• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Easy and Delish logo

  • About
    • Meet Denise!
    • COOKBOOK
    • Contact
    • Press
  • All Recipes
  • BRAZILIAN FOOD
  • Conversions
    • How Many Sticks of Butter in a Cup?
    • How Many Teaspoons in a Tablespoon?
    • Temperature Conversion (Chart & Calculator)
    • US Cups to Ounces to Grams for Common Ingredients (Charts)
    • Volume Conversions (Table for Dry & Liquid Ingredients)
    • Baking Substitutions (with Charts & Tables)
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Português
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Página Inicial
  • About
  • Sobre Mim
  • All Recipes
  • Todas as Receitas
  • Shop
  • Conversions
  • Vídeos
  • Português
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home > Quick & Easy Recipes

    Published: Sep 30, 2020 · Modified: Jan 21, 2021 by Denise Browning · "This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission." · 10 Comments

    Creamy Ham and Cabbage Soup Recipe (Keto)

    Gluten FreeKeto

    Jump to Recipe ↓
    Keto Ham and cabbage soup

    This Creamy Ham and Cabbage Soup recipe makes a thick and hearty keto meal that is perfect for cooler fall weather. It's loaded with vegetables and is one of my favorite ways to use up leftover ham. If you're looking for other low carb soup recipes, you have got to try my Norwegian fish soup and cabbage soup diet recipe next!

    ham and cabbage soup in a bowl

     

    Reasons to Love this Ham and Cabbage Soup Recipe

    There are so many different reasons to love this dish besides the taste.

    1. One-Pot: One-pot meals can usually be made in much less time than a recipe involving several complicated steps. They are perfect for busy weeknights when you're pressed for time.
    2. Easy to Prepare: There are different ways you can make this soup. You can prepare it on the stovetop and also in an Instant Pot or a CrockPot. Curious about how does a pressure cooker work? Get our cooking time charts!
    3. Mess-Free: Meals prepared in one pot have much less clean up after dinner. That means, you only have one pot and a few utensils to wash rather than a sinkful of pots and pans.
    4. Budget-friendly: The ingredients in this recipe are low-cost. Plus, you can easily replace with what you have on hand. Further, it reheats well which lets you serve it for another meal in the future. It's a great way to use up leftover ham-- just like our ham and cheese baked rice and our broccoli, ham, and cheese pop tarts.
    5. Good for you: This Ham and Cabbage Soup is one of my favorite healthy meals. It's keto, low-carb, and gluten-free! For a dairy-free version, use a plant-based milk such as soy milk that has more of a neutral flavor.
    6. Freezer-friendly: Just like our slow cooker ham, it's one of those easy freezer meals that can keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. You can even use frozen leftovers of our honey baked ham in this recipe.

     

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    • Ham - Substitute sausage or chicken if you don't have ham.
    • Olive oil - You can use vegetable oil instead if you like.
    • Onion
    • Cabbage - use either green or purple cabbage
    • Celery - Leave out or replace vegetables based on what you have.
    • Carrots
    • Broth - Use bouillon instead of broth if you need to.
    • Salt and pepper - You can use a no salt blend if you are watching your sodium.
    • Cauliflower - if you are not on a keto diet, you may use cooked potatoes, making a ham, cabbage, and potato soup. 
    • Half-and-half - Heavy cream or milk work well instead. 
    • Green onions -- You may use any fresh herb of your choice such as cilantro, parsley, or dill. 

    How to thicken a soup without flour or cornstarch

    When making this creamy cabbage soup recipe, you will need to thicken the broth to give it a creamy consistency. Ours is thickened with a low carb veggie (cauliflower) blended with half-and-half for a keto version.

    As an alternative, konjac rice is a keto-friendly rice that is loaded with fiber but low in net carbs. Just toss in a handful to help thicken your broth.

    Or, for a creamy consistency without thickening the broth, you can add half a can of coconut milk or coconut cream.

    How to make ham and cabbage soup

    a three photo collage showing how to make ham and cabbage soup

    1. Heat a dutch pan over medium heat, add oil and saute onion, carrot, and celery until onion is tender (about 4 minutes). SEE PIC. 1 Add ham, cabbage, broth, and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium-low. SEE PIC. 2 Cover and let it simmer, covered, for about 10 minutes or until veggies are tender.
    2. Meanwhile, blend the cooked cauliflower with half-and-half until smooth, about 1 minute. Add blended mixture to the cooked veggies in the pan, stir well, and simmer for 5 minutes, uncovered. SEE PIC. 3
    3. Adjust the seasonings to taste and serve with chopped green onions on top.

    bowl of soup with spoon on the side and a napkin under

    Crockpot Ham and Cabbage Soup

    To make this meal in your slow cooker, follow these directions.

    1. Layer the ingredients in your crockpot starting with the cabbage.
    2. Pour the broth over the top and add seasonings.
    3. Cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.
    4. Pour in the cream and blended cauliflower mixture and heat for 30 minutes.
    5. Stir and serve.

    Instant Pot Ham and Cabbage Soup

    1. Press the sauté button and let it heat. Add oil and cook onion, carrot, and celery until onion is tender (about 3 minutes). Place the cabbage, vegetables, and ham in your Instant Pot.
    2. Sprinkle on your seasonings. Pour the broth over the top. Seal the lid and turn the valve. 
    3. Set your pressure cooker or Instant Pot to manual, high pressure, and cook for 5 minutes.
    4. After 5 minutes, allow for a natural release for 10 minutes, followed by releasing the rest of the pressure.
    5. Add the cream that you blended with the cauliflower and stir. Serve and enjoy.

     

    Cooking Tips

    • Cut all of the veggies into similar sizes when possible, so that they cook at the same rate. But I made mine mainly with large chunks for a heartier soup.
    • I use chicken broth, but you can also make it with vegetable broth.
    • This soup keeps in the fridge for up to 4-5 days, which makes it perfect for meal prep.
    • To keep it keto, use any low carb veggies of your choice.
    • Use any leftover protein that you have handy in order to save money.

    close up of soup being spooned

    Variations

    • Protein: Try this soup with shredded chicken, smoked sausage, ground beef or turkey, or extra lean ground meat. If you prefer a vegetarian version, you leave the animal protein out and use beans, for example. Or, you can keep the soup as it is and just add beans, making a ham and cabbage soup with beans.
    • Starches: Add some potatoes, brown rice, quinoa, pasta, or beans to the soup if you are not on a low carb diet.
    • Vegetables: You can use your veggies of choice for this soup. Some great options include zucchini, squash, broccoli, mushrooms, leeks, and spinach... and all of them work well on a keto diet.

    Make ahead and storage

    You can easily make my ham and cabbage soup ahead of time and reheat it when it's time for dinner. It will stay good for 3 to 5 days in a container with a tightly fitting lid.

    Or, if you simply want to save prep time, chop all of the veggies and meat and place them in separate containers in the fridge.

    If you want to freeze this dish, it's best to freeze it before you add the cream to the base. Soups that are dairy-based often separate when it comes time to reheat them.

    PIN & ENJOY!

     

    close up of a dish with ham, sausage, and vegetables

     

    Make sure to FOLLOW US on INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, and FACEBOOK. 

    hama nd cabbage soup in a bowl
    Print SAVE Saved Recipe! Pin
    4.89 from 9 votes

    Creamy Ham and Cabbage Soup Recipe

    This Creamy Ham and Cabbage Soup recipe makes a thick and hearty keto meal that is perfect for cooler fall weather. It's loaded with vegetables and is one of my favorite ways to use up leftover ham.
    Course:Entree
    Cuisine:American
    Keywords:ham and cabbage soup, soup recipes
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes
    Servings 6
    Calories311 kcal
    Author Denise Browning
    Cost $ 0.75 per person

    Equipment

    • Dutch Pan or Instant Pot or Crockpot
    • cutting board
    • knife

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 large onion chopped
    • 1 carrot sliced
    • 2 celery stalks chopped
    • 1 lb ham cubed or chopped (or other protein of your choice)
    • 5 cups chopped cabbage about ½ dead
    • 3 cups broth chicken or vegetable
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 12 oz frozen cauliflower cooked
    • ¾ cup half-and-half or milk (or soy milk for a dairy-free version)
    • 2 tablespoon green onion chopped (or another herb)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • STOVETOP: Heat a dutch pan over medium heat, add oil and saute onion, carrot, and celery until onion is tender (about 4 minutes). Add ham, cabbage, broth, and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and let it simmer, covered, for about 10 minutes or until veggies are tender.
    • Meanwhile, blend the cooked cauliflower with half-and-half until smooth, about 1 minute. Add blended mixture to the cooked veggies in the pan, stir well, and simmer for 5 minutes, uncovered. Adjust the seasonings to taste and serve with chopped green onions on top.
    • CROCKPOT: Layer the ingredients in your crockpot starting with the cabbage. Pour the broth over the top and add seasonings. Cook on low for 5 to 6 hours. Pour in the cream and blended cauliflower mixture and heat for 30 minutes. Stir and serve.
    • INSTANT POT: Press the sauté button and let it heat. Add oil and cook onion, carrot, and celery until onion is tender (about 3 minutes). Place the cabbage, vegetables, and ham in your Instant Pot.
    • Sprinkle on your seasonings. Pour the broth over the top. Seal the lid and turn the valve. Set your pressure cooker or Instant Pot to manual, high pressure, and cook for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, allow for a natural release for 10 minutes, followed by releasing the rest of the pressure. Add the cream that you blended with the cauliflower and stir. Serve and enjoy.

    Recipe Notes

    Make ahead and storage
    You can easily make my ham and cabbage soup ahead of time and reheat it when it's time for dinner. It will stay good for 3 to 5 days in a container with a tightly fitting lid.
    Or, if you simply want to save prep time, chop all of the veggies and meat and place them in separate containers in the fridge.
    If you want to freeze this dish, it's best to freeze it before you add the cream to the base. Soups that are dairy-based often separate when it comes time to reheat them.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 311kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 1416mg | Potassium: 584mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2133IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 1mg

    ** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.

    Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.

    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Comment and rate the recipe. Also follow us on Pinterest at @easyanddelish for more delish recipes.

    « Galinhada (Brazilian Chicken and Saffron Rice)
    Tik Tok Mini Pancake Cereal Recipe (Oven/Baked) »

    Filed Under: American Recipes, Easy Dinner Recipes, Easy Gluten-Free Recipes, Easy Keto Recipes, Easy One Pot Meals, Easy Pressure Cooker Recipes, Easy Slow Cooker Recipes, Quick & Easy Recipes Tagged With: low carb meals

    Subscribe

    for your weekly recipe fix.

    Please read our privacy policies before subscribing

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Raymund says

      October 06, 2020 at 2:09 pm

      5 stars
      I will do anything for a good soup like this 🙂

      Reply
    2. Kathy says

      May 23, 2021 at 1:15 pm

      5 stars
      This soup was so so good. Perfect for my low carb way of eating. It was hearty and you don't feel like you're missing anything.

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        May 23, 2021 at 6:51 pm

        Hi Kathy! I am so glad to hear you enjoyed this creamy ham and cabbage soup. It is pure comfort food without the carbs. I try to eat a low carb diet because I have PCOS and this is one of those comforting dishes that bring me joy. Thanks for the review. Have a great week!

        Reply
    3. Dawn says

      October 31, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      Hello, if making in the crock pot, do I still need to cook veggies first or just throw everything in crock pot? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        October 31, 2021 at 2:32 pm

        Hi Dawn! You can thorw the veggies in the crock pot without sauteeing them first. But it won't be as flavorful as if you sautee them first. Yet the soup will taste delicious! Make sure to adjust the salt and pepper right after cooking the soup and especially after mixing the dairy. Enjoy!

        Reply
    4. Stephen McCulloch says

      February 25, 2022 at 5:25 pm

      5 stars
      We loved the soup, although we couldn't find a half dead cabbage.
      5 cups chopped cabbage about 1/2 dead
      🙂

      Reply
      • Darlene says

        March 23, 2022 at 2:39 pm

        Hahah I saw that too! Sounds awful but half head of cabbage sounds delish as does this recipe. Will be making this tonight!

        Reply
    5. Julia says

      May 05, 2022 at 7:34 am

      5 stars
      I've been making this soup non-stop. It's amazing! Great with kielbasa, and i use a homemade bone broth which makes it even richer. Love love love this soup.

      Reply
    6. Deb says

      November 20, 2022 at 5:02 pm

      Good soup! I did add some dried thyme and a bay leaf

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        November 23, 2022 at 6:40 am

        I am so glad you enjoyed our creamy ham and cabbage soup, Deb! It is comfort food for sure and perfect for this chilly weather.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




     

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Denise Browning!

    photo of Denise Browning smiling
    I'm a professional Chef with an expertise in Brazilian food. I am also a busy mom of two girls, living in Texas. Here you will find budget-friendly, healthy Brazilian and Global Recipes made Easy and Delish! I'd love to help you feed your family healthy dinners (many low carb) with a few splurges because life is all about balance! Join our community and happy cooking!

    About Me

    ORDER NOW!

    Cover of The Complete 5-Ingredient Cookbook by Denise Browning

    GET YOUR COPY NOW!

    The easy keto dessert ebook cover
    Subscribe for FREE Email Updates
    Receive EASY & DELISH recipes for free every week! Please check our PRIVACY POLICY!

     

    Marketing by
    Click here & join us on PINTEREST
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • PortuguêsPortuguês
    Portrait of Denise Browning, author of Easy and Delish

    Hi, I'm Denise Browing a professional chef and cookbook author. My mission is to help you cook budget-friendly, healthy global meals for your family with some occasional splurges. They are sure to bring a lot of excitement to your table

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Easy & Juicy Beef Brisket Recipe
    • The BEST Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe and 7-Day Diet Soup Chart (Printable)
    • One Pot Shrimp in Coconut Sauce
    • Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Skillet Recipe (5-Ingredient)

    Order Now!

    Cover of The Complete 5-Ingredient Cookbook by Denise Browning

    Get Your Copy Now!

    The easy keto dessert ebook cover
    Click Here & Join Us on Pinterest

    Seasonal

    • Honey Butter Chicken
    • Gluten-Free Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Keto Taco Shells (One Ingredient)
    • Cheesecake Factory Stuffed Mushrooms

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Recipes | Brazilian Recipes | Contact | Privacy Policy

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Easy and Delish