Slow Cooker Kielbasa & Cabbage Soup
This delicious and easy crock pot recipe for Kielbasa and Cabbage Soup is bursting with traditional Eastern European flavors. This hearty soup is loaded with smokey kielbasa sausage, buttery potatoes, creamy white beans, and earthy white cabbage that is cooked low and slow in a rosemary-anise seed broth to make a meal that the whole family will love!
I originally shared this recipe on January 9th, 2015. I have updated some of the text and added step by step photos to share it with you today.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe for Kielbasa and Cabbage Soup
In the cold winter months here in Vermont, the chill in the air can seep deep down to your core if you let it. And it’s on these bone-chilling winter days that we yearn for dishes that touch your soul and warm you from the inside out.
For us, this means soup. Simple, hearty, comforting soup. And my slow cooker Kielbasa, Cabbage, and Potato Soup is an old-world dish that we crave on these brutally chilly days.
And what we love about this traditional dish is that it can be started in the morning and enjoyed all day long. Just plug in the slow cooker, place all ingredients in the crock, cover, and forget about it. However, this dish won’t be forgotten about for long because the heavenly smell of the smoky kielbasa simmering with the rosemary-anise seed broth will quickly fill the house and slowly begins to thaw everyone inside.
Key Ingredients For This Recipe
Kielbasa
Use your favorite traditional pork or beef kielbasa. Or if you’d prefer, a turkey kielbasa would be a wonderful healthier option for this recipe.
Cabbage
White or green cabbage can be used. Keep in mind that green cabbage has a stronger flavor so if you aren’t fond of its flavor profile, opt to use white. Here’s how to cut cabbage.
Small Potatoes
Use your favorite small, or baby, potatoes. I love the buttery flavor of Yukon Golds but feel free to use red or purple in this dish.
Beans
While I use cannellini beans in this recipe as they retain their shape extremely well when cooked for long periods of time in soups and stews; Navy or Great Northerns would also be a wonderful addition in this dish.
Gruyere
Used as a garnish, Gruyere adds an additional richness to this already decadent dish. While I prefer the salty nutty notes of this hard-cheese, feel free to substitute Swiss, Fontina, Raclette, Jarlsburg, or Emmental cheese.
Onions
The recipe calls for 1 small diced onion. I would recommend using a sweet onion but feel free to use white if you prefer.
Broth or Stock
The base of the soup is made from chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth. While using chicken stock will produce a richer flavor soup base, low-sodium chicken broth is a great option to use if you are running low on time and can’t make your stock.
Water
Helps to thin out the base of the soup.
Rosemary
If you are unable to find fresh Rosemary at your local grocer, feel free to substitute in 1 teaspoon dry rosemary.
Anise Seeds
Anise seeds have a very distinct licorice flavor that I find complements the flavors of this extremely well. However, you can also use fennel or caraway seeds in place of the anise without affecting the flavor profile.
Salt & Pepper
Note that we recommend table salt for this recipe. You may use kosher salt instead, but you will want to double the amount.
Black pepper has a distinct earthiness to its flavor that pairs extremely well with the smokey flavors of the sausage, the sweet and earthy notes of the cabbage, and the creaminess of the beans.
Croutons
Topping this comforting soup with croutons adds the perfect crush to offset the creaminess of this dish. And while I prefer to make my own, feel free to buy your favorite brand from your local grocer.
If you are looking to make gluten-free, feel free to use gluten-free croutons or leave off completely.
Step By Step Instructions To Make This Recipe
STEP 1: Make Soup Base
In a large slow cooker, whisk together broth, water, rosemary, anise, salt and pepper.
STEP 2: Assemble Soup
Once base is mixed, add onion, beans, potatoes, kielbasa, and cabbage. Stir to combine.
STEP 3: Cook Soup
Cover and cook on high heat for 4 hours or low heat for 8 hours.
STEP 4: Garnish and Serve
Serve warm, garnish with gruyere and croutons. Enjoy!
FAQ And Expert Tips For This Kielbasa, Cabbage, and Potato Soup Recipe
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Store in a freezer-safe, airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to consume, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in a saucepan or in the microwave.
Any type of thin-skinned waxy potatoes will work! I love the buttery creaminess of a baby Yukon Gold but baby red or baby purples would be delicious as well. Russet potatoes are too floury and fall apart in soups and stews.
Kielbasa is the Polish word for all sausages so technically they are referring to the same product but the word encompasses so much more. In American, however, we tend to think of kielbasa as the large smoked sausage link that is vacuum sealed at the local grocer. But in Poland that is not the case. In Poland, each region has their own signature kielbasa and it can be raw, dried, or smoked.
You sure can! Feel free to use Italian pork sausage or even ground beef. If utilizing ground beef, you will need to brown the ground beef prior to adding it into the crockpot with the other ingredients.
More Recipes To Try
- This healthy Potato and Kale Soup with Andouille Sausage is naturally gluten-free, ready to eat in 45 minutes, and is only 260 calories per serving! This hearty soup is a wonderful wintertime dish that will warm you from the inside out!
- Simple Sautéed Napa Cabbage is an easy veggie side dish that is made with only a few basic ingredients. Ready in 15 minutes, this quick side dish is the perfect complement to almost any meal.
- If you’re looking to spice up your traditional Caesar Salad recipe, then my Napa Cabbage Caesar Salad recipe is for you! This dish is absolutely irresistible and can be whipped up in just 15 minutes flat. Perfect as a side or hearty enough as a main course, you can’t go wrong with this recipe.
- This Asian Coleslaw is the perfect summer go-to side dish. Made in 20 minutes, this slaw takes a super yummy sesame dressing and turns crunchy cabbage and carrots into one irresistible mouth-watering dish.
- If you have a lot of cabbage on hand make Pickled Cabbage next!
Thanks so much for reading. If you are new here you may want to sign up for my free weekly email newsletter for healthy recipes delivered right to your inbox. Or follow me on Instagram. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review! It is very appreciated. Happy Cooking! ~Katie
PrintSlow Cooker Kielbasa, Cabbage, and Potato Soup
- Total Time: 4 Hours 15 Minutes
- Yield: 12 cups 1x
Description
This hearty cold weather soup will warm you up from the inside. It is so satisfying because it has kielbasa, potatoes, white beans and cabbage. The flavor of rosemary and anise seed will smell so good as it simmers all day. And there will be some for lunch the next day too.
Ingredients
- 6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon chopped rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon anise seed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 14-ounce can cannellini beans or white beans, drained and rinsed
- 12-ounces small potatoes, cut in half
- 7 ounces kielbasa, cut into half moons
- 2 cups chopped cabbage
- 1 cup shredded cheese such as Gruyere, Swiss or Cabot Alpine Cheddar
- 1 cup croutons, optional (gluten-free if desired)
Instructions
- Whisk broth, water, rosemary, anise, salt and pepper in a large slow cooker. Add onion, beans, potatoes, kielbasa and cabbage and stir to combine. Set slow cooker on high for 4 hours or on low heat for 8 hours. Top with cheese and crotons if using.
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 8 Hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 cups
- Calories: 266
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 42 mg
I love how flavorful this is! Such a huge hit!
This is such a delicious soup recipe, so much flavor! Definitely making this again!
I have made this numerous times but have always forgotten to come and tell you how much we love it! It’s one of the few recipes my whole family will eat!
Kielbasa is such a favorite of mine! We are always looking for new soups to make during this time of year! Trying this ASAP!
My house smelled amazing while this was cooking. My husband and I both gave it two thumbs up.
Such a satisfying soup for weeknights! Love it!
I love soup and this was amazing!
Hi Katie,
Many thanks for the cabbage article, very informative!
Do you think this soup would freeze ok?
Many thanks 🙂
Thanks so much for saying so about the produce guide. I really am enjoying the process of working on them, as I am learning so much myself! As for this soup, it does freeze just fine. I’ve done it! But the potatoes really need to be completely reheated before serving once you thaw it out, or they can seem a bit mealy. I hope you enjoy it Dee.
My son was sick a few days ago and this cabbage soup recipe really helped him feel stronger. Thanks for sharing this fantastic recipe
I made this yesterday and it was perfect for a cold winter day. I’m normally not a big fan of cabbage, but it went really well in this recipe.
This totally looks like a big bowl of comforting goodness! Love how hearty it is!
I want to make every one of these soups! Making this tomorrow: slow cooker kielbasa, cabbage and potato soup. My guys are going to love it. ~Wendy / Cabot
Yay! So glad they appeal to you, and I hope you enjoy this one.
Sounds like healthy.All love it for sure.
Thank you Cady. It was yummy, and I particularly loved the left-overs for lunch. Have a great day.
I can barely believe it myself, but I just got my first slow cooker and am finally getting around to using it! Hence, pinning every damn tasty slow cooker recipe I can find, and this totally qualifies 😉
Prepare to have so much fun. And I am a big fan of the recipes that rely on really flavorful ingredients, and or searing of meat/ caramelizing of vegetables before the slow-cooker goes into action. Enjoy!
Girlfriend, you have some writing skillz! I could almost feel myself at your house in the morning!
And this soup is totally what I want for dinner tonight. We’re are MAJOR Kielbasa fans, so this perfecto. Pinned!
I love kielbasa too. I only wish it had about a quarter of the calories that it does. We had the rest of the package in a frittata tonight. It is so rich, almost like a condiment. A meaty condiment that is… Thanks for your appreciation of the writing. I like to flex my writing muscles occasionally. I never know when the mood will strike. Stay warm my friend.