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Slow Cooker German Cabbage Soup Recipe with Beef, Potatoes, and Caraway

Slow Cooker German Cabbage Soup

A hearty crockpot soup made with ground beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and traditional caraway seeds. It is a warming, family-friendly meal with simple preparation and rich, savory flavor.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 6 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound Lean ground beef
  • 1 medium Medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 small head, about 2 pounds Green cabbage, cored and chopped
  • 3 medium Carrots, sliced
  • 2 medium Potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 14.5-ounce can Diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 8-ounce can Tomato sauce
  • 6 cups Beef broth or stock
Seasonings
  • 1 teaspoon Caraway seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • 1 teaspoon, plus more to taste Kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
  • 1 leaf Bay leaf
  • 1 tablespoon, optional Worcestershire sauce

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Brown the ground beef and chopped onion in a skillet over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, breaking the meat into small pieces as it cooks. Drain excess fat for a cleaner broth, then set the beef mixture aside.
  2. Add the chopped cabbage, sliced carrots, diced potatoes, minced garlic, browned beef and onion, diced tomatoes with their liquid, tomato sauce, and beef broth to a 6-quart slow cooker. The cabbage may nearly fill the cooker at first, but it will collapse as it cooks.
  3. Add the caraway seeds, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, bay leaf, and optional Worcestershire sauce. Stir carefully so the vegetables and seasonings are distributed through the broth without packing the cabbage down too tightly.
  4. Cover and cook for 6-8 hours on LOW or 3-4 hours on HIGH. The soup is ready when the cabbage and potatoes are tender and the broth smells rich and savory.
  5. Remove the bay leaf before serving, then taste the soup and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. Let the finished soup rest for 10-15 minutes so the cabbage, beef, tomatoes, and caraway flavors can come together.

Notes

Use beef stock for a fuller traditional flavor, and do not overfill the slow cooker because the cabbage releases liquid as it cooks. Refrigerate leftovers promptly and store them in an airtight container.