This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This Cabbage, Sausage and Potato Soup recipe is totally hearty and comforting, full of the best savory flavors, easy to make, and it’s guaranteed to warm you right up!
Guys, this soup.
It’s only the middle of September, and I have already made it threetimes this past month. And when I say three times, keep in mind that I’m now married to a handsome vegetarian who won’t come anywhere near this one. Which means this huge, simmering, delicious pot of soup (plus leftovers) are exclusively for Yours Truly.
And I still can’t get enough of it!
This is probably due in part to the fact that I’m about 30 years late to the party that is cabbage soup. I’m not sure why, but our family never grew up eating it, and for years I used to only think of it only in terms of those crazy fad diets, and never really tried a good bowl until a few years ago. But the second I did — oh man, guys — it was cabbage soup love at first bite. Especially when you add some smoked kielbasa sausage to the picture, and some hearty potatoes, and lots of savory and garlicky seasonings — this feel-good, hearty, savory, delicious soup is comfort food to the max.
I wish I squeeze you all around my table and ladle you up a steaming bowl for yourself right now. But instead, I’m just going to beg you to stir up a pot for yourself. Because this soup = magic. ?
Cabbage Soup Recipe | 1-Minute Video
And the good news? It’s also incredibly easy to make!
Begin with your starring ingredient — a small head of green cabbage. We’re going to use it all in this pot of soup. And even though it’s going to turn into a small mountain of greens once it has been chopped, don’t worry, because it’ll all wilt down once we add it to the soup.
The second most important ingredient here is a good package of kielbasa sausage. Really, you can use just about any kind of smoked sausage here (or even bratwurst). But I’m partial to kielbasa here with its smoky, garlicky flavors (that usually include caraway, too). You’re welcome to use traditional pork sausage here, or chicken or turkey or vegan sausage. You pick.
Begin by sautéing the sausage for a few minutes in a large stockpot(affiliate link) until it is lightly browned. Then transfer it to a separate plate to save for later.
Sauté the rest of your veggies and all of that cabbage, then add the remaining ingredients and let the soup simmer until those potatoes are nice and tender. Season with salt and pepper (I recommend extra black pepper with this one), and soon enough…
…these delicious bowls of cabbage soup will be yours to serve and enjoy.
This Cabbage, Sausage and Potato Soup recipe is nice and hearty and comforting, it’s full of the best savory flavors, and it’s guaranteed to warm you right up!
Ingredients
Scale
1 pound kielbasa sausage*, sliced into bite-sized pieces
1 small green cabbage, chopped into bite-sized pieces
3 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 pound red potatoes, diced
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, homemade or store-bought
1 bay leaf
Kosher salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
Instructions
Add sausage to a large stockpot and cook over medium-heat for 5-6 minutes, stirring and flipping occasionally, until the sausage is lightly browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the sausage to a separate plate, and set aside.
Add the olive oil, leeks, carrots and celery to the pan, and stir to combine. Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add the cabbage and garlic, and sauté for 4 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the stock, potatoes, Italian seasoning, bay leaf, cooked sausage, and stir to combine. Continue cooking until the soup reaches a simmer. Then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked and tender.
Remove and discard the bay leaf. Taste and season with a few generous pinches of salt and black pepper as needed. (Also, depending on how seasoned your sausage is, feel free to stir in a extra few teaspoons of Italian seasoning if you think it needs some extra flavor. A pinch of crushed red pepper flakes will also help bring out the flavors.)
Serve warm. Or refrigerate in sealed containers for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
*Feel free to use traditional kielbasa sausage, or any kind of smoked pork, chicken, turkey, or vegan sausage that you’d like. (Bratwurst also works!)
**If making this recipe gluten-free, be sure to double-check that your sausage is certified GF.
This soup was delicious and my family loved it! The only thing I changed was not adding the bay leaf or the Italian seasoning just because I don’t care for those spices and I didn’t have leaks so I used onion. Oh yes I used unsalted chicken broth because it’s all I ever use. So so good!
Absolutely deliciously filling and so tasty! I made it yesterday with Pearl Barley and gave some away so today I made it with potatoes, both are equally good. Thank you for sharing your recipe, bring on more!
Very tasty on a cold day. I used plant based sausage and vegetable stock. Doubled garlic and used extra Italian seasonings. After done I added some red pepper flakes.
Made two times now in a month. Very hearty and seasoned well. I just used chicken bouillon and 8 c water. Also added can of Rotelle tomatoes “hot”. I use a whole onion chopped very rough instead of leeks. Very very good!
My family loves this soup and I make it exactly as the recipe says. Like most soups, it’s customizable to specific tastes, but we’ve seen no need to alter it. My daughter did suggest adding a dollop of spicy brown mustard to a serving, and that really kicks it up. Serve with a warm loaf of crusty bread, and a meal doesn’t get much better.
I just made it and it turned out great! I did add the chili flakes for some spice and I threw in a little red wine vinegar because, for me, cabbage always needs that little zip but other than that followed the recipe exactly. Really good!
I haven’t made this in a while and decided to make it as a quick meal. I used fresh pork sausage from Whole Foods and it def adds a little kick to it! This recipe is one of my favorites!
I used leftover smothered cabbage from new years (I added it when I added the potatoes), andouille sausage instead of kielbasa and used Cajun seasoning instead of Italian. Omg. So good!!! I will definitely be trying the original recipe soon!
Wow!
Yummy and easy!! I didn’t have leeks on hand, used sweet onion. Added red bell pepper because they needed to be used. Added my favorite seasonings. Husband raving about goodness on this cold and snowy day. So delicious- Thank you!
Yummy. I also make this Cajun Style. Cajun Seasoning, and or Old Bay, add Shrimp served over rice very respectable. Made it w Kidney Beans too. I prefer the Cajun seasoning. It’s very versatile when you need to clean out the fridge:)
This soup was delicious and my family loved it! The only thing I changed was not adding the bay leaf or the Italian seasoning just because I don’t care for those spices and I didn’t have leaks so I used onion. Oh yes I used unsalted chicken broth because it’s all I ever use. So so good!
Absolutely deliciously filling and so tasty! I made it yesterday with Pearl Barley and gave some away so today I made it with potatoes, both are equally good. Thank you for sharing your recipe, bring on more!
This is very good! Do you have a calorie count on this recipe? If not, I can figure it out.
If I make this in my instant pot, how many minutes in manual?
This is my absolute favorite soup. So versatile and I never get tired of it. It was a great use of leftover turkey and herbs from Thanksgiving!
Delicious on a bone chilling winter day! I prepared it exactly as written. Love your recipes, thank you!
Very tasty on a cold day. I used plant based sausage and vegetable stock. Doubled garlic and used extra Italian seasonings. After done I added some red pepper flakes.
Made two times now in a month. Very hearty and seasoned well. I just used chicken bouillon and 8 c water. Also added can of Rotelle tomatoes “hot”. I use a whole onion chopped very rough instead of leeks. Very very good!
We loved this soup so much! We will definitely make this again with some cornbread!
My family loves this soup and I make it exactly as the recipe says. Like most soups, it’s customizable to specific tastes, but we’ve seen no need to alter it. My daughter did suggest adding a dollop of spicy brown mustard to a serving, and that really kicks it up. Serve with a warm loaf of crusty bread, and a meal doesn’t get much better.
I haven’t made this yet but I know it’s going to be good. I can hardly wait
This was really good! I will definitely make again.
CAN YOU PLEASE POST THE NUTRITIONAL VALUES FOR THIS RECIPE. THANK YOU.
MARIANNE M.
One of my fave recipes from your page!! Making it as we speak!
This is my second time making this, so delicious! Thank you 😊
I just made it and it turned out great! I did add the chili flakes for some spice and I threw in a little red wine vinegar because, for me, cabbage always needs that little zip but other than that followed the recipe exactly. Really good!
Any chance of getting nutritional information for this recipe?
My daughters said this was the best soup I’ve ever made! I loved it, too, and will be making it again next week! Hahaha
I haven’t made this in a while and decided to make it as a quick meal. I used fresh pork sausage from Whole Foods and it def adds a little kick to it! This recipe is one of my favorites!
I used leftover smothered cabbage from new years (I added it when I added the potatoes), andouille sausage instead of kielbasa and used Cajun seasoning instead of Italian. Omg. So good!!! I will definitely be trying the original recipe soon!
Wow!
Yummy and easy!! I didn’t have leeks on hand, used sweet onion. Added red bell pepper because they needed to be used. Added my favorite seasonings. Husband raving about goodness on this cold and snowy day. So delicious- Thank you!
Yummy. I also make this Cajun Style. Cajun Seasoning, and or Old Bay, add Shrimp served over rice very respectable. Made it w Kidney Beans too. I prefer the Cajun seasoning. It’s very versatile when you need to clean out the fridge:)
I added sauteed onions, andouli sausage and russett potatoes still turn out really good.