Cabbage roll casserole is a family favorite that is on the table in less than 1 hour. This quick dinner has all of the flavors of cabbage rolls, without all of the extra time and hassle it takes to make them. Tender cabbage is layered between a perfectly seasoned tomato based meat sauce, mixed with rice, and topped with melty cheese.
I don’t know if you have ever had the pleasure of making homemade cabbage rolls. While they are so tasty and the ultimate comfort food, they are a labor of love! So, I am going to save you the trouble and you can make lazy cabbage roll casserole instead. It’s basically the deconstructed version, but it tastes the exact same! I have incorporated a similar flavor into cabbage roll soup too, which is an easy meal.
Cabbage fans will also like our stovetop cabbage soup, slow cooker corned beef and cabbage, plus corned beef and cabbage soup. All of these would be great with my crusty Dutch oven bread or a simple dinner salad.
Jump to:
🥬 Ingredients:
- olive oil
- ground beef – see the variation section for other meat options.
- yellow onion
- salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning
- minced fresh garlic cloves – store-bought will also work and if you have to, you can substitute garlic powder.
- head of cabbage – remove the outer cabbage leaves and the core, then chop into 1 inch pieces (about 8 cups)
- tomato sauce and canned diced tomatoes
- cooked long grain rice – white rice or brown rice will work.
- grated mozzarella cheese
- Chopped parsley or herbs – for garnish
For a full list of ingredients and their measurements, 📋 please view my printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Optional Garnish:
Garnish this cabbage casserole recipe with fresh parsley and freshly cracked black pepper.
Substitutions and Variations
- Low carb – use cauliflower rice instead of regular rice.
- Dairy free – omit the cheese or use a vegan cheese option.
- Vegan/Vegetarian – use beans, cooked quinoa, plant-based meat, or lentils instead of the ground beef. Omit the cheese or replace with vegan cheese.
- Meat – you can swap the beef or use a combo of ground pork or turkey. Some have also use ground chicken, which will change the flavor somewhat.
- Stovetop – if you would rather not layer, you can cook it on the stove top instead. Brown the beef and onions, add the spices, tomatoes, and sauce, then the chopped cabbage and cover. Once the cabbage is tender, add the rice and cheese. Cover and allow the cheese to melt.
- Spicy – add red pepper flakes, diced jalapenos, or some chili powder. Rotel can also be swapped in for the diced tomatoes for some spice.
- Cheesier – layer more cheese in between versus just on top. Gruyere and white cheddar would also pair nicely.
🔪 Instructions:
PREP: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the rice if needed.
Step 1: Brown the beef and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat. If you are using lean ground beef, add 1 tablespoon of oil as well. Drain the grease.
Step 2: Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of pepper to the beef mixture and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Pour in the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes, then bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer so the liquid reduces and thickens. Remove from the heat and stir in the cooked rice.
Step 3: In a large pot, add a little olive oil and heat over medium. Add the chopped cabbage and saute just until it wilts. Stir in the remaining salt and pepper, then remove from the heat.
Step 4: In a 9×13 baking dish, layer ½ of the cabbage, then half of the beef and rice mixture on top of the cabbage. Repeat for the next layers and sprinkle the top with cheese.
Pro Tip: If you would rather skip chopping the cabbage you can easily replace it with store-bought coleslaw mix.
Step 5: Bake for 20-30 minutes until the casserole is hot and the cheese melts.
SERVE: Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.
Recipe Tips for Simple Cabbage Roll Casserole
- Before layering, taste the cabbage mixture and the meat. They may need more seasoning.
- Simmer the meat sauce longer for a thicker casserole. You can also use crushed tomatoes or another can of diced tomatoes. However, the cooking time will increase because it needs to reduce so it isn’t runny.
- Add a teaspoon of white or brown sugar to cut some of the acidity of the tomatoes, though we prefer it without.
- Even though it’s fairly healthy and uses simple ingredients, this recipe is a very hearty casserole.
Fun Fact
It was thought in ancient China that cabbage would cure for male baldness. – Crafty House
Recipe FAQs
Keep leftover casserole covered tightly with foil or plastic wrap in the dish or in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it before or after it has cooked. Then cover with foil and bake until it’s warm.
We chose to use green cabbage but any variety will work. Red cabbage will bleed and the dish will not look as nice.
More Fantastic Casserole Recipes
If you tried this Cabbage Roll Casserole Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the 📝 comments below.
Cabbage Roll Casserole
Ingredients
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 yellow onion diced (1 cup)
- 1-2 teaspoons salt divided
- 1 teaspoon pepper divided
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 large head of green cabbage core removed and leaves chopped (about 8 cups)
- 1 – 15- oz. can tomato sauce divided
- 1 – 14.5- oz. can diced tomatoes
- 2 cups cooked long-grain rice
- 2 cups grated mozzarella
- Chopped parsley or herbs for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef and onion. (Use 1 tablespoon of oil in the pan if the ground beef is lean.) Drain any excess grease.
- Add 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning to the meat mixture and saute 1-2 minutes longer.
- Add in the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Bring to a low boil. Reduce heat and simmer several minutes to reduce liquid and thicken sauce. Remove from heat and stir in the cooked rice.
- Meanwhile, in a separate skillet or Dutch oven (some depth to the pan is best to accommodate the volume of the fresh cabbage), drizzle another tablespoon of olive oil. Heat over medium heat, adding the chopped cabbage, and sauteing for several minutes until cabbage has just wilted. Season with remaining salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
- In a 9×13 casserole dish, layer ½ of the cabbage, then ½ of the meat mixture. Repeat the layers and top with grated cheese.
- Bake cabbage roll casserole for 20-30 minutes, until casserole is hot and the cheese has melted.
- Garnish with chopped parsley.
Notes
Nutrition
Make this recipe?
Share it with me on Instagram @girlinspired1 and follow on Pinterest for more!
Leave A Reply!