The Ultimate Pressure Cooker Unstuffed Cabbage Soup (Instant Pot & Ninja Foodi)

Are you searching for an incredibly easy and deeply satisfying dinner? Look no further than this fantastic unstuffed pressure cooker cabbage soup recipe! Packed with savory ground sausage and tender rice, it’s a hearty meal that comes together effortlessly in your Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or any other electric pressure cooker. If you’re a fan of cabbage and crave a comforting, gluten-free dish that feels like a warm hug, this soup is destined to become your new family favorite.

Instant Pot Unstuffed Cabbage Soup: All the Flavor, None of the Fuss

Imagine all the delicious flavors of traditional cabbage rolls, but without the tedious wrapping and stuffing! This unstuffed cabbage soup delivers that iconic taste in a fraction of the time, making it an ideal meal for busy weeknights. Whether you own an Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or a Crockpot Express, any brand with a high-pressure cooking function will yield fantastic results. Its simplicity and robust flavor profile are guaranteed to make it a household staple.

While a slow cooker stuffed cabbage soup certainly has its charm, the preparation and cooking time are considerably longer. Both methods produce wonderfully hearty meals, and this pressure cooker version offers the ultimate in speed and convenience. You can customize this recipe with your preferred protein: use savory ground beef, flavorful ground sausage, or omit the meat entirely for a delicious vegetarian option. The versatility makes it a winner for any dietary preference.

Perfecting Ninja Foodi Cabbage Soup Consistency

If you’ve previously experimented with unstuffed cabbage dishes and found them a bit too thick, like a casserole rather than a soup, this recipe offers the perfect solution. By adjusting the amount of broth and tomato sauce, we’ve achieved that ideal soup consistency—hearty but still wonderfully soupy. For Ninja Foodi users, simply utilize the non-attached pressure cooking lid and the pressure cook button, just as you would for any other pressure cooker recipe.

Ultimately, the best recipe is one that utilizes what you already have on hand and what your family loves. This pressure cooker cabbage soup is a complete meal on its own, but it pairs exquisitely with some warm, crusty pull-apart bread for dipping. It’s an effortless way to create a memorable dinner that everyone will enjoy.

This savory soup relies on a balanced blend of fresh and pantry staples to create its rich, deep flavor. Here’s a glimpse at the key ingredients that come together to make this incredible meal:

Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup: A Celebration of Cabbage

If you’re new to simple cabbage recipes, prepare to be delighted. Cabbage adds an incredible texture and a subtly sweet, earthy flavor that often goes unappreciated. This humble vegetable truly shines in soups and stews, absorbing the rich flavors around it while maintaining a pleasant bite.

• Growing up, my grandmother frequently cooked with cabbage, and frankly, I wasn’t always eager to try it. However, with age comes wisdom – and a newfound appreciation for cabbage! Now, I find myself incorporating it into almost everything, and this soup is a testament to its delicious versatility.

This unstuffed cabbage roll soup was an absolute triumph on its own, a complete and satisfying meal that required no additional accompaniments. Though, a crusty roll on the side never hurts if you’re feeling extra indulgent!

Is Cabbage Soup Good for Weight Loss? Understanding the Difference

It’s important to clarify that this particular pressure cooker cabbage soup is not designed as a “weight loss soup.” While some cabbage soup diets exist, they typically involve a very low-calorie, vegetable-only broth. Our recipe, however, is a hearty, flavor-packed meal loaded with delicious ground sausage and/or ground beef. These additions contribute significant flavor and sustenance, making it a satisfying dinner rather than a diet tool. While reducing overall calorie intake can lead to weight loss, relying solely on highly restrictive cabbage soup diets is generally not considered the healthiest or most sustainable approach.

Essential Pressure Cooker Cabbage Soup Ingredients

Crafting this savory soup requires a blend of simple, wholesome ingredients that come together to create a deeply satisfying meal. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need:

1. Ground Sausage: We highly recommend a spicy version to add a fantastic depth of flavor, though mild sausage works too. You can also substitute with ground beef, but sausage truly elevates the taste profile.
2. Cabbage Head: Fresh cabbage, chopped into manageable, bite-sized pieces, forms the core of this dish.
3. Olive Oil: Essential for sautéing the meat and onions, building the foundational flavors.
4. Spaghetti Sauce (or Tomato Sauce): We prefer spaghetti sauce for its richer, more complex flavor, but a good quality tomato sauce is also suitable.
5. Diced Tomatoes: Petite diced tomatoes are ideal, adding a lovely texture and burst of tomato goodness without overwhelming the soup.
6. Beef Broth: Opt for beef broth over water to infuse the soup with a savory, robust flavor that truly makes a difference.
7. Rice: Uncooked white rice is added directly to the pot, where it absorbs the rich broth as it cooks, becoming wonderfully tender and flavorful.
8. Onions: Optional but highly recommended, diced onions add aromatic sweetness and depth.
9. Seasoning: We find the soup delicious as is, but feel free to add salt, pepper, or your favorite herbs and spices to taste.

Optional Add-ins: For extra vegetables and nutritional value, consider dicing and adding carrots, celery, or bell peppers along with the onions.

What Kind of Rice is Best for Soup?

For this recipe, long-grain white rice or Jasmine rice is highly recommended. Their quicker cooking time ensures they integrate perfectly with the soup’s overall cooking duration. It’s crucial to avoid instant or “Minute” rice varieties, as they tend to become overly mushy and lose their desirable texture when cooked under pressure in the soup. Stick to regular uncooked white rice for the best results.

Can You Cook Raw Rice in Soup? Absolutely!

One of the brilliant aspects of this pressure cooker unstuffed cabbage soup is the ability to cook raw rice directly in the pot. There’s no need for pre-cooking your rice separately! Simply add it along with the other ingredients, and it will cook perfectly within the flavorful broth, absorbing all those delicious juices. This method ensures every grain comes out tender and infused with taste, contributing to a truly hearty meal in just about 15 minutes of active cook time.

Can You Make Unstuffed Cabbage Without Rice?

Yes, you certainly can! If you prefer a lower-carb option or simply aren’t a fan of rice, feel free to omit it. The soup will still be incredibly flavorful and satisfying. However, we personally find that the addition of rice significantly enhances the heartiness and texture of the meal, making it even more filling and comforting.

How Long Does it Take to Make Soup with Rice in a Pressure Cooker?

The beauty of pressure cooking is its speed! This unstuffed cabbage soup with rice requires only about 20 minutes from start to finish, including the time it takes for your pressure cooker to reach pressure. Incredibly, in under half an hour, you’ll have a wonderfully hearty and complete dinner soup ready to serve. And a little secret: this Instant Pot cabbage soup is even more fantastic the next day as leftovers.

As it sits, the soup naturally thickens a bit, making it less “soupy” but enhancing its rich, stew-like consistency. This slight change in texture does nothing to diminish its incredible flavor. It truly is amazing, maintaining its deliciousness even after a night in the refrigerator.

Once you’ve savored this delicious Instant Pot cabbage soup, you’ll be eager to explore more easy pressure cooker soup recipes. This dish is a flavorful addition to our extensive list of Instant Pot soup recipes, offering a complete meal with an abundance of taste. Discover some of our other top recommendations:

1. Instant Pot Lasagna Soup: All the flavors of lasagna in a comforting bowl.
2. Pressure Cooker Bean Soup: A hearty and healthy option that requires no pre-soaking of beans.
3. You’ll also adore this flavorful Pressure Cooker Sausage and Cabbage dish.
4. Our homemade Instant Pot Split Pea Soup recipe comes together in just 17 minutes!

When making Ninja Foodi cabbage soup, simply adjust the settings: cook on high pressure for 12 minutes. Since the Ninja Foodi doesn’t typically have a dedicated “rice” button, this manual setting ensures perfect results.

Can You Freeze Cabbage Soup?

Yes, absolutely! This cabbage soup recipe is perfect for meal prepping. We highly recommend making a double batch so you can freeze half of it for a quick, convenient dinner later. To freeze, allow the soup to cool completely to room temperature before transferring it into an airtight freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bags. Properly stored, it will maintain its quality for about 2-3 months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Explore even more delicious Instant Pot cabbage recipes from our collection:

• Pressure Cooker Fried Cabbage: A quick and flavorful side dish.
• Instant Pot Stuffed Cabbage: The traditional favorite, made easier!
  • For an oven-baked option, try our unstuffed cabbage casserole.
• Easy Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage: A classic dish made simple and tender.