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Slow Cooker Spicy Cabbage Beef Soup

Slow Cooker Spicy Cabbage Beef Soup with a deep red-orange tomato broth and very tender cabbage, carrots, and celery. Let it simmer low for hours so the flavors meld, then finish with salt, green onions, and hot sauce.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 470

Ingredients
  

Ground beef
  • 1.5 lb ground beef Brown and drain before adding to the slow cooker.
Cabbage and vegetables
  • 1 cabbage Core and roughly chop.
  • 3 carrots Slice.
  • 3 celery Slice.
  • 1 onion Dice.
  • 4 garlic Minced.
Tomatoes and broth
  • 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 4 cup beef broth
Seasonings and heat
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes Adjust to taste.
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 0.25 salt To taste.
  • 0.25 pepper To taste.
Serving
  • 0.25 green onions For serving.
  • 0.25 hot sauce For serving.

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Brown the beef
  1. Brown and drain the ground beef, then add it to the slow cooker.
Assemble the soup
  1. Add cabbage, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and cumin to the slow cooker, then stir to combine.
Slow cook
  1. Cook on Low for 7-8 hours, until the cabbage and vegetables are very tender, with the lid in place.
Finish and serve
  1. Season with salt and pepper to taste; the soup will be thick and deeply flavored.
Serve
  1. Ladle into bowls and top with green onions and hot sauce.

Notes

For the best tenderness, keep the lid on during the Low cook so the vegetables simmer instead of drying out. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 4 days; reheat until steaming. Freezing is yes—freeze up to 3 months and thaw in the fridge before reheating. If you want it lighter, use 90% lean or lean ground beef to reduce calories without changing the overall flavor profile.