Crockpot Cabbage Soup (Vegan, Easy Recipe!)

A serving of crockpot cabbage soup in a bowl set on a plate with a spoon next to it.

Crockpot Cabbage Soup (Vegan, Easy Recipe!)

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 4

Total Time 4 10

Servings:5 servings

Author: Lori Rasmussen, My Quiet Kitchen

Crockpot Cabbage Soup is perfect when you want something light, nourishing, and easy to make. Intentionally simple, it's great for meal prep and those times when you're feeling under the weather! Add beans, lentils, tofu, rice, or other veggies to make it more filling.

Ingredients
US Customary | Metric

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon vegan butter - plus more for serving
4 large cloves garlic, minced
1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning blend
½ large onion, chopped - or ⅓ c chopped green onion
2 ribs celery, chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
half large head green cabbage, cored and chopped - about 8 cups chopped
6 cups water
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
black pepper
pinch crushed red pepper flakes, optional

Optional, for serving:

chopped parsley
fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Set your slow cooker on High so it can get hot while you chop the vegetables. Add the oil, butter, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Let sit for a few minutes to melt the butter and infuse the oil with flavor.
Add the onion, celery, carrots, cabbage, water, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, if using. Stir well. Cover and cook on high 3½ to 4 hours OR low for about 7 hours or until the cabbage is as tender as you like.
Taste for seasoning (I like to add another pat of butter & pinch of red pepper flake). Serve with chopped fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice, if desired.

Notes

Stovetop: You can also prepare this soup on the stovetop. Preheat a large soup pot, and saute the onion in the oil and butter for about 5 minutes. Add the Italian herbs, garlic, celery, and carrots, and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add the cabbage and water, and season with salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer, and cook for 25-30 minutes or until the cabbage is tender.

Variations

Vegetables: Toss in some fresh greens like baby spinach or chopped kale during the last 10 minutes of cooking. You can also make the soup a little more hearty by adding some diced potatoes or sweet potatoes.
Beans: Add a can of rinsed and drained beans to make it more filling. Cannellini, pinto, kidney, and garbanzo beans all taste great.
Spicy: Add kick with red pepper flakes, cayenne, or a spoonful of spicy hot chile pepper sauce like Trader Joe's Italian Bomba Sauce (Calabrian pepper sauce).

Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw soup in the fridge overnight, and reheat on the stove or in the microwave.

Nutrition