Skip to Content

Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup – with Leftovers

Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup is loaded with fresh cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. A deliciously warm bowl of soup is the perfect way to use leftover corned beef.

Top down photo of a bowl of corned beef and cabbage soup. A basket of rolls and a pot of soup sit in the background. A setting of silverware sit to the side of the bowl.

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 up 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.

Close up view of a bowl of corned beef and cabbage soup with rolls in the background.

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 into a delicious soup full of fresh flavor and textures.

Corned Beef Cabbage Ingredients

Carrots, potatoes, onion, cabbage, and corned beef brisket on a wooden cutting board.
  • 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 BeefBaked or our Instant Pot recipes make the best leftover recipes.

How we make our Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup

  1. 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.
Top down view of a pot holding diced rainbow carrots and onions.
  1. 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!

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.

Kitchen items we use

Hostess At Heart participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information about these affiliate programs.

  • Dutch oven – This is the most used pan in my kitchen. I use it for everything including baking my sourdough.
  • Vegetable Brush – Wash the veggies! Any germs or bacteria that were on the outside are transferred to the inside when they’re cut.
  • Cutting Board – A good wooden cutting board is better on your knives.

What to serve with Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup

A great piece of bread such as:

For dessert, Pistachio Pudding Trifle, Baileys Mini Cheesecakes, or how about an Irish Cream Cupcake?

Pin it!

Two photo collage for Pinterest. The top photo is a 3/4 angle of a bowl of corned beef and cabbage soup. The bottom photo is a top down view of the soup with a basket of rolls and the pot of soup in the background.

We’re soup lovers and you can find all of our soup recipes here.

Are you still looking for recipes that use leftover corned beef?

If you tried this delicious recipe, don’t forget to rate it and leave me a comment telling me what you think. I love hearing from you!

3/4 angle of a bowl of corned beef soup with cabbage, carrots, and potatoes.

Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup with Leftovers

Author: Julie Menghini
Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup is loaded with fresh cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. A deliciously warm bowl of soup is the perfect way to use leftover corned beef.
4.91 from 10 votes
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Course Main Dish, Soup
Cuisine American
Keyword: Baked Potato Soup, Corned Beef
Servings: 8

Ingredients
 
 

  • 4 cups cabbage sliced thick
  • 2 cups potatoes cubed
  • 1 cup carrots sliced thinly
  • 1/2 onion
  • 3 cups cooked corned beef cubed (remove fat and spices before dicing)
  • 5 cups beef broth

Instructions
 

  • In a 5 quart pan or dutch oven, saute the onion and carrots until they start to soften, about 5 minutes.
  • Add cabbage, potatoes, and corned beef. Add enough beef broth to cover the other ingredients by about 1 inch.
  • Cover with a lid and cook on low until potatoes start to soften, about 20 minutes.

Notes

  • 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 a knife with your soup!
  • Slightly undercook your vegetables. They will continue to cook in the soup.
Soup should be stored in the refrigerator and can be frozen.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 234kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 18gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 1378mgPotassium: 901mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 2707IUVitamin C: 44mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 3mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
Recipe Rating




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!

Sandra Shaffer

Sunday 14th of March 2021

This is my kind of comfort food! Now I'm super excited to have some leftover corned beef this week!

Julie Menghini

Sunday 14th of March 2021

Thank you, Sandra! Our second one is in the oven as we speak!

Toni

Tuesday 9th of March 2021

It is totally comforting and so delish!! Everyone at my house loved it!

Julie Menghini

Wednesday 10th of March 2021

Thank you, Toni! We love this one too!

As Seen On