Healthy Recipes Nutrient-Focused High-Protein Chicken & Cabbage Soup with Pesto 4.9 (7) 6 Reviews This one-pot chicken and cabbage soup is topped with flavor-boosting store-bought pesto. Big, fiber-rich butter beans add a creamy bite, but you can easily swap them out for cannellini beans or navy beans if you prefer. This soup works well with leftover chicken—simply shred or chop cooked chicken and add it to the soup to reheat once the cabbage is tender. By Julia Levy Julia Levy Julia Levy has been working in recipe publishing for almost a decade, but testing recipes for as long as she's been able to wield a spoon. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 21, 2025 Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD See More Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Jump to recipe Close Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Active Time: 25 mins Total Time: 35 mins Servings: 6 servings Nutrition Profile: Gut Healthy Anti-Inflammatory Mediterranean Diet Sesame-Free Diabetes-Friendly Soy-Free Heart-Healthy High-Protein Egg-Free Gluten-Free Jump to Nutrition Facts This one-pot chicken soup is quickly made and easy to clean up.With lots of fiber from beans and vegetables, this dish supports digestive health.The pesto topping adds rich flavor to this nourishing soup. Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1/2x 1x 2x Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it. This recipe was developed and tested at its original yield and has not been tested at other yields. Note that only the ingredient list is scaled, so you may need to make adjustments to ingredient amounts, cooking times and equipment sizes in the recipe steps. Scaling could also impact the nutrition analysis. Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup thinly sliced carrot 4 cups chopped green cabbage 1 cup sliced leek 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic 6 cups unsalted chicken broth 1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added butter beans, rinsed 1 teaspoon salt 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1 tablespoon white-wine vinegar 6 tablespoons pesto Directions Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add carrot; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add cabbage and leek; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add garlic; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add broth, beans and salt; increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Reduce heat to medium and stir in chicken. Simmer, covered, until the cabbage is tender and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken registers 165°F, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar. Ladle into 6 bowls; top each with 1 tablespoon pesto. Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely EatingWell.com, November 2023 Save Rate Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 333 Calories 14g Fat 20g Carbs 32g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 6 Serving Size 1 2/3 cups Calories 333 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 20g 7% Dietary Fiber 6g 22% Total Sugars 6g Protein 32g 64% Total Fat 14g 18% Saturated Fat 3g 13% Cholesterol 69mg 23% Vitamin A 280µg Vitamin C 23mg 25% Vitamin D 0µg Vitamin E 3mg 17% Folate 80µg Vitamin K 77µg Sodium 569mg 25% Calcium 114mg 9% Iron 3mg 15% Magnesium 69mg 16% Potassium 764mg 16% Zinc 2mg 16% Vitamin B12 0µg Omega 3 0g Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.