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Easy Ham and Cabbage Soup Recipe for Cozy Meals

Easy Ham and Cabbage Soup

A cozy one-pot dinner made with cooked ham, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, celery, and herbs in chicken broth. This six-serving soup is comforting, filling, and ready in about an hour.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Soup Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons Butter or olive oil
  • 1 medium Medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 medium Medium carrots, sliced
  • 2 ribs Celery ribs, sliced
  • 2 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
  • 6 cups Chicken broth or stock
  • 1 pound Potatoes, peeled if desired and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 4-5 cups Chopped green cabbage
  • 2 cups Cooked ham, diced
Seasonings
  • 1 leaf Bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon Dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt, or to taste
Garnish
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the butter or olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion, sliced carrots, and celery, then cook for 5 to 7 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
  2. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly so it becomes fragrant without browning too much.
  3. Pour in the chicken broth or stock. Add the cubed potatoes, bay leaf, dried thyme, and black pepper.
  4. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are nearly tender when pierced with a fork.
  5. Stir in the chopped cabbage and diced cooked ham. Make sure the cabbage is submerged as much as possible so it cooks evenly.
  6. Simmer the soup for another 10 to 15 minutes, until the cabbage is tender and the potatoes are fully cooked.
  7. Remove the bay leaf and taste the broth before adding salt. Adjust the seasoning carefully because ham and prepared broth may already contain a substantial amount of salt.
  8. Ladle the soup into warm bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately with bread or crackers.

Notes

Add the cabbage after the potatoes have started cooking to prevent it from becoming overly soft. For deeper flavor, simmer with a ham bone or ham hock and remove it before serving. Refrigerate leftovers promptly and reheat gently.