Cozy up with a comforting bowl of leftover corned beef and cabbage soup. Making use of leftovers has never been tastier!
Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup is a dish that we look forward to making any time we have leftover corned beef.
It’s quick, easy, and so deliciously warming. No one will believe you used leftovers.
Do you remember that fabulous corned beef brisket that we BAKED recently?
We said that when corned beef goes on sale we buy a large one or even two. One of the reasons is because of the leftovers.
We’ve barely finished our corned beef dinner when we’ve got our palates wrapped around a steaming warm bowl of leftover Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup.
We go about making our soup a little different. You see, John and the kids always said they didn’t like cooked cabbage.
What they don’t like is wimpy soggy cooked cabbage.
We always have fresh cabbage, potatoes, and carrots in the refrigerator after our big St. Patrick’s Corned Beef Brisket dinner.
Sauteing them up fresh makes this corned beef soup in a delicious soup full of fresh flavor and textures.
Corned Beef Cabbage Ingredients
- Carrots – We had some beautiful rainbow carrots but you can use what you have.
- Potatoes – We use russet potatoes because they cook at about the same rate as our other ingredients. You could use Yukon Gold as a substitute.
- Cabbage – We’ve always used green cabbage. We like the way it cooks up and the variety of colors with our other ingredients.
- There’s no reason you couldn’t use red cabbage.
- Beef Broth – Since we don’t boil our corned beef brisket, we don’t have leftover broth.
- Using a low-fat low-sodium beef broth variety makes this soup a little better for you.
- Onion – We used a yellow onion. A white onion would be a good substitute.
- Corned Beef – Baked or our Instant Pot recipes make the best leftover recipes.
How we make our Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup Recipe
- Saute the onions and carrots in a Dutch oven for 5 minutes, or until they just start to soften.
- You don’t want to overcook them here because they will continue to cook when you add them to your hot soup broth.
- Add all of the remaining ingredients to the pan. Cover the pan and let the ingredients cook for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked.
Helpful Tips
- If your vegetables are fresh, you don’t have to remove their peel. It’s a time saver and there are vitamins in that peel! Just scrub them with a vegetable brush.
- Cut up your soup ingredients so they all cook at the same rate. For example, carrots take a little longer to cook so we slice them thinly.
- We slice the cabbage a little thicker to prevent it from overcooking.
- Nothing should be cut larger than what will fit on a soup spoon. You shouldn’t have to serve your soup with a knife!
- Slightly undercook your vegetables. They will continue to cook in the soup.
Not a cabbage fan? Use more potatoes and skip the cabbage
You can make this a vegetarian soup. Use vegetable broth and skip the corned beef!
If you want to use leftover vegetables to make this Corned Beef and Cabbage soup recipe, cut everything up into serving-sized pieces and combine them with the corned beef in a soup pot. Cover with broth and cook on medium to medium-low until everything is hot.
Leftover Soup can be kept refrigerated for up to 3 days.
This soup also freezes well. To thaw it you either place it in the refrigerator overnight, leave it out at room temperature, or heat it over low heat on the stove-top.
Soup can be reheated in the microwave or warmed on the stovetop after it’s thawed.
We’re soup lovers and you can find all of our soup recipes here.
Still looking for leftover recipes? Check these out!
- Au Gratin Potatoes with Corned Beef . You could not pick a better meat to use in cheesy potatoes than leftover corned beef
- Corned Beef Sandwich combines a sweet mustard sauce with a crunchy slaw that puts this great sandwich over the top. Especially when you put it on Sourdough Rye Bread or Pumpernickel bread!
- Corned Beef Breakfast Casserole is delicious for breakfast or dinner. Tender chunks of corned beef, potatoes, and cheese oh my!
- Traditional Rueben Sandwich No one does a Rueben Sandwich like my friend over on An Affair From The Heart!
- Corned Beef & Swiss Sliders are perfect for a meal or easy entertaining from my buddy Take Two Tapas.
I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.
What to serve with Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup
A great piece of Irish bread such as:
For dessert, Pistachio Pudding Trifle, Baileys Mini Cheesecakes, or how about an Irish Cream Cupcake?
Did you enjoy this recipe? Don’t forget to pin it for later and follow me on Pinterest for more delicious recipes like this one!
Cathy
Wednesday 7th of June 2023
But… if you are making this from leftovers, everything is already cut up and cooked. I’m reading the recipe as using all fresh and uncooked veggies. So… how should this be adjusted. Just make sure everything is bite size, cover with broth and warm through?
Julie Menghini
Thursday 8th of June 2023
Great question, Cathy. I used fresh uncooked veggies. Only the corned beef is leftover. If you're using leftover veggies, just as you said, cover it with broth and cook until it's heated through.
Mary
Tuesday 21st of March 2023
Awesome recipe, family LOVED it! In the past I never knew what to do with my Corned Beef & Cabbage leftovers, and we would get bored of Rueben sandwiches. This is absolutely my new go to! Delicious, easy & healthy with all the veggies (add some extra)!
Julie Menghini
Wednesday 22nd of March 2023
Thank you, Mary! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Biana
Wednesday 24th of March 2021
Yum! Love your twist on corned beef and cabbage -- so yummy and simple to make.
Julie Menghini
Wednesday 24th of March 2021
Thank you! This soup is one of our favorite "repurposing" recipes.
Nikki
Monday 15th of March 2021
This is so delicious and tasty! I grabbed some corned beef from my hot counter at my deli to make it and loved it. Now can't wait for leftovers from St. Paddy's day to make it again and freeze for quick meals!
Julie Menghini
Monday 15th of March 2021
We love this soup and always intend on leftovers just so we can make it. So glad you enjoyed it!
Kathleen p
Sunday 14th of March 2021
I cannot wait to make this recipe, I am making corned beef this week and this is perfect to make with leftovers! YUMMY!
Julie Menghini
Monday 15th of March 2021
Thank you! It's so easy and delish!