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I can’t get enough of this White Bean Cabbage Soup, loaded with creamy beans, tender cabbage, and hearty sausage. I’ve been making this soup and refining the recipe during soup season over the last several years. And, it doesn’t get better than this for me. This is the kind of meal that warms you from the inside out, no matter how cold it gets outside.
White Bean Cabbage Soup
Soup season is the BEST. Not much beats a simmering pot on the stove filling my house with warm, savory scents. And, hearty soups that are loaded with flavor? Pretty much a guaranteed winner at my house. That puts this white bean cabbage soup pretty high on the requested list for those of us who like cabbage.
And, the best part is that it has a super simple ingredients list and takes very little effort to make. I’m all about recipes that I don’t have to fuss with. This soup gives me the freedom to throw together a side dish at the same time. And, that usually means these cheesy biscuits. Because who doesn’t love a fresh baked bread to dip in their soup?
The textures in this soup are incredible. You can use any white beans (cannellini or great northern beans, typically) but I really love cannellini beans for that super creamy texture. Chewing each bite makes it feel like this soup has a much thicker base than it actually does. Who needs to stand over the pot for hours when I’ve got beans like this?
And, the cabbage? Slow heat transforms the tough crucifer I grew up hating into the tender crisp delight that I can’t get enough of as an adult. Seriously, if you’re not a fan of cabbage, try frying cabbage with bacon and it will blow your mind!
But, for full disclosure, my newfound love of cabbage has finally tapped out my husband Sean on cabbage recipes. So, be careful how often you make it. Still, I don’t mind that these days he leaves more for me if there are leftovers.
Cabbage and Bean Soup Recipe
I almost always add some form of additional protein to vegetable dishes like this cabbage and bean soup recipe. Making cabbage soup with sausage feels like it rounds out the recipe, the same way that a bit of meat elevates this cabbage and potatoes casserole.
There are times when a meal without meat can feel a bit unfinished. That said, I’ve made this soup both with and without the sausage and we enjoy it both ways.
For this recipe, I finally settled on hot sausage because I think the lingering heat (don’t worry, it’s subtle!) pairs beautifully with the seasonings. And, I’m unapologetically ok with some spice in my food. I mean, I grew up in New Mexico. It’s bound to happen. But, you can totally swap that out for a tamer sausage, if you want to avoid the heat.
You can even swap ground beef for the sausage in this recipe if that’s more your style. However, keep in mind that you will need to increase the seasonings when cooking with beef. I typically double the taco seasoning for this cabbage and bean soup when making it with ground beef instead of sausage.
In my experience, cabbage takes quite a bit of seasoning. So, for this sausage and cabbage soup, I almost always add extra cumin and salt. That said, do a taste test before adding additional salt. (This has saved me, many times!) Everyone has different preferences. So, follow your taste buds!
White Bean Cabbage Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound hot sausage
- ¼ cup homemade or store-bought taco seasoning
- 1 small green cabbage cut into bite size pieces
- 60 ounces canned white beans, drained (this is 4 cans)
- 56 ounces chicken stock or broth about 7 cups
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- In a large pot, over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the sausage. Sprinkle with taco seasoning as it cooks.
- Add the cabbage, white beans, chicken broth, salt, and cumin. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.
- Reduce to a simmer for about 5 minutes, until the cabbage is bright green and slightly tender. Taste and adjust salt as desired.
- Remove from the heat, add cilantro, and stir once more. Scoop into bowls and garnish with additional cilantro, if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Could you do this in a crockpot?
You could use a crock pot if you would like, Kathy.