Name: Ham and Cabbage Soup
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter; 1/2 cup green pepper (chopped); 1/2 cup onion (chopped); 1/2 cup celery (chopped); 1/2 cup carrots (chopped); 3 tablespoons flour; 4 cups chicken broth; 4 cups cabbage (shredded); 2 cups chopped ham (cooked); 1 teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon white pepper ((black pepper is fine too))

This healthy ham and cabbage soup is a mix of carrots, celery, bell pepper, onion, cabbage and ham, all simmered together in a savory broth. A quick and easy comforting meal that’s full of flavor!

ham and cabbage soup in large pot with spoon.

When I’m looking for an easy, cozy recipe idea, I turn to veggie loaded soups like cauliflower soup, chicken vegetable soup, slow cooker sweet potato soup and this simple yet satisfying ham and cabbage soup.

There’s nothing better than a hearty soup loaded with veggies, and this Polish ham and cabbage soup is always a great bet. It’s satisfying, packed with nutrition and is ready in about 45 minutes. It’s just like the one Grandma makes! Ham and cabbage soup is the perfect lunch or dinner for when you’re wanting something hearty and comforting.

INGREDIENTS FOR HAM AND CABBAGE SOUP

The beauty of this soup is you can really customize it to fit whatever vegetables and protein you already have in the fridge. See suggestions at the end of the post. Here is a list of the ingredients that I typically use when I’m cooking it up.

Butter
Green Bell Pepper
Onion
Celery
Carrots
Flour
Chicken Broth
Cabbage
Ham
Salt & White Pepper (I prefer using white pepper for your soup due to appearance. If you don’t have any, black pepper is fine too!)

HOW DO YOU MAKE HAM AND CABBAGE SOUP?

This soup starts with green pepper, onion, celery and carrots which are sautéed in a little butter in a large pot.

diced vegetables in butter sauteing in pot.

Once the veggies are soft, add flour into pot, stirring to coat the vegetables.

Then, add chicken broth and cook on medium-high until boiling.

Now, add cabbage, ham, salt and pepper. Stir until boiling and then reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes is up, the soup is ready to serve in bowls and now it’s my favorite part – time to eat!

cabbage and ham soup in white bowl on table.

TIPS

Cut all of the vegetables into similar sizes, so that they cook at the same rate. I prefer to have my veggies in large chunks for a heartier soup.
I typically make this soup with chicken broth, but you can also make it with vegetable broth or beef broth.
This soup keeps in the refrigerator for up to 3 days which makes it perfect for meal prep.

Soup Variations

My family absolutely loves this soup as is, but you can add other ingredients, depending on your taste preferences or what you already have in the fridge.

Protein: Try this soup with shredded chicken, smoked sausage, ground turkey or extra lean ground beef.
Starches: Add some potatoes, pasta, beans, brown rice or quinoa to the soup.
Vegetables: You can use your favorite veggies for this soup, some great options include corn, zucchini, butternut squash, broccoli, mushrooms, leeks and spinach.

Is This Recipe Healthy?

Ham and cabbage soup is a great way to get in your veggies and also happens to be a lower-calorie soup. This soup is only 250 calories a serving.

Any broth based vegetable soup would be a nice choice if you’re trying to eat healthier. Steer clear of soups that contain higher calorie ingredients such as cream, cream cheese, pasta and cheese.

I eat this soup all the time, it’s the absolute best way to get a hefty dose of veggies into your day and it also happens to taste great! Make a batch today and enjoy it all week long for a healthy boost.

large blue pot filled with soup on red pot holder.

How to Cook in the Slow Cooker

This recipe can easily be adapted for use in the slow cooker. Place all of the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 2 hours. Serve with crusty bread and/or a side salad.

too much cabbage?

Don’t let cabbage go to waste! My favorite cabbage recipes are Cabbage and Noodles, Polish Cabbage Rolls, Cabbage Roll Casserole , Cabbage Soup and Slow Cooker Sausage and Cabbage.

browse all cabbage recipes

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