Sausage, Potato and Cabbage Soup (Print Version)

Hearty soup with savory sausage, creamy potatoes, and tender cabbage in a flavorful broth—ideal for cold days.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 14 oz smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced into rounds

→ Vegetables

02 - 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
03 - 1 small head green cabbage, cored and chopped
04 - 1 large onion, chopped
05 - 2 carrots, sliced
06 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
07 - 3 garlic cloves, minced

→ Liquids and Broth

08 - 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Spices and Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - 1 bay leaf

→ Optional Garnish

15 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
16 - Sour cream or crusty bread, for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add sausage slices and cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
02 - In the same pot, add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in garlic, smoked paprika, and thyme. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add potatoes, cabbage, and browned sausage back to the pot. Pour in broth and add bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
05 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, or until potatoes and cabbage are tender.
06 - Remove bay leaf. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve hot with sour cream or crusty bread if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It fills your kitchen with the kind of aroma that makes everyone wander in asking when dinner will be ready.
  • You can throw it together on a weeknight without any fancy techniques or hard to find ingredients.
  • Leftovers somehow taste even richer the next day, making lunch something to actually look forward to.
  • It's hearty enough to feel like a full meal but won't leave you feeling heavy or sluggish afterward.
02 -
  • Don't skip browning the sausage—that caramelization adds a depth you just can't get any other way.
  • If your broth tastes flat at the end, a splash of vinegar or squeeze of lemon juice will brighten everything up instantly.
  • Let the soup rest for 10 minutes before serving so the flavors settle and meld together beautifully.
03 -
  • Use a mix of green and purple cabbage for a more colorful, visually striking soup.
  • If you want a creamier texture without adding dairy, mash a few of the cooked potato pieces against the side of the pot before serving.
  • Always taste before adding more salt—the sausage and broth can vary wildly in sodium content depending on the brand.
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