Listen, when life gets hectic—and when is it *not* hectic, right?—the first thing that goes out the window is usually a truly nutritious dinner. We default to takeout or something beige that comes out of a box, and then we feel guilty about it later. I get it. For years, creating Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients felt like this huge, complicated puzzle. I was trying to force all these trendy superfoods into my cart when the real answer was already sitting in my pantry. I always keep a few staple recipes in my back pocket like this easy ground beef cabbage skillet dinner for comparison.
That’s why I’m obsessed with this Simple Ground Meat and Cabbage Soup. Seriously, look at what’s in it: ground meat, a couple of sad-looking carrots, maybe some onion. These are the ingredients you always have on hand, which means less stress and zero last-minute trips to the store. This soup proves that achieving a healthy, hearty dinner doesn’t require gourmet ingredients or hours of chopping. It’s about practical, real-life cooking that supports your wellness goals without ever feeling restrictive. Trust me, if I can pull this off after a chaotic workday, you absolutely can too!
Why This Recipe is the Definition of Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients
If you’re looking for genuine, easy recipes that don’t require you to run out for six specialty spices, this soup is your new weeknight hero. When I design meals—especially to fit into a clean-living framework—accessibility is everything. This cabbage soup hits that sweet spot perfectly.
Here’s what makes this soup a gold standard for quick dinner ideas and achieving those simple healthy meals with everyday ingredients:
- The chopping is super minimal. We’re dealing mostly with dicing an onion and slicing some carrots. Nothing fancy!
- Nearly every ingredient lives happily in your pantry or fridge already. No obscure vegetables here, ever.
- Total time? About 40 minutes from pulling out the pot to sitting down to eat. That’s practically instant gratification for a healthy meal.
- It’s incredibly customizable. Swap the meat, change the spices—it always tastes right.
It just works, every single time, which is why this stays on my rotation for busy nights where I still refuse to compromise on real food. Check out all my best tips for quick dinner ideas when time is practically nonexistent!
Gathering Your Accessible Ingredients for Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients
When we talk about Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients, we mean getting things that are already in the fridge or that you can grab without a specialty trip. I designed this recipe—which is actually closer to six servings, perfect for batch cooking!—so that you rarely have to substitute the main components. For me, that’s the heart of real wellness: keeping things manageable so you actually stick with it. Feel free to peek at my favorite ground beef recipes if you’re curious about other easy bases!
Meat Preparation Ingredients
We start with the flavor foundation, which is all about browning the meat well. Don’t skip the seasoning here; it blooms wonderfully in the fat.
- Two tablespoons of olive oil to get things going in your Dutch oven.
- Two pounds of ground meat. I love using turkey when I need lighter fare, but regular beef or even a spicy Italian sausage (if you skip some other spices!) works magic here too.
- One teaspoon each of Italian seasoning and paprika for that warm depth.
Soup Base and Vegetables
This is where the heartiness comes from! Remember that quality matters even with basic items. Make sure you’re peeling your carrots!
- One whole onion, diced small—no need to chop these into perfect squares!
- One tablespoon of garlic paste. If you only have whole cloves, mince them finely, but please don’t skip the garlic!
- Three-quarters cup of carrots, peeled and sliced—medium thin is perfect.
- Two tablespoons of bright tomato paste. This needs a little cooking time to taste amazing, trust me.
- Five cups of beef broth. If you only have low-sodium, you can always add salt later.
- One tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce for that umami punch.
- One can (14.5 oz) of diced or crushed tomatoes.
- One-quarter cup of uncooked rice, making sure you rinse it well first to avoid a gummy soup.
- One whole head of cabbage, which should chop down to about five cups once you remove that thick core stem.
- Two whole bay leaves—these must come out before serving, they aren’t for eating!
Optional Garnishes
These are totally optional, but a little fresh parsley on top really brightens up the whole bowl when you serve it!
- Fresh parsley, chopped, to taste.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Quick Dinner Ideas
Okay, this is the easy part, which frankly, is my favorite part of any recipe. You don’t need a fancy setup for this; just grab that large 4-quart Dutch oven you probably already own. We’re locking in flavor from the very first minute, so pay attention to the heat! If you want to keep optimizing how you handle busy weeknight cooking, check out my full guide on easy dinner recipes for busy weeknights.
Browning the Meat and Aromatics
First things first: get that big pot onto medium heat and warm up two tablespoons of olive oil. Once that’s shimmering ever so slightly, toss in your two pounds of ground meat. We aren’t just cooking it—we’re flavoring it! Break it up with your wooden spatula while it browns, and sprinkle in the Italian seasoning and paprika, plus salt and pepper, of course. You want that meat nicely browned before moving on.
Next, introduce the aromatics. Add your diced onion and those sliced carrots right into the pot with the meat. Let them cook down until those onions get nice and translucent and the carrots start to look happy (about 5-7 minutes). Finally, stir in that tablespoon of garlic paste and let it cook for just one minute until you can really smell it. Don’t let it burn, though, or you’ll have to start over!
Building the Soup Base
Here’s a little secret for deep flavor that costs zero extra at the store: the tomato paste. Stir in your two tablespoons of tomato paste now and cook it for a minute or two until it starts to get a little darker and sticks to the bottom—that’s caramelization working its magic! Now, pour in about half a cup of your beef broth and get scraping that bottom of the pot with your spatula. Get up every single flavorful brown bit!
Once the bottom is clean, toss in the Worcestershire sauce, the canned tomatoes (juice and all), the rinsed rice, your chopped cabbage, and those two bay leaves. If you’re using a strainer to rinse your rice, remember the note: always rinse that uncooked rice in cold water first to wash off excess starch. This tiny step prevents the rice from turning your lovely soup into a sticky mess later on.
Simmering and Finishing Your Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients
Now that everything is in the pot, bring that big mixture up to a nice rolling boil. Once it’s bubbling happily, immediately turn the heat down low so it’s just a gentle simmer. We are going to let this hang out, mostly unattended, for about 35 minutes. This is the time to tidy up the kitchen!
After 35 minutes, check the rice. It should be totally tender. Before you serve, remember the most important cleanup step: pull out and discard those bay leaves—nobody wants those! Taste it and add more salt or pepper if you think it needs it, then ladle it out into bowls and top with fresh parsley if you’re feeling fancy. In just about 40 minutes total time, we’ve done the work for some fantastic, simple healthy meals with everyday ingredients!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Versatile Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients
When it comes to keeping things simple, flexibility is your best friend. This recipe for Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients is designed to handle swaps because life happens! The ground meat is the main variable here. If you want the richest, deepest flavor, go with a standard ground beef, maybe even 85/15. If you’re aiming lighter, ground turkey works totally fine, but you might need to boost your spices a little to compensate for the milder flavor. I actually love using bulk sausage sometimes; it adds so much built-in flavor that you hardly need the Italian seasoning.
Don’t obsess over the broth either. If you’re out of beef broth, chicken broth is a perfectly acceptable stand-in. Seriously, no one will notice the difference once the cabbage and spices get involved. As for the tomatoes, if you only have plain crushed tomatoes instead of diced, go for it! It just means your broth will be slightly smoother. It’s all about making a nutritious meal happen without fuss, as I show in my guide to ground beef recipes.
Tips for Perfecting Your Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients
You’ve got the basics down, but to elevate this from “good enough” to “repeat this next week,” you need to pay attention to the little moments. Even when we’re aiming for quick dinner ideas, those small details are what make the difference between just consuming calories and actually enjoying nourishing food. These quick habits, which I’ve picked up over years of trying to eat clean while running a business, make all the difference in creating great Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients.
Here are the three things I always double-check:
- Don’t Rush the Tomato Paste: This is key for true flavor depth. When you add the two tablespoons of tomato paste, let it cook until it darkens slightly and starts to stick to the bottom of your Dutch oven—that caramelization process removes that raw, tinny taste. A lot of people skip this step because they’re in a hurry, but it’s worth the extra 90 seconds. It gives the whole soup an earthy foundation that you can’t replicate later.
- Control the Cabbage Cooking Time: Cabbage is tricky! If you simmer it for the full 35 minutes, it turns into a bit of a mushy puddle, which isn’t great for texture. For a slightly firmer bite—what I call “al dente vegetable”—try removing the pot from the heat about 5 to 7 minutes early, especially if you used a very small head of cabbage. It will continue to cook in the residual heat. This helps it retain its structure and texture in the broth.
- Deglaze Aggressively: Remember when we poured that half-cup of broth in to scrape the bottom? You need to be aggressive here! The brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pot—that’s called fond, and it’s pure flavor gold. Use your wooden spatula and vigorously scrape every single browned speck up into the liquid before you add the rest of your ingredients. That fond is the secret sauce for a rich broth, even when using simple beef broth.
These little moves are what take a basic soup and turn it into something you are genuinely excited to eat. Check out how I apply these flavor-building techniques in my other ground beef recipes!
Storage and Reheating Instructions
One of the best parts about making a big hearty soup like this is that it’s designed to be even better the next day! Seriously, those flavors marry overnight, which is perfect when you’re trying to create a week’s worth of my Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients.
When you have finished your meal for the night, let any leftovers cool down slightly on the counter—don’t put piping hot stock directly into the fridge, please! Then, transfer the soup into airtight containers. I like to use glass containers because they reheat evenly on the stovetop later. You can easily get six servings out of this batch, which should last you a solid 4 to 5 days safely in the refrigerator.
When it comes time to reheat, slow and steady wins the race here to keep that cabbage and rice texture perfect. I avoid the microwave if I can, because it heats unevenly and can turn your rice a little gummy in spots. The stovetop is the way to go.
Just scoop out the amount you want into a saucepan and heat it over medium-low heat. You might notice the soup thickens as the rice absorbs liquid while it cools. If it seems too thick for your liking, just add a splash of water or a bit of extra broth while it heats up. It’s ready to go when it’s steaming hot all the way through. Easy, right? This makes meal prepping so much simpler!
Serving Suggestions for Nutritious Meal Plans
A big bowl of this hearty soup is certainly a complete meal all on its own—it’s got protein, veggies, and a nice serving of filling rice. When I plan my week around Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients, though, I like to add a little something on the side to round out the texture profile, without turning it into another complicated recipe. We want real wellness habits that fit our life, not gourmet cooking projects!
For those of you focused on building out solid, nutritious meal plans, here are my go-to, zero-fuss pairings that go perfectly with the cabbage soup:
- Good Crusty Bread: This seriously might be my favorite addition. You don’t need to bake anything fancy! Just grab a nice loaf of whole-grain or sourdough bread from the store. It’s perfect for dipping into that flavorful broth to make sure not a single drop goes to waste. It adds needed carbohydrates for sustained energy without any extra steps for you.
- A Simple Green Salad: When the soup is warm and savory, you need something light and crisp to cut through that richness. Make a quick side salad with whatever sturdy greens you have—romaine or spinach works great. Dress it super light with just a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil. It takes two minutes and adds a huge boost of fresh vitamins.
- A Dollop of Plain Yogurt or Sour Cream: This isn’t really a “side,” but it’s an easy garnish addition that changes the whole profile. A spoonful of plain Greek yogurt stirred into your bowl provides a creamy tanginess and boosts the protein content even more, which is great if this is your main lunch.
These additions keep the meal feeling satisfying and well-rounded. If you are looking for more inspiration on stacking up those balanced meals without the stress, you should definitely check out my thoughts on building out light and fresh lunch ideas during the week!
Frequently Asked Questions About Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients
It happens! When you’re trying to incorporate great, Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients into a busy schedule, you always end up with specific questions. I’ve pulled together the ones I get asked most often about this soup. Don’t worry if you need to tweak things—that’s what real cooking is all about. For more general tips on maximizing flavor in your everyday cooking, you can always check out my ultimate dinner recipes guide.
Can I make this soup vegetarian or vegan?
Absolutely! If you need to adapt this for a vegetarian meal, just swap out the ground meat for browned lentils or maybe some crumbled, firm tofu that you’ve seasoned well with the paprika and Italian seasoning. The biggest switch will be the beef broth. Use a good quality vegetable broth instead. For a vegan version, make those swaps and just ensure you skip the Worcestershire sauce or use a vegan alternative, as the traditional kind has anchovies. It morphs beautifully into a different kind of vegetarian healthy meal!
How can I make this a quicker dinner idea?
If you’re having one of those nights where 40 minutes feels like forever, there are a couple of clever workarounds to speed things up. While I love slicing my own carrots for texture, you can definitely use those pre-shredded carrot bags—just know they might soften a little faster. Frozen diced onions are another huge time saver; toss them straight into the pot when you add the carrots. If you do this, your prep time drops to maybe 5 minutes, keeping this firmly in the realm of quick dinner ideas.
What is the purpose of rinsing the rice?
This is one of those small steps that makes a massive difference for textural reasons, especially in a soup like this where the rice cooks right in the liquid. Uncooked rice carries a light powdery coating of starch from processing. If you dump that starchy coating right into your broth, it dissolves and makes the whole pot gummy, almost gloppy, halfway through cooking. Rinsing it under cold water until the water runs clearer removes that excess starch. Honestly, it’s what keeps your soup brothy and ensures the rice stays distinct and tender, matching that perfect texture we’re aiming for in all our Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients.
Nutritional Estimates for This Recipe
Here are the ballpark nutritional estimates for one serving size of this Simple Ground Meat and Cabbage Soup. Remember, when you’re aiming for Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients, the actual macros can shift quite a bit depending on the fat content of the ground meat you choose or the saltiness of your broth. So, treat these numbers as a guideline, not gospel!
For example, if you use lean ground turkey instead of higher-fat ground beef, you’ll definitely see the saturated fat drop down in your final tally. These figures are based on using standard ingredients for six servings:
- Calories: 538 per serving
- Fat: 36g (with 13g saturated fat)
- Protein: 32g—that’s fantastic for keeping you full past dinner!
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 6g
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 971mg (This is why tasting before adding extra salt is important!)
- Potassium: 1070mg
It’s a really well-rounded meal that fits beautifully into any plan looking for calorie-smart recipes without sacrificing that hearty, satisfying feel. We’re aiming for real energy here, not tiny portions! If you want to explore more ways to track and balance your intake, you can look through my collection of calorie-smart recipes for more inspiration.
Share Your Success with Simple Healthy Meals with Everyday Ingredients
I genuinely hope this Simple Ground Meat and Cabbage Soup has made its way into your collection of go-to, easy recipes. Getting dinner on the table quickly using things you already have stocked is such a huge win for staying on track with your wellness goals. It proves that clean, nourishing food doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive!
Now, I need your help! This recipe works so well for me, but I absolutely love hearing how you tweak things in your own kitchen. Did you swap in smoked paprika instead of regular? Did you add a can of corn for extra sweetness? Did you use ground chicken and find it worked even better?
Please take a moment to leave your rating below—let me know if this hits the mark for you (give it those 5 stars if it earned them!). And definitely drop a comment sharing your experience or any little adjustments you made. Your feedback helps the whole community build up a library of tried-and-true, real-life cooking that supports our natural weight loss journeys. Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Keep exploring more practical ways to nourish yourself without the stress on the Melt It Clean blog!
By EMILIA, founder of MeltItClean.com – your digital space for natural weight loss, real wellness habits, and clean-living inspiration that actually fits your life.
For years, I struggled with the ups and downs of dieting. I tried everything — juice cleanses, low-carb crazes, fitness challenges — but I always ended up back where I started: tired, bloated, and frustrated. I didn’t just want to “lose weight” — I wanted energy, mental clarity, glowing skin, and confidence without sacrificing my joy or sanity.
After years of experimenting, learning, and unlearning, I discovered a simple truth: your body is already powerful — it just needs support, not restriction. That’s when I created Melt It Clean — a site dedicated to real transformation through clean, intentional, and nourishing daily habits that anyone can follow. If you want to learn more about my journey, check out my About Me page.
My goal was simple: build a place where people could feel informed, supported, and empowered without being overwhelmed by wellness fads.
Simple Ground Meat and Cabbage Soup
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat olive oil in a large 4-quart Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add ground meat and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spatula as it browns. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
- Add chopped onion and carrots to the meat. Cook until the vegetables start to soften. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add tomato paste to the meat and vegetables and cook until it begins to caramelize.
- Pour in 1/2 cup of broth to deglaze the pot, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom.
- Add Worcestershire sauce, diced tomatoes, rinsed rice, chopped cabbage, and bay leaves.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer for 35 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the cabbage has softened.
- Remove and discard the bay leaves before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if you choose.
