Cabbage and Apple Soup with Smoked Bacon

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-23 · Updated 2026-04-23

A comforting, slightly sweet soup featuring cabbage, tart apples, and smoky bacon in a savory broth. This Irish-inspired St. Patrick’s Day recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs smoked bacon, onion, carrot for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 oz (113g), diced smoked bacon
• 1/2 cup (75g), finely diced onion
• 1/2 cup (60g), diced carrot
• 2 cups (100g), finely shredded cabbage
• 1 medium, cored and diced apple
• 4 cups (950ml) chicken broth
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup (60ml) heavy cream

The stock pot we’d simmer this in → Best Stock Pots for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large pot, cook 4 oz diced smoked bacon over medium heat for 5 minutes until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving the fat in the pot.
2. Step 2: Add 1/2 cup finely diced onion and 1/2 cup diced carrot to the pot and cook for 5 minutes until softened.
3. Step 3: Stir in 2 cups shredded cabbage, 1 diced medium apple, 4 cups chicken broth, 1/2 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes until vegetables are tender.
4. Step 4: Stir in the reserved bacon and heat through. Serve hot with a swirl of 1/4 cup heavy cream.