This easy Instant Pot Cabbage Soup recipe is the perfect wholesome soup! Made with humble ingredients that are loaded with nutrients, this vegetarian cabbage soup is low in calories, yet delivers big flavor with ease.
I have been on a soup kick lately! From Instant Pot White Bean and Kale Soup to Instant Pot Pasta Fagioli to Instant Pot Minestrone to this recipe for Instant Pot Cabbage Soup, I can't get enough Instant Pot Soups!
And with good reason! Thanks to the Instant Pot, you can create a flavorful soup using economical ingredients in record time. There isn't anything much better on a chilly evening.
Reasons to Love Instant Pot Cabbage Soup
- Economical Recipe. Cabbage soup is known to be one of the cheapest recipes out there.
- Flavorful. Don't let the humble ingredients fool you, this soup is extremely flavorful thanks to the oregano, garlic, lemon juice, and sauteed veggies.
- Low in Fat & Calories. While full of flavors, cabbage soup is often called Detox Soup or Diet Soup, as it is so low in both fat and calories.
- Nutrient-Dense. According to WebMD, cabbage is full of fiber and vitamins. Add in the vitamins and antioxidants found in carrots, onions, garlic, and tomatoes, this humble soup is packed with wholesome ingredients.
- Allergy-Friendly. As written, this cabbage soup recipe is vegetarian, vegan-friendly, gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free. It can easily be made low-carb by omitting the potatoes as well.
Notes on Ingredients & Equipment
- Aromatics: A yellow onion, fresh celery, carrots, and garlic are the building blocks to creating this flavorful soup using super simple ingredients.
- Oil: I recommend using olive oil for the best flavor.
- Broth + Water: For this cabbage soup recipe, you can opt to use all vegetable broth, all water, or a combination of broth and water. Feel free to use chicken stock if you aren't looking to keep this soup vegetarian.
- Potatoes: I prefer using Yukon gold potatoes, which are creamy and hold up well in this soup. Feel free to use peeled russet potatoes or red potatoes if that is what you have on hand.
- Cabbage: Use green cabbage, not Savoy cabbage or purple cabbage.
- Diced Tomatoes: Use regular diced tomatoes with their juices.
- Seasonings: Oregano, salt, pepper, and bay leaves. I recommend using kosher salt, which will enhance the flavors, rather than making the dish taste salty.
- Lemon Juice: Finishing the cabbage soup with fresh lemon juice will help to bring all the flavors to life. It is a simple way to finish the soup with a big impact.
- Pressure Cooker: This recipe is designed to work in a 6 or 8-quart Instant Pot. For a 3-quart model, you must cut the recipe in half. You can double the recipe if using an 8-quart model.
Recipe Modifications
- No Broth? If you don't have broth on hand, you can simply use water. I would double the salt, pepper, garlic, and oregano to add additional flavor to the soup.
- Add Meat: If desiring a hearty soup similar to Cabbage Roll Soup, brown up to 1 pound of lean ground beef or turkey along with the carrots, celery, and onions before proceeding with pressure cooking.
- Low-Carb Modification: Instant Pot Cabbage Soup is already lower in carbs, but if you are following a strict diet, omit the potatoes from the soup.
Kristen's Tip
This soup only calls for a ½ head of cabbage. Use the remaining cabbage to add to salads, top fish tacos, make homemade coleslaw, Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage, or roast alongside brats for a simple dinner.
How to Make Cabbage Soup in an Instant Pot
The following steps and tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post or follow along as I make this dish in the video below.
Step One: Saute Aromatics. Don't be tempted to simply dump the raw onions, carrots, and celery into the soup and pressure cook. Taking the time to saute the vegetables will enhance the soup tenfold.
Step Two: Deglaze the Inner Pot. Any time you use the saute function, it is crucial to add thin liquid to the inner pot and scrape up any browned bits off the bottom of the inner pot. Not only will this prevent a burn notice from occurring, but those browned bits will add flavor to the cabbage soup.
Step Three: Layer Ingredients. Your Instant Pot will look extremely full after layering the potatoes, cabbage, and tomatoes into your inner pot. Don't worry, that cabbage will significantly wilt down as it pressure cooks.
Step Four: Pressure Cook. To perfectly cook the potatoes and cabbage, this recipe for Instant Pot Cabbage Soup only requires a cooking time of 2 minutes. Keep in mind that you must allow for at least 15 minutes of natural pressure release after the cooking time has elapsed. This will prevent hot liquid from spewing out of the venting knob AND help finish cooking the soup.
Step Five: Finish and Serve. Once the pressure has released stir in the lemon juice, removing the bay leaves as you come across them.
Cabbage Soup Serving Suggestions
This cozy, wholesome soup is delicious on its own, but because it is low in calories, I recommend pairing cabbage soup with some crusty bread, homemade rolls, and/or a salad on the side.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerate: Allow any leftover cabbage soup to cool slightly and then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: Transfer the cooled soup to a freezer-safe container, leaving 1 inch of space for expansion. Freeze the soup for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: If needed, defrost the cabbage soup overnight in the refrigerator. To reheat the soup, reheat individual servings in a heat-safe bowl covered with a damp paper towel in 60-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until warmed through. Alternatively, warm the soup in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed through.
More Favorite Instant Pot Soup Recipes
- Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup
- Instant Pot French Onion Soup
- Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
If you tried this recipe for Cabbage Soup, I would love for you to leave a review and comment below.
Instant Pot Cabbage Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion minced
- 1 large carrot diced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cups water or additional broth
- 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or additional water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 2 medium Yukon gold potatoes scrubbed well and diced into 1-inch chunks
- ½ head green cabbage chopped
- 1 (15oz can) diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice ~1 medium lemon
Instructions
- Turn your Instant Pot to the saute setting. Add the olive oil to the instant pot and let it heat for a few seconds, then add the onion, celery, and carrots. Stir and saute for about 2-3 minutes, or until the onion softens. Once the onion has softened, add the minced garlic and dried oregano and allow to saute for 30-60 seconds just to toast. Then hit cancel on the inner pot to turn off the saute function.
- Add the water (or broth) to the inner pot and use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the inner pot.
- Add the broth, salt, pepper, potatoes, and bay leaves to the instant pot and stir to combine. Gently stir in the cabbage. Pour the diced tomatoes on top of the ingredients inside the inner pot, and gently stir into the soup, it is okay if the tomatoes aren’t fully mixed into the soup.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot, be sure the vent knob is sealed or locked, and using the manual or pressure cook setting, set it to cook on high pressure for 2 minutes. Once the cooking time has elapsed, allow the pressure to release naturally, or for at least 15 minutes.
- Carefully remove the lid from the instant pot, add in the fresh lemon juice, and stir. As you stir, remove the bay leaves and discard. Serve.
Neil
Thank you for a delicious recipe Neil
Barbara Whicker
I don't own an Instant Pot. Would love to make your cabbage soup, but I'm always disappointed when the Instant Pot is needed. I wish you would add an alternative process.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Barbara! You can make this recipe using the exact same ingredients in a crockpot. Cook on low heat for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Enjoy!
Kristen
Could you add dried white beans to this in the instant pot? This will be the first time making a soup in the instant pot. Thanks!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Kristen! Love the name 😉 I would recommend cooking the dried beans separately using my recipe for Dried Beans, as they need a lot longer to soften and should not be cooked with salt, as that can interfere with the cooking process. Then I would proceed with recipe. Enjoy!
Jenn
Cozy and comforting! Just what I was looking for with all this cold weather!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed, Jenn! It is a super cozy soup!
Matt
Just whipped up a batch of this for the first time. I did not deviate from your recipe. DELICIOUS!!! Thanks so much for sharing your instant pot expertise with us.
Kristen Chidsey
So happy to hear you enjoyed the Cabbage Soup, Matt! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review as well.
Allison
This was the perfect recipe for a chilly winter night. We had it with crusty bread and it was delicious!
Kristen Chidsey
One of my favorites on a cold night too!