broth in place of beef broth for added richness.
• Spicy Fall Edition: Add ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more to taste), and consider a dash of smoked chipotle powder for smokiness ideal for winter evenings.

How to Store, Reheat & Freeze

This soup is built for convenience too — and here’s how to handle leftovers like a pro:

• Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of broth if it thickens too much.
• Freezer: Freeze in single-serve portions (leave some head-space!). It keeps well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or reheat directly from frozen on low setting in your microwave/stovetop.
• Meal-prep tip: On Sunday afternoon I often double this recipe, package half into containers, and I have “ready-to-go” lunches or dinners all week (especially helpful during busy workdays or when the weather turns colder).

Serving Suggestions

To elevate this hearty, healthy soup into a full experience, consider these pairings:

• Serve with a side of crusty gluten-free bread or a warm whole-grain roll if your diet allows — perfect for soaking up the broth.
• Add a light winter salad (like baby spinach, roasted pumpkin seeds, pomegranate arils, and a simple vinaigrette) to keep the meal balanced.
• For extra richness, top each bowl with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt (if dairy is okay) or mashed avocado slices (great for low-carb) just before serving.

Nutrition & Benefits

Here’s what makes this recipe more than just comfort food — it’s also smart from a nutrition perspective:

• The cabbage is loaded with fibre, vitamin C and K, and it adds volume to the soup without heavy carbs.
• Lean ground beef provides high-quality protein, helping you feel satisfied and supporting muscle repair — especially important if you live an active life.
• This version keeps carbs modest since there’s no potato, rice or pasta — making it compatible with a low carb diet or as part of a healthy eating plan.
• The apple cider vinegar and tomato-based broth bring in acidity and depth of flavour, meaning you don’t need to rely on heavy cream or lots of added fat to taste great.
• Because it’s made in one pot and uses whole-food ingredients, it aligns well with mindful eating and can support diet goals without feeling restrictive.

Conclusion: Your New Go-To Winter Comfort

In the world of one-pot meals, this cabbage soup with ground beef crock pot recipe stands out for its balance of flavour, healthiness, ease and comfort. It channelises everything I love about fall and winter cooking: the warmth, the aroma, the deep, cozy flavours — while still being smart, diet-aware, and doable even on a busy weekday.

So the next time the weather turns crisp and you want something hearty yet healthy, pull out your slow cooker, gather your ingredients, and let this soup work its magic. Trust me — your kitchen will smell amazing, your family will love it, and you’ll feel good knowing you made something nourishing and delicious.

Happy cooking, and may your next bowl be the coziest one yet!