Best Cabbage Soup Recipe

Cabbage soup for weight loss recipe is my go to when I want a low calorie, homemade cabbage soup that still feels cozy and satisfying. This weight loss cabbage soup recipe is packed with fiber-rich veggies, tastes genuinely flavorful not “diet sad”, and works beautifully and perfect for meal prep.

This healthy, low-calorie cabbage soup meal keeps you full while supporting your weight loss goals. It is packed with wholesome vegetables and bold flavors, this cabbage soup is perfect for lunch or dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Cabbage Soup

• Light but satisfying: Lots of fibre rich vegetables and broth, so it feels like a big bowl of comfort without being heavy.
• Healthy & vegetarian: Naturally vegetarian, easily vegan and gluten-free if you use vegetable broth.
• Simple ingredients: Onion, carrots, celery, cabbage, bell pepper, tomatoes, herbs and a few pantry spices nothing fancy.
• Quick & one pot: Everything cooks in one pressure cooker/Instant Pot, with only a bit of chopping and minimal hands-on time.
• Meal prep friendly: This cabbage soup keeps well in the fridge and freezer, so you can batch cook once and eat for days.
• Flexible for your goals: Keep it light and brothy, or add beans/chickpeas/tofu for more protein and satiety. It can be part of a weight loss meal plan, but it is also just a great everyday soup.

This recipe makes 2 hearty servings as written. If you want a big batch for the week, use the 2x or 3x button in the recipe card.

Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe Ingredients

Here are weight loss cabbage soup diet recipe ingredients.

• Olive oil: Just a tablespoon to sauté the vegetables and build flavour. You can use avocado oil or another neutral oil if you like.
• Onion: Forms the base flavour for the soup. Yellow or white onion works well.
• Carrots: Adds natural sweetness, colour and extra fibre.
• Celery: Classic soup flavour and aroma it pairs beautifully with cabbage.
• Cabbage: The star of the soup. Use green cabbage, chopped into bite-sized pieces.
• Green bell pepper: Adds a mild sweetness and extra crunch.
• Tomatoes: Fresh tomatoes (or canned diced tomatoes) give body, tang and colour to the broth.
• Water or broth: You can use plain water or low-sodium vegetable broth for extra depth.
• Bay leaves: For subtle, savoury flavour in the broth.
• Mixed dried herbs: A blend like Italian seasoning adds aroma and warmth.
• Red chilli flakes: For a little gentle heat.
• Green chilli sauce & red chilli sauce (optional): Turn up the spice if you love a punchy, flavourful soup.
• Cayenne pepper (optional): A little goes a long way for extra warmth.
• Salt & black pepper: Seasoning that brings everything together.
• Fresh parsley or cilantro: For a fresh, bright finish on top.

Feel free to swap or add vegetables based on what’s in your fridge, this soup is very forgiving.

How to Make Cabbage Soup

This easy and simple cabbage soup diet recipe comes together in just a few simple steps:

• To make this recipe for diet cabbage soup here is an easy step by step method.
• Sauté the aromatics: In a Pan, Add olive oil and add chopped onions along with bay leaves. Saute the onion until the onions are softened. Add chopped tomatoes, carrots and celery, 1 cup of water cover and cook for the 10 minutes.
• Add the cabbage: Stir in chopped cabbage and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add in salt to taste, mixed herbs, red chili flakes, green chilli sauce, red chilli sauce, cayenne pepper (if using), black pepper powder and mix well.

• Add 2 cups water and close the lid again. Cook on high for 5 Minute and then on low for 5 min.
• After that allow it 5-7 minutes to cool down, open the lid. Your soup is ready!
• Serve: Garnish with fresh herbs and enjoy your fat burning soup hot.

Variations & Add-Ins

This is a fantastic base recipe you can customise depending on your mood and goals.

Add protein

To make this cabbage soup more filling:

• Add chickpeas, white beans, kidney beans, or lentils towards the end of cooking.
• Or stir in tofu cubes for extra plant-based protein.

If you’re not strictly vegetarian, leftover shredded chicken can also work, but the soup is delicious and complete without it.

Make it spicy Cabbage Soup

• For extra heat: increase red chilli flakes, green chilli sauce, or cayenne.
• For a milder soup: skip the chilli sauces and use only a pinch of chilli flakes, or leave them out entirely.

Add more vegetables

This soup is a great “clean out the fridge” recipe. You can add:

• Zucchini, mushrooms, spinach, or peas
• A handful of chopped kale or Swiss chard at the end
• A small potato for extra heartiness (add it with the carrots/celery so it cooks through)

Make it low carb

If you’re watching carbs: Keep the soup as written (it’s already quite low in carbs), or Skip potatoes if you add any, and focus on non-starchy vegetables like cabbage, bell pepper, celery, zucchini and leafy greens.

Classic Fat Burning Cabbage Soup

If you grew up seeing the viral cabbage fat-burning soup recipe, this is the classic flavor profile many people mean: tomato juice, canned tomatoes, and onion soup mix.
To adapt this recipe to classic Fat burning cabbage Soup:

• Add onion soup mix (or use extra garlic + onion powder + dried herbs if you prefer less processed)
• Replace part of the water/broth with tomato juice
• Add chopped green beans 
• Keep simmering until vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes on stovetop. 

Cabbage Soup and Weight Loss: How to Use It Wisely

Because this recipe is adapted from the classic cabbage soup diet soup, it’s naturally:

• Low in calories
• High in volume, water and fibre
• Packed with vegetables

That combination can make it very helpful in a weight loss friendly meal plan, as long as you use it in a balanced way:

• Have a bowl of cabbage soup as a starter before a meal.
• Make it your light lunch or dinner, and pair it with a good source of protein (beans, lentils, tofu, eggs, cottage cheese, etc.).
• Avoid using it as the only food you eat for days in a row – that’s where the original 7-day cabbage soup diet becomes too restrictive.

If you’re curious about the traditional 7-day cabbage soup diet, its pros and cons, and a more detailed breakdown, you can read my full guide on it and see why I don’t recommend following it strictly, but do love using cabbage soup as part of a realistic, long-term plan.

Cabbage Soup: Weight Watchers Points

Many versions of cabbage “weight loss soup” are considered very low or even 0 Points because they’re mostly non-starchy vegetables and broth. 
Because Points can change based on broth, oil, and add-ins, I recommend plugging your exact ingredients into the WW app especially if you add beans, extra oil or any protein.

Cabbage soup diet 7-day plan(pros, cons & healthier alternative)

Looking for the original diet wonder soup?

This recipe is more flexible and flavourful than the classic cabbage diet wonder soup. I have already shared original low-calorie cabbage soup diet soup Recipe if you are looking for Original cabbage soup recipe.

Health Benefits of Cabbage Soup

Cabbage soup is naturally:

• Rich in fibre:Cabbage, carrots and other vegetables keep you full for longer and support healthy digestion.
• Low in calories: A big bowl is surprisingly light, especially if you don’t add starchy ingredients.
• High in vitamins and antioxidants: Cabbage and tomatoes are good sources of vitamin C, vitamin K and phytochemicals that support overall health.
• Hydrating and soothing: The warm broth can feel especially comforting in colder weather or when you want something gentle on your stomach.

Nutritionally, this soup works well as:

• A lighter meal after heavier days
• A volume-adding starter before your main course
• A base you can build on with protein and whole grains

Storing, Meal Prep & Freezing

One of my favourite things about this cabbage soup is how well it works for meal prep.

Reheating:
Warm the soup in a pot on the stovetop over medium heat, or reheat in the microwave until piping hot. Give it a quick taste and adjust seasoning if needed – flavours deepen and mellow after a day or two.

In the fridge:
Let the soup cool to room temperature, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.

In the freezer:
Portion the cooled soup into freezer-safe containers (single portions are great), and freeze for up to 3 months.
Defrost overnight in the fridge or reheat gently from frozen with a splash of water or broth.

FAQs about Cabbage Soup

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Watch Video

If you prefer to watch before you cook, scroll down to the video and see exactly how this cabbage soup comes together step by step.

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