Slow-Simmered Garden Vegetable Soup with Thyme
A comforting, herb-infused soup made with seasonal garden vegetables and fresh thyme. This american-inspired soups ready in about 60 minutes pairs medium onion, medium carrots, stalks celery for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 120 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
- 1 medium onion
- 2 medium carrots
- 2 stalks celery
- 1 medium potato
- 1 cup cabbage
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley
Instructions
- Step 1: Dice onion, carrots, and celery into 1/2-inch pieces. Peel and dice potato into 1/2-inch cubes.
- Step 2: Melt 2 tbsp butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery, and cook for 5 minutes until softened.
- Step 3: Stir in diced potato, 1 cup chopped cabbage, and 1 tsp dried thyme. Add 6 cups vegetable broth and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Step 4: Cover and simmer for 25 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley and season with salt to taste.
- Step 5: Simmer uncovered for 2 additional minutes before serving.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Simmered Garden Vegetable Soup with Thyme take to make?
Total time is about 60 minutes (20 min prep + 40 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Slow-Simmered Garden Vegetable Soup with Thyme?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep medium onion from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Simmered Garden Vegetable Soup with Thyme?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Slow-Simmered Garden Vegetable Soup with Thyme for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Slow-Simmered Garden Vegetable Soup with Thyme?
American soups like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★☆
Enjoyable meal. Instructions could be a touch more detailed on the timing.
- ★★★☆☆
Okay for a quick meal. I've had better soups dishes though.
- ★★★☆☆
Not bad. Would need significant modifications to make it a regular.
