There’s nothing quite like a big bowl of smoky, savory comfort food, and this Slow Cooker Sausage, Cabbage, and Potato Soup is one of the best ways to get it. It’s the perfect “set-it-and-forget-it” meal for chilly weekends or busy weekdays, delivering deeply satisfying flavors with almost zero effort.
The magic of this soup lies in the slow cooker: it gives the smoked sausage, tender cabbage, and Yukon Gold potatoes hours to simmer in a rich, slightly tomato-infused chicken broth. The optional (but highly recommended) step of browning the sausage beforehand adds a layer of rich, caramelized flavor that truly elevates the final broth. If you’re looking for a hearty, cozy, and deeply flavorful soup that cooks itself, this is it!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Maximum Flavor, Minimum Effort: Achieves rich, deep flavor after hours of simmering in the slow cooker.
- Hearty & Cozy: Packed with smoky sausage, soft potatoes, and tender cabbage for a filling meal.
- Budget-Friendly: Uses simple, inexpensive ingredients to feed a crowd.
- Make-Ahead Winner: Perfect for meal prepping and freezes well (though potatoes might soften slightly).
Recipe Card Info
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (LOW)
- Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
- Servings: 6
- Dietary: Low-Fat, Mediterranean Diet (if using turkey sausage)
Ingredients
For the Soup:
- 12 oz smoked sausage (kielbasa or andouille), sliced into rounds (can substitute turkey sausage)
- 1 large leek, sliced and thoroughly rinsed
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups green cabbage, chopped
- 3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 1 cube chicken bouillon (optional, for extra savory depth)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp celery seed
- 1 bay leaf
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prep: Slice the sausage. Dice the potatoes and bell pepper, slice the carrots, chop the cabbage, and mince the garlic. Slice the leek (pale and light green parts only) and rinse thoroughly to remove any grit.
- Brown Sausage (Optional but Recommended): Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage slices and cook until nicely browned and some fat has rendered. Scoop the sausage into the slow cooker, leaving a tablespoon of drippings in the skillet.
- Sauté Aromatics (Optional Flavor Boost): Add the sliced leek and minced garlic to the skillet drippings and cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes until softened and fragrant. Tip the leek and garlic into the slow cooker, scraping in any browned bits (fond) for extra flavor.
- Layer Ingredients: Add the chopped cabbage, potatoes, carrots, bell pepper, and diced tomatoes with their juices to the slow cooker. Pour in the chicken broth, then add the bouillon cube (if using), smoked paprika, thyme, celery seed, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
- Slow Cook: Stir gently to ensure the cabbage is tucked down into the liquid. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours until the potatoes and vegetables are very tender. Alternatively, cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.
- Finish & Serve: Fish out and discard the bay leaf. Stir the soup well, then taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, or paprika if needed. Ladle hot into bowls and serve.
Chef’s Tips for Success
- Tip 1 (Washing Leeks): Leeks hold a lot of sand and grit. After slicing, place them in a bowl of cold water and swish them around vigorously, then lift them out of the water (don’t pour them out, or the grit will just pour back onto the leeks).
- Tip 2 (Uniform Cuts): Cut all the vegetables (potatoes, carrots, bell pepper) and sausage into similar, bite-sized pieces (about 1/2 to 3/4 inch). This ensures even cooking and better texture in every spoonful.
- Tip 3 (Thickening): If your soup is too thin at the end, simply use a large spoon to lightly mash a few of the cooked potatoes against the side of the slow cooker, then stir well. The released starch will quickly thicken the broth.
Encouraging Conclusion
This Slow Cooker Sausage, Cabbage, and Potato Soup is truly the definition of hassle-free comfort food. You get to walk away and return hours later to a perfect, ready-to-serve dinner.
