Stuffed Cabbages Rolls

This cabbage rolls dish is simple to make with cabbage leaves, ground meat, rice, and condensed tomato soup. I’ve been using this recipe for over 20 years and still enjoy it! To speed up the process, the rolls are cooked in a pan on the stovetop, but this recipe also works great in a slow cooker.

Ingredients

1 cup COOKED long-grain rice (or similar variety)

1.5 pounds lean ground beef (or ‘extra lean’)

1.5 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 large egg

1 yellow onion , peeled and minced

⅓ cup parsley , roughly chopped

3 cloves garlic , minced

1.5 teaspoons salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

½ teaspoon dried dill

½ teaspoon onion powder

½ to 1 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)

42 ounces tomato sauce , divided (Three 398 millilitre cans or 14 ounce cans (roughly 5 cups). See point 5 below in recipe ‘Notes.’)

1 medium head green cabbage (you’ll need about 18 leaves for the rolls and another 8 to 10 or so for the bottom of the dish and over top.)

half cup of water (leftover from boiling cabbage)

fresh dill , chopped (garnish, optional)

Directions

Cook rice per package instructions and lay to one side. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit at this point too.

In a large bowl combine ground beef with Worcestershire sauce, egg, cooked rice, onion, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper, dill, onion powder, red chili flakes (if using) and ½ cup of tomato sauce. Mix until combined.

In a large point of boiling water, add head of cabbage and boil for 8 to 10 minutes (carefully turn over partway through). Carefully remove. Don’t discard water because you will need to re-boil the cabbage as you start to peel off the leaves and you will need some of the water for your sauce.Note: Don’t fill pot all the way up because the cabbage will displace some of the water. Before boiling water, test how much the water will displace by placing the head of cabbage in the pot.

Once cabbage is cool enough to handle, carefully remove leaves and cut out core from each leaf. Once you start taking leaves off, you’ll likely need to add the cabbage back to the boiling water (to soften more leaves). Just boil for another bit, let cool enough to handle and continue removing leaves.

Place some cabbage leaves on the bottom of a deep 9″ x 13″ baking dish or roasting pan. Taking one leaf at a time, distribute about ¼ cup of ground beef mixture on top and wrap up (fold in sides and roll up, placing in prepared dish, seam side down. Continue with remaining ground beef mixture/leaves.

Combine remaining tomato sauce with ½ cup of cabbage water. Whisk to incorporate everything. Pour over top of cabbage rolls.

Recipe Card

Stuffed Cabbages Rolls

This cabbage rolls dish is simple to make with cabbage leaves, ground meat, rice, and condensed tomato soup. I’ve been using this recipe for over 20 years and still enjoy it! To speed up the process, the rolls are cooked in a pan on the stovetop, but this recipe also works great in a slow cooker.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup COOKED long-grain rice or similar variety
  • 1.5 pounds lean ground beef or ‘extra lean’
  • 1.5 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 yellow onion peeled and minced
  • cup parsley roughly chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1.5 teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried dill
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon red chili flakes optional
  • 42 ounces tomato sauce divided (Three 398 millilitre cans or 14 ounce cans (roughly 5 cups). See point 5 below in recipe ‘Notes.’)
  • 1 medium head green cabbage you’ll need about 18 leaves for the rolls and another 8 to 10 or so for the bottom of the dish and over top.
  • half cup of water leftover from boiling cabbage
  • fresh dill chopped (garnish, optional)

Instructions
 

  • Cook rice per package instructions and lay to one side. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit at this point too.
  • In a large bowl combine ground beef with Worcestershire sauce, egg, cooked rice, onion, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper, dill, onion powder, red chili flakes (if using) and ½ cup of tomato sauce. Mix until combined.
  • In a large point of boiling water, add head of cabbage and boil for 8 to 10 minutes (carefully turn over partway through). Carefully remove. Don’t discard water because you will need to re-boil the cabbage as you start to peel off the leaves and you will need some of the water for your sauce.Note: Don’t fill pot all the way up because the cabbage will displace some of the water. Before boiling water, test how much the water will displace by placing the head of cabbage in the pot.
  • Once cabbage is cool enough to handle, carefully remove leaves and cut out core from each leaf. Once you start taking leaves off, you’ll likely need to add the cabbage back to the boiling water (to soften more leaves). Just boil for another bit, let cool enough to handle and continue removing leaves.
  • Place some cabbage leaves on the bottom of a deep 9″ x 13″ baking dish or roasting pan. Taking one leaf at a time, distribute about ¼ cup of ground beef mixture on top and wrap up (fold in sides and roll up, placing in prepared dish, seam side down. Continue with remaining ground beef mixture/leaves.
  • Combine remaining tomato sauce with ½ cup of cabbage water. Whisk to incorporate everything. Pour over top of cabbage rolls.
Keyword Stuffed Cabbages Rolls
  • High Protein Taco Soup

    High Protein Taco Soup

    Craving the bold, comforting flavors of taco night but need a meal that aligns with your health and fitness goals? Look no further. This High Protein Taco Soup is your secret weapon—a hearty, one-pot wonder that delivers serious protein, fiber, and flavor without any guilt. It’s the perfect fusion of a cozy soup and the…


  • Crockpot Christmas Crack

    Crockpot Christmas Crack

    The holiday season brings many cherished traditions: twinkling lights, festive music, and the irresistible urge to make treats that fill your home with warmth and sweetness. But between shopping, wrapping, and entertaining, who has hours to spend making intricate candies? Enter the hero of hectic holidays: Crockpot Christmas Crack. This legendary recipe takes the classic,…


  • Homemade Chocolate Bars

    Homemade Chocolate Bars

    There is something truly magical about breaking a piece from a glossy, perfectly tempered chocolate bar. The sharp snap, the rich aroma that wafts up, and the slow melt of creamy cocoa on your tongue—it’s a multisensory experience. But what if you could create this experience in your own kitchen? Not just melting and molding…


Leave a Comment

Rate This Recipe!