Keto Meaty Cabbage Soup Crockpot
This keto meaty cabbage soup crockpot recipe packs ground beef, sausage and plenty of cabbage into a low-carb, seasoned broth. It is hearty enough to count as dinner and uses cheap ingredients. The slow cooker softens the cabbage until it is sweet and silky.
8
servings20
minutes6
hoursBrowned ground beef and Italian sausage simmer with cabbage, tomatoes and herbs into a thick, low-carb soup. Filling enough to be a full meal.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef (80 percent lean)
1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
1 small head green cabbage (about 1 1/2 lb), chopped
1 yellow onion, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, no sugar added
2 tbsp tomato paste
6 cups beef broth
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Shredded parmesan for serving
Directions
- Brown the ground beef and sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles, until no pink remains and it reaches 160°F.
- Drain off most of the fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
- Add the onion and celery to the pan and cook 4 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
- Transfer the meat mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Add the chopped cabbage on top. It will look like too much, but it cooks down by about half.
- Pour in the diced tomatoes, beef broth, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, pepper and bay leaves.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the cabbage is soft and silky.
- Remove the bay leaves. Stir in the vinegar and taste for salt.
- If the soup is too thick, add a cup of broth or water.
- Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with parmesan.
Notes
- Use ground turkey and chicken sausage for a lighter pot. For extra richness, stir in a half cup of heavy cream at the end, and do not boil it. Cabbage soup keeps 5 days in the fridge and freezes for 3 months. Reheat gently. Each serving is low in carbs. Serve with a side salad or a slice of cheese.
Why cabbage and meat work together
Cabbage is one of the best low-carb vegetables for a soup. It is cheap, filling and soaks up the flavor of anything it simmers with. With ground beef and Italian sausage in the pot, the soup tastes rich and satisfying, not like diet food.
The slow cooker does what quick cooking cannot. After several hours the cabbage loses its raw bite and turns sweet and silky, and the sausage seasons the entire broth with fennel and garlic.
It also fits a busy week well. One pot yields eight servings, and each bowl holds up in the fridge or freezer without losing flavor or texture.
Ingredient notes
Ground beef: use 80 percent lean for flavor. Leaner beef makes a dry, thin soup, and you can drain off the extra fat after browning.
Italian sausage: it brings fennel, garlic and spice, so the soup needs fewer seasonings. Mild or hot both work. Check the label for added sugar if you are strict about carbs.
Green cabbage: pick a firm, heavy head. Cut out the core and chop the leaves into bite-sized pieces so they fit on a spoon.
Tomato paste and diced tomatoes: they give the broth color and depth. Buy tomatoes with no added sugar.
Apple cider vinegar: a spoonful at the end brightens the whole pot.
Beef broth: use a low-sodium kind with no sugar. Bone broth gives the soup extra body and a bit more protein.
Celery and onion: both are low in carbs in the small amounts used here, and they make a flavorful base for the cabbage.
Tips for soup that is not watery
Brown the meat first: browning adds flavor that slow cooking alone will not build. It also lets you drain extra grease, which would otherwise float on the surface.
Do not skimp on salt: the most common mistake with cabbage soup is under-seasoning. Cabbage soaks up salt and tastes flat without enough. Salt at the end, in small steps, until the flavor pops.
Stir cabbage in: it is a lot at first. Pack it in, and it will sink as it cooks. If your pot is too full to close the lid, cook the cabbage in two rounds.
Chop evenly: cabbage cut into pieces about one inch square cooks at the same pace. Thin ribbons cook to mush, and big wedges stay tough in the center.
Swaps and variations
For a creamier soup, stir in heavy cream or cream cheese at the end. For a lighter version, use ground turkey and chicken sausage. For extra vegetables that stay low carb, add diced zucchini or mushrooms in the last hour.
One swap that does not work is adding potatoes or rice to stretch it. They add carbs, and the soup stops being keto.
What to serve with it
The soup is a full meal on its own. For a side, serve a green salad with olive oil and lemon, or a few slices of cheese or cheesy low-carb bread. Top each bowl with grated parmesan and a pinch of black pepper.
A spoonful of sour cream or a handful of crispy bacon bits also works as a topping and keeps the carbs low.
Storing, freezing and reheating
Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for up to 5 days. Cabbage soup tastes better the next day.
Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat on the stove over medium-low heat until it reaches 165°F. The cabbage softens a little more after freezing, which most people like.
Keto Meaty Cabbage Soup Crockpot at a glance
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cooking time: 6 hours
- Servings: 8 servings
- Ingredients: 16, led by ground beef (80 percent lean), Italian sausage, head green cabbage (about 1 1/2 lb), yellow onion
Tips for Keto Meaty Cabbage Soup Crockpot
Use ground turkey and chicken sausage for a lighter pot. For extra richness, stir in a half cup of heavy cream at the end, and do not boil it. Cabbage soup keeps 5 days in the fridge and freezes for 3 months. Reheat gently. Each serving is low in carbs. Serve with a side salad or a slice of cheese.
Keto Meaty Cabbage Soup Crockpot FAQ
How long does Keto Meaty Cabbage Soup Crockpot take?
Keto Meaty Cabbage Soup Crockpot takes 6 hours of cooking after 20 minutes of prep.
How many people does Keto Meaty Cabbage Soup Crockpot serve?
This recipe makes 8 servings.
What do I need to make Keto Meaty Cabbage Soup Crockpot?
16 ingredients, led by ground beef (80 percent lean), Italian sausage, head green cabbage (about 1 1/2 lb), yellow onion. Amounts are in the recipe card above.
