Hearty Irish Bacon, Cabbage, and Potato Soup Recipe for Cozy Days

Winter’s chill melts away with this hearty Irish bacon, cabbage, and potato soup that warms you from the inside out.

Rich, savory aromas fill the kitchen as the ingredients simmer together.

Tender chunks of potato dance with smoky bacon pieces throughout the broth.

Each spoonful carries the comforting essence of traditional Irish cuisine.

Cabbage adds a subtle sweetness and robust texture to this classic one-pot meal.

The soup beckons with its rustic charm and simple, satisfying flavors.

Let’s find out this soul-soothing recipe that promises to chase away the coldest of days.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Calories: 250 kcal

Servings: 5

Irish Bacon, Cabbage, and Potato Soup Ingredients

• Irish Bacon: Rich, smoky meat that adds deep flavor and hearty texture to the soup, choose thick-cut for best results.
• Onion: Provides aromatic foundation and natural sweetness, select firm onions with no soft spots.

• Chicken Stock: Creates the soup's nutritious liquid base, use homemade or high-quality store-bought for superior taste.
• Bay Leaf: Introduces subtle herbal notes and depth, remove before serving to prevent tough texture.
• Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Enhance overall taste profile, adjust according to personal preference.

• Cabbage: Adds traditional Irish element with crisp texture and subtle earthiness, choose fresh, compact head.
• Carrot: Brings natural sweetness and vibrant color, pick firm carrots with bright orange hue.
• Potatoes: Provides creamy consistency and hearty substance, select waxy varieties for best soup texture.
• Parsley: Offers fresh, bright garnish with light herbal finish, chop just before serving for maximum flavor.

Tools to Cook Irish Soup with Bacon and Cabbage

• Large pot: Essential for cooking the soup, used to sauté bacon, vegetables, and simmer the entire dish.
• Slotted spoon: Perfect for removing crispy bacon from the pot without losing the flavorful fat.
• Cutting board: Needed for chopping onions, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage.
• Sharp knife: Crucial for precise vegetable cutting and preparation.
• Ladle: Helps serve the soup smoothly into bowls.
• Measuring spoons: Useful for seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring and mixing ingredients while cooking.

How to Make Traditional Irish Potato Soup

• Bacon Sizzle Preparation The kitchen comes alive as bacon transforms into crispy, golden delights. Fat from these savory morsels will become the flavor foundation for our hearty soup.
• Vegetable Melody Onions and carrots dance in the warm bacon essence, softening and releasing their sweet, earthy notes. They create a robust base that whispers promises of comfort.
• Potato and Cabbage Symphony Diced potatoes and chopped cabbage join the pot, bringing rustic charm and substantial texture. A sprinkle of salt and pepper awakens their natural flavors, creating a harmonious blend.
• Liquid Infusion Chicken stock pours in, accompanied by a fragrant bay leaf. The mixture bubbles gently, allowing ingredients to meld and soften into a velvety embrace. Patience transforms simple components into a soul-warming creation.
• Bacon Reunion Crispy bacon pieces return to the pot, adding delightful crunch and smoky depth. A final taste ensures perfect seasoning, balancing every spoonful with love and tradition.
• Serving Elegance Ladle the steaming soup into waiting bowls, crowning each with a sprinkle of fresh parsley. Crusty bread stands ready to soak up every delicious drop of this Irish classic.

Tips for Rich Flavor in Irish Bacon Soup

• Crisp your bacon to golden perfection for maximum flavor depth and textural contrast in every spoonful.
• Choose starchy potato varieties like Russet or Yukon Gold that break down slightly, creating a naturally thicker soup consistency without extra thickening agents.
• Replace chicken stock with vegetable broth for a vegetarian version, or substitute cabbage with kale or Brussels sprouts for interesting flavor twists that maintain the hearty Irish soup spirit.
• Stir in a splash of heavy cream or buttermilk during the final minutes of cooking to transform this rustic soup into a silkier, more luxurious experience that adds rich undertones.
• Experiment with smoked paprika, dried thyme, or caraway seeds to introduce subtle European-inspired flavor profiles that complement the traditional Irish ingredients and elevate the overall taste profile.

Serving Irish Soup for Lunch or Dinner

• Cozy Family Comfort: Gather loved ones around the table and savor this hearty soup that warms both body and soul, perfect for chilly evenings or lazy weekends.
• Rustic Bread Pairing: Serve with thick slices of crusty Irish soda bread or warm sourdough to soak up every delicious drop of this flavorful soup.
• Irish Pub Style Presentation: Garnish with extra crispy bacon bits, a sprinkle of fresh parsley, and a side of sharp cheddar cheese to create a pub-inspired dining experience that transports you straight to Ireland.
• Wholesome Meal Upgrade: Transform this soup into a complete meal by adding a small side salad with crisp greens and a light vinaigrette to balance the richness of the bacon and potatoes.

Storing Your Irish Cabbage and Potato Soup

• Batch Cooking Brilliance: Whip up a large pot of this hearty soup and enjoy multiple meals throughout the week. It's perfect for busy schedules and saves precious cooking time.
• Freezer-Friendly Feast: Store leftover soup in airtight containers for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator or freeze for 2-3 months. Pro tip: leave a bit of extra space in containers as liquids expand when frozen.
• Smart Ingredient Prep: Chop vegetables and crisp bacon in advance to cut down on day-of cooking time. Store prepped ingredients separately in sealed containers in the refrigerator for quick assembly.
• Reheating Magic: Gently warm soup on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of chicken stock if the soup seems too thick after refrigeration. Avoid microwave reheating to maintain the soup's rich texture and prevent potatoes from becoming mushy.

Hearty Irish Bacon, Potato, and Cabbage Soup

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4.8 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Hearty potato soup with Irish bacon showcases traditional Celtic comfort cuisine. Rustic ingredients merge into a warming bowl that connects diners with Ireland’s culinary heritage while satisfying hunger and nostalgia.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 0.5 lb (226 g) Irish bacon, cut into quarter pieces
• 0.5 lb (226 g) potatoes, washed and diced
• 0.5 cabbage, roughly chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled and finely sliced
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 4 to 5 cups chicken stock
• 1 bay leaf
• Kosher salt (to taste)
• Black pepper (to taste)
• Parsley, chopped (for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Bacon Rendering: Heat a large pot over medium temperature and crisp Irish bacon until golden, approximately 5-7 minutes. Remove bacon and preserve the rendered fat.
2. Vegetable Sauté: Introduce finely chopped onions into bacon fat, cooking until translucent. Add sliced carrots and continue sautéing briefly to develop savory undertones.
3. Ingredient Integration: Combine diced potatoes and roughly chopped cabbage into the aromatic vegetable mixture. Season thoroughly with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance flavor profile.
4. Liquid Infusion: Pour chicken stock into the pot and add a single bay leaf. Elevate heat to achieve a rolling boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle, consistent simmer.
5. Simmering Process: Allow soup to slowly cook uncovered for 18-22 minutes, ensuring potatoes become fork-tender and cabbage maintains a delicate yet robust texture.
6. Final Composition: Crumble reserved crispy bacon and reintroduce into the soup. Conduct a final taste assessment, adjusting seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired.
7. Presentation: Transfer the steaming soup into warmed serving bowls. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and accompany with crusty Irish soda bread or hearty whole grain crackers for a complete culinary experience.

Notes

• Bacon Selection: Choose high-quality Irish bacon for authentic flavor and optimal rendering, ensuring crispy texture and rich taste.
• Fat Management: Reserve bacon fat for sautéing vegetables, enhancing the soup’s depth and traditional cooking technique.
• Vegetable Cutting: Maintain consistent vegetable sizes for even cooking and balanced texture throughout the soup.
• Simmering Secret: Monitor soup closely during simmering to prevent overcooking potatoes while maintaining cabbage’s slight crunch.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Irish

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg