Cabbage rolls have to be one of my family’s favorite comfort foods, but they are so incredibly time-consuming to make! That’s why I set out to make not just an Instant Pot Cabbage Roll recipe, but an Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup recipe! All of the flavor of cabbage rolls – in a bowl!

Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup Recipe

I always loved it when my grandmother would make cabbage rolls.

As a child, I had no idea how much work went into each and every roll. All I knew was that they were delicious!

When I started university she gave me a handwritten copy of her treasured recipe, and after my first attempt I gained a whole new appreciation for her cooking: those rolls were tricky and took forever to make!

As tasty as her recipe is, I’ve only been able to bring myself to make them a handful of times because they require so much time in the kitchen. I’ve tried lots of “lazy cabbage roll recipes” since and nothing really has measured up. Until this cabbage roll soup!

The key to this soup is to really amp up the flavor! 

Since the cooking time on this recipe is only 20 minutes (!) you really need to add more seasoning than you think necessary for that flavor to really come through on the final dish.

However, I found that everything (including the cabbage) was cooked perfectly in that short cooking time, especially since we opted for cauliflower rice (added at the end) rather than conventional rice (which could get pretty soggy after 20 minutes).

Now this recipe makes a LOT of soup, and you can extend it out further by adding more water, tomatoes and seasoning. As it is, this recipe makes 10 cups and each cup is so filling, I consider it a single serving.

This low-carb Instant Pot cabbage roll soup delivers all the comforting flavors of traditional cabbage rolls – savory ground meat, tender cabbage, and rich tomato broth – in just 35 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, it’s hearty and filling at only 8g net carbs per cup.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick comfort food fix. This soup captures grandma’s classic cabbage roll taste without hours of prep, ready in under 40 minutes on the Instant Pot (and about 15 minutes of prep, even if you’re a slow chopper).

• Low-carb and filling. At 171 calories and 8g net carbs per cup, it satisfies hunger while fitting keto or low-carb diets perfectly. (Note: 1 cup of this soup works out to 8g net carbs. A big bowl like I’m showing in my pictures is closer to 16g net carbs but it would be a very filling meal.)

• Customizable volume makes this scalable and budget-friendly. Easily scales up by doubling tomatoes, water and seasonings for a big batch that freezes well (without having to increase the cabbage and meat).

Low-Carb Cabbage Roll Soup FAQs

Low Carb Cabbage Roll Soup Ingredients

Scroll down to the recipe card below for exact ingredient measurements and nutritional info.

• Oil of choice
• Onion, diced – opt for yellow or white onions, adding sweetness and depth.
• Garlic cloves, smashed
• Ground chicken or beef – provides lean protein and heartiness; opt for 85% lean beef if richer flavor desired.
• Cabbage, chopped – delivers the signature texture and bulk; choose firm green heads to avoid mushiness.
• Canned tomatoes, with juice – adds tangy acidity, richness and body; fire-roasted varieties boost smokiness.
• Water
• Paprika – adds classic flavor of traditional cabbage rolls with it’s earthy warmth and peppery sweetness.
• Salt and pepper
• Cauliflower rice – keeps the soup low-carb and adds chew without sogginess.

Tip: for even more soup, double the tomatoes, water, paprika and salt and pepper.

Easy Swaps and Variations

• Swap ground chicken or beef for ground turkey, pork or Italian sausage for varied savoriness.
• Use beef or vegetable broth instead of water for deeper umami flavor.
• Add diced carrots or celery with cabbage for extra veggies and crunch.
• Include a bay leaf or thyme during pressure cook for herbal notes.
• For non-low-carb, use white or brown rice instead of cauliflower rice.
• Skip the chopping and use shredded cabbage mix (coleslaw mix) for a quicker recipe prep.

How to Make Cabbage Roll Soup in an Instant Pot

Place oil in IP and set to saute setting.

Add onion and cook until translucent, about 2 minutes.

Add garlic and ground chicken and cook until chicken is browned.

Turn off IP and add cabbage, tomatoes, water and seasoning.

Secure lid of IP and select soup setting for 20 minutes.

Natural release, remove lid and add cauliflower rice. Place lid on IP for 5 minutes to allow cauliflower rice to heat through and absorb some of the broth.

Recipe Tips for Success:

• Don’t skimp on seasonings since the short 20-minute cook needs bold flavor to shine.
• Sauté onions until translucent and meat until fully browned first for a flavor foundation that pressure cooking amplifies.
• Stir in cauliflower rice after cooking to prevent mush; it reheats perfectly for meal prep.

Pin this Instant Pot Low Carb Soup recipe:

Grab your free printable for our Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup (Printable Recipe Card):

If you tried this recipe and loved it too, please rate it! We’d also love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Yield: 10 cups

Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup

Print

Skip the tedious rolling of traditional cabbage rolls and make this 35 minute Instant Pot Cabbage Roll soup with all of the flavor of the original - with a low-carb twist!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Additional Time 5 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon oil of choice
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, smashed
• 1lb ground chicken or beef
• 3 cups cabbage, chopped
• 1-28oz can tomatoes, with juice
• 28oz water, or more to taste
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 cups cauliflower rice

Instructions

1. Place oil in IP and set to saute setting.
2. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 2 minutes.
3. Add garlic and ground chicken and cook until chicken is browned.
4. Turn off IP and add cabbage, tomatoes, water and seasoning.
5. Secure lid of IP and select soup setting for 20 minutes.
6. Natural release, remove lid and add cauliflower rice. Place lid on IP for 5 minutes to allow cauliflower rice to heat through and absorb some of the broth.

Notes

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Instant Pot 
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Spatula
• Sharp kitchen knife
• Cutting board

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 171Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 188mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 15g

This low carb soup recipe is comfort food in a bowl! It’s so incredibly filling, so it’s perfect for busy nights when you don’t have a lot of time to cook or eat.

For more low carb instant pot recipes, check out our Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken and Cauliflower or our Instant Pot Asparagus Soup.