Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (2024)

I’ve been curious about making this recipe for a long time. I love cabbage. I use it to make slaw, salads, and stir fry all the time. All this meal needs is a slice of homemade bread!

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Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (1)

Stuffed cabbage rolls

Stuffed cabbage rolls with ground beef and rice smothered in tangy-sweet balsamic vinegar-infused tomato sauce are one of my favorite meals.

The stuffing is tender and the leaves absorb all the flavors from the meat and sauce. Please believe me when I tell you, this is a winning recipe!

Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (2)

How To Make Stuffed Cabbage?

  1. For the sauce: In a large pot, saute the onion in olive oil until translucent, about three minutes. Add the minced garlic, tomato paste, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Mix in the crushed tomatoes and oregano, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20 minutes.
  3. In a large pot, bring water to a boil and blanch the cabbage for about a minute. Remove the leaves when tender and flexible.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350F. Make the filling: In a medium-sized bowl, mix the ground beef, one cup of sauce, rice, bread crumbs, chopped onion, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
    Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (3)
  5. Make the rolls: remove the tough part of the white vein in the middle of the leaves and place ⅓ cup of filling on one end
  6. Roll up, tucking in the sides as you go. Keep your rolls seam-side down as you finish rolling all of them.
    Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (4)
  7. Spread one cup of sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish and arrange the rolls seam-side down on top of the sauce
  8. Spoon the rest of the sauce on top of the rolls, cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
    Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (5)

Can I Make Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Ahead Of Time:

You certainly can. Make the sauce and rolls the day before you plan to serve them. Since there is raw meat inside the rolls, don’t keep them in the fridge for more than a day.

Assemble, bake, and serve the next day. You can also refrigerate the baked casserole and reheat it in the oven, covered with foil, for 20 mins.

Best Way To Freeze Stuffed Cabbage Rolls?

The best way to freeze them is slowly. By this I mean, place them first in the refrigerator for a few hours to “harden” them up a little, then place them in a freezer bag and remove as much air as possible.

Freeze them without the sauce. You can freeze the sauce in a separate bag, otherwise, when they thaw out, they will fall apart.

When you are ready to bake them, thaw the rolls and the sauce overnight in the fridge, take them out 30 minutes before baking, and assemble them in the baking dish just before putting them in the oven.

What To Serve With Stuffed Cabbage Rolls?

As I said, bread is a must, but a side of candied carrots, or a Caesar salad would be a great addition to the meal.

A great dessert is always a good idea, and Chocolate Orange Cake is to die for.

Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (6)

Other Casserole Recipes You Might Enjoy:

  • MEXICAN CORNBREAD CASSEROLE
  • OLD-SCHOOL CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE
  • CRAZY GOOD CHICKEN PASTA CASSEROLE
  • SLOPPY JOE CASSEROLE
  • EASY COWBOY CASSEROLE

Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (7)

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Stuffed cabbage rolls with ground beef and rice, smothered in tangy-sweet tomato sauce are one of my favorite meals!

5 from 10 votes

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Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: 5

Calories: 323kcal

Ingredients

FOR THE SAUCE:

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ large onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

FOR THE CABBAGE ROLLS

  • 15 cabbage leaves
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • ¼ cup uncooked white rice
  • ¼ cup Italian breadcrumbs
  • ½ large onion, chopped
  • 2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley, plus more for garnish
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • For the sauce: In a large pot, saute the onion in olive oil until translucent, about three minutes. Add the minced garlic, tomato paste, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.

  • Mix in the crushed tomatoes and oregano, season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer sauce for 20 minutes

  • Bring water to a boil in a large pot and blanch the cabbage for about a minute. Remove the leaves when tender and flexible.

  • Preheat the oven to 350F. Make the filling: In a medium-sized bowl, mix the ground beef, one cup of sauce, rice, bread crumbs, chopped onion, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper

  • Make the rolls: remove the tough part of the white vein in the middle of the leaves and add ⅓ cup of filling on one end

  • Roll up, tucking in the sides as you go. Keep your rolls seam-side down as you finish rolling all of them

  • Spread one cup of sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish and arrange the rolls seam-side down on top of the sauce

  • Spoon the rest of the sauce on top of the rolls, cover with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 14g

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Comments

    • Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (10)Ashley - 100krecipes

      Awww thank you!! 🙂

      Reply

  1. Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (11)Adele

    Just curious – what do you usually do with the rest of the cabbage? Save it for another meal? Dice it and put it under the rolls?

    Reply

    • Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (12)Ashley - 100krecipes

      I usually save it and make chicken soup with it!

      Reply

  2. Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (13)Jeanne

    Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (14)
    I cooked Spanish rice and browned hamburger added green pepper and onion. Then I put this mixture into the cabbage leaves. It turned out great and only baked it for 25 to 30 minutes.

    Reply

  3. Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (15)Jill

    Absolutely delicious!

    Reply

  4. Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (16)Brenda Moore

    Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (17)
    Really Good!

    Reply

  5. Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (18)Cindy

    I made these today and really enjoyed the flavours!! While I was reminded why I don’t make cabbage rolls often, simply because I suck at the rolling them part, I will use this recipe again in the future. I made two batches. Your way, and then I added some kimchi to the bottom of the other. What a nice, very subtle difference. Thank you for this recipe.

    Reply

    • Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (19)100krecipes

      Thanks for the suggestions. So glad you decided to try it again and customize it to your liking. 🙂

      Reply

  6. Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (20)Gloria

    Does it matter what type of rice, can you use basmati?

    Reply

    • Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (21)100krecipes

      You can use your favorite rice. Basmati is perfect.

      Reply

  7. Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (22)100krecipes

    Thanks for the suggestions. So glad you decided to try and customize it to your liking. 🙂

    Reply

  8. Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (23)Deanna

    Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (24)
    These are simply the Best cabbage rolls I’ve had. Easy to make and delicious. I pre-measured the prepared filling and was able to get 15 cabbage rolls using a 1/4 cup measure in lieu of the suggested 1/3 cup measure. I’ll be making them again! Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Easy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe : How to Make it ... (2024)

FAQs

Why are my stuffed cabbage rolls tough? ›

If your cooked cabbage is tough, it's likely because the cabbage is not cooked through yet. Continue to cook the rolls until they're tender. It's also important to make sure you let the rolls rest after they're finished baking.

Why do you freeze cabbage before making cabbage rolls? ›

Freezing breaks down the structure of the leaves, making them pliable and unlikely to crack or break when you pull them from the head or roll them for stuffing.

Why is my cabbage tough on my cabbage rolls? ›

If your cabbage rolls are too tough, it means that you have not cooked them long enough. My method to start with, letting the cabbage sit overnight, starts to get the cabbage nice and soft. But if they are still not soft enough after cooking, it means that you need to return them to the oven and cook for longer.

What do you serve with cabbage rolls? ›

  • Fresh salad with a zingy lime vinaigrette. ...
  • Bread- Soft dinner rolls go well with cabbage rolls. ...
  • Mashed potato and sauerkraut. ...
  • Gravy.
  • Roasted carrots or other sautéed veges also go well with cabbage rolls.
  • You can also serve it with flavored rice dishes.
Jun 9, 2016

How long does cabbage take to soften? ›

Step 1Cut cabbage into wedges or slice it thin. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add cabbage. (It's OK to crowd the pot because the cabbage will shrink!) Step 2Boil until tender, about 5 minutes for shredded cabbage and 10 minutes for wedges.

Is it better to freeze or boil cabbage for cabbage rolls? ›

Rather than boil the vegetable, do the exact opposite and try freezing an entire head of cabbage instead. Despite the fact that it might take a bit of extra time, this method proves to be safer and significantly less stinky — after all, no one wants their house to smell like gas.

Why is my cabbage not folding? ›

Inconsistent watering can disrupt the development process and lead to loose or underwhelming heads. Cabbage, in particular, is sensitive to water fluctuations. If the soil is too dry or too waterlogged, the plant's growth will suffer and you will not have a cabbage head ready by the harvest season.

How long does cabbage take to fold? ›

The answer to, “When will cabbage make a head?” is, it depends. The common green cabbages form heads more quickly than the huge Savoy cabbage. You can expect to see heads in approximately 71 days with green cabbage. Red cabbage takes slightly longer and Nappa cabbage will form small heads in only 57 days.

How long are homemade cabbage rolls good for? ›

To make ahead: Cool cabbage rolls and refrigerate in airtight container for up to 3 days. Alternatively, freeze in airtight container for up to 1 month. Reheat from frozen.

What happens if you don't blanch cabbage before freezing? ›

Once it's washed and cut up, cabbage can be frozen, but for longer-term storage, it's best to blanch it first. Blanched cabbage can be frozen for up to nine months, while unblanched cabbage will only keep for one to two months.

How long can you keep uncooked stuffed cabbage in the refrigerator? ›

If so, place them in the refrigerator. The stuffed cabbage will stay fresh for up to 1 week. If not, place them in the freezer. The stuffed cabbage will stay fresh for up to 6 months.

How long do you need to freeze cabbage for cabbage rolls? ›

Wrap it tightly in 2 plastic bags. I recommend at least a week, just to make sure it's had time to get nice and frosty. Over night isn't enough. Then, when you're ready to make the Cabbage Rolls, just pull out the cabbage and let it thaw in the sink for about 8 hours.

What is cabbage mostly made of? ›

Raw cabbage is 92% water, 6% carbohydrates, 1% protein, and contains negligible fat. In a 100-gram reference amount, raw cabbage is a rich source of vitamin C and vitamin K, containing 44% and 72%, respectively, of the Daily Value (DV).

What are German cabbage rolls made of? ›

ingredients
  1. 1 lb ground beef.
  2. 1 lb ground pork.
  3. 4 ounces nice smoked bacon, diced fine.
  4. 1 tablespoon coarse black pepper.
  5. 1 teaspoon chili pepper flakes (optional)
  6. 1 tablespoon good paprika (optional)
  7. 1 medium onion, diced fine.
  8. 1 -2 head sour cabbage.

What are Ukrainian cabbage rolls made of? ›

Description. Ukrainian meat stuffed cabbage rolls. Made with sweet green cabbage, beef, pork, carrots, onions, tomatoes, rice, fresh dill/ parsley, spices.

What gives cabbage its Flavour? ›

It has substantial amounts of β carotene provitamin A), ascorbic acid, riboflavin, niacin and thiamine. Ascorbic acid content varies from 30-65 mg per 100 g fresh weight. Flavour in cabbage leaves is due to the glycoside sinigrin.

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