Cabbage Soup with Sausage is loaded with great flavors and it’s filled with far more vegetables and meat than broth. Today, I’m giving you the first new soup recipe for the fall and I couldn’t be more excited about it–Italian White Bean, Cabbage, and Sausage Soup.
Updated to add: I’ve made this soup countless times over the past few years and it’s a favorite freezer meal now too.
When I first made this, we were living in the desert and that meant cranking the a/c to really enjoy a bowl of soup. Now? Living in Ohio as the weather begins cooling off? Soup is a beautiful way to warm up at dinner time!
Cabbage Soup with Sausage
Best of all, this soup comes together in under 30 minutes. I am so very ready for cooler weather and this soup represents my wishful thinking for more of the rain that we were lucky enough to see here in the Arizona desert last week.
This was a dinner that I pulled together without any advance planning at all. (The ingredients were about all we had in the house after a couple of weeks of travel!)
All it takes is browning some sausage, adding broth, beans, cabbage and simmering it all together. Onions, tomatoes, and lots of Italian herbs and spices add the finishing touches.
Italian White Bean and Sausage Soup is ideal for a weeknight meal and also makes enough that you’re likely to have leftovers for lunch the next day!
I love adding sausage to my soups. It adds a terrific flavor and holds up very nicely both for leftovers and for soups stashed in the freezer.
This soup is so hearty that it’s almost more of a stew. This is plenty filling enough for a full meal on its own, especially served with a side of crusty Italian Bread or soup crackers.
When you’re feeding a crowd, cabbage and sausage soups are an economical choice, too. Cabbage is one of the least expensive vegetables per pound and sausage can be found at a bargain, too.
Cabbage and Sausage Soup
You can use either regular breakfast sausage or a spicier variety of sausage to make this soup recipe. I’ve used both depending on what I have on hand and it turned out well both ways. If you’re a spice lover, using hot sausage adds a kick you’re sure to love!
The Italian white beans add a lovely element of texture and flavor to the sausage soup with cabbage. White beans, navy beans and Cannellini beans all work beautifully in the soup. I enjoy that they don’t get mushy but the creaminess contrasts well with the bits of sausage and cabbage.
The first time I made this soup it turned out so well that my husband commented twice about how much he liked it. So, I decided to photograph my dinner before sitting down to eat it.
It’s super easy to whip up a double batch of this recipe in order to keep plenty on hand in the freezer. When he was working outside the home, Sean used to take this soup for his lunch at work on a regular basis.
More Favorite Soups for Fall
If your weather is cooling off and you’re ready for even more soup recipes, here are some of our best soups that go from start to finish in less than 30 minutes: Three Bean Minestrone Soup, Creamy Mexican Chicken and Corn Soup, Reuben Soup, Chicken, White Bean, and Kale Soup, White Bean, Spinach, and Beef Soup, and Pasta Pizza Soup are all big favorites with my family.
This classic French Onion Soup and this Mexican Noodle Soup are calling my name as well, so they’re on my must-try list for fall as well.
There is just something about tomatoes and Italian spices simmering that never fails to make me smile. Luckily for me, everyone in my family shares this love of Italian flavors in Italian Chicken and Vegetable Soup.
Kitchen Tip: I use this pot or this (fantastic deal ->) dutch oven when I make this recipe!
Sausage Cabbage Soup
- Cook and crumble the sausage in a large pot, over medium high heat.
- When the sausage has almost finished browning, add the onions.
- Cook for a few more minutes, until the sausage has browned and the onions are tender.
- Add the cabbage, beans, tomatoes, broth, and spices.
- Stir to combine and bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes to soften the cabbage.
Sausage Soup Recipes
I almost always have sausage on hand in my fridge for quick and easy meals throughout the week. Pair it with cabbage or another veggie and you have a delicious filling meal that pleases both kids and adults.
If you like sausage soups, check out our Hearty Italian Vegetable Beef Soup, this Cabbage, Potato, and Sausage Soup, and Sean’s favorite Corned Beef and Cabbage Stew.
Along with soups, I love sausage and cabbage in these Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls and Cabbage Ribbons with Sausage and Thyme Marinara Sauce. This fall I also plan to make at least a few batches of Italian Corn Soup with Sausage to stock in the freezer for easy lunches and dinners.
Tender chunks of roast chicken, creamy white beans and fresh kale combine with a sprinkling of herbs and a bit of chicken broth to make a surprisingly hearty meal.
When the weather is chilly, it’s hard to beat the comfort of a steaming bowl of soup. And this sausage soup is delicious enough that I’ve even found myself making it when it’s not exactly fall weather outside. (We do live in Arizona, so that’s often.)
Add this one to your meal plan for the week; you won’t be sorry!
Italian White Bean, Cabbage, and Sausage Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound hot or regular breakfast sausage
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 small cabbage sliced into bite size pieces, about 4 cups worth
- 14 ounces canned diced tomatoes
- 15 ounces canned great northern beans drained
- 48 ounces chicken broth store-bought or homemade
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon basil
- ¼ teaspoon thyme
Instructions
- Cook and crumble the sausage in a large pot, over medium high heat. When the sausage has almost finished browning, add the onions. Cook for a few more minutes, until the sausage has browned and the onions are tender.
- Add the cabbage, beans, tomatoes, broth, and spices. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes to soften the cabbage. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
{originally posted 8/6/14 – recipe notes and photos updated 9/6/22}
Dean says
Can you can this soup or freeze it.
Mary says
I freeze these soup all the time. Enjoy!
Brenda Rathsack says
Hi Mary, so far every recipe that I have seen of yours looks fantastic! I love Mexican food and I can’t wait to try your soups. They will be my first place to go! Thanks so much.
Courtney says
I love this soup! I have made it many times and add in whatever veggies I have on hand. Carrots added along with extra cabbage and extra beans is the best!
Laua says
Make this today…Very good…added two cans of beans….
Jennifer says
How long can this last in the fridge? Making this tomorrow and hoping to get some lunches for work out of it.
Danel Waldron says
I love this soup and have made it many times! I’m wondering if anyone has made it with chicken to give it a slightly milder flavor? I’m looking for recipes I can make for my dad, who is starting chemo, and need to find recipes I can tone down a bit so they don’t upset his stomach. Thank you!!
Dortha Baldi says
Hi Daniel, I just posted my comment before seeing yours., I just made this soup using leftover skinless smoked turkey sausage, (just sliced it.) Came out great!
Nadine says
what is the nutritional value on this recipe?
thanks!
Sally says
That’s what I’m wondering too.
April Hoosier says
Do you drain the sausage
Mary says
If there is a good amount of grease, yes.
Maureen says
Would this turn out well in a crockpot?
Mary says
I’m sure it would. However, it’s such a fast soup, I typically make it stovetop.
Liz says
Such an easy, flavorful soup! Perfect cold weather comfort food!
Marilyn says
Mary
I made this for dinner last night and am busy printing copies for friends! My husband loved it along with his Grilled Cheese sandwich (which he claims is the law with soup!!!)
Christen says
All the recipes I have read for this kind of soup call for chicken broth, but could beef broth be used instead or should I stick with the chicken broth? This looks devine, can’t wait to try this recipe tomorrow! Thanks for sharing this!
Mary says
You bet. This is delicious with beef broth as well. I typically have chicken broth on hand more frequently.
Monica says
I just made this soup. It’s a cold day and I wanted to make soup that was quick and tasty. This soup is both. I made it with some sweet honey skillet cornbread and it complements this soup well. I will definitely be making this again and again. Thanks Mary!
Suzy Stamper says
This looks so delicious I have been looking @ it for a few weeks now so I think today is the day I will give it a try.!!!
Ronni says
I made this to use up a piece of cabbage sitting in the fridge. It was terrific. I’m the only one in family that eats cabbage but that just means more for me.
Jean says
I made this soup Monday. It is EVERYTHING you see others write in their reviews. I altered it only in my own desire to add veggies left from the Thanksgiving relish tray. It’s beyond delicious and good with a “hard” bread.
Linda Lee says
I am glad to have found a cabbage soup. I can’t to try it. It looks delicious.
Joanne Miller says
Delicious! Made pretty much exactly as written but added some carrots since I had some that needed using up. Turned out delicious. Served with homemade french bread! Also reheated nicely. thanks for the awesome recipe!
Sherry says
Loved this soup. I used turkey sausage, delicious.
Dortha Baldi says
I made this yesterday. I used leftover skinless smoked turkey sausage. Delish.