This stuffed cabbage rolls recipe is cabbage leaves filled with beef and rice, coated in a homemade tomato sauce and baked to perfection. A comfort food classic that’s hearty, delicious and simple to make.
I’ve been eating stuffed cabbage since I was a child, and I’ve been working on this recipe for a long time to create the ultimate rendition of cabbage rolls. Serve your stuffed cabbage rolls with a side of Instant Pot mashed potatoes and parmesan roasted broccoli, and watch the rave reviews pour in!
I grew up eating cabbage rolls, and I’ve had enough in my time to know the difference between a good cabbage roll and a less than stellar cabbage roll. My version of cabbage rolls features a flavorful beef and rice filling, and the rolls are cooked in a simple homemade tomato sauce for fabulous results.
The first step is to make your filling. The filling is a combination of ground beef, cooked rice, onions, garlic, egg and seasonings. Everything gets mixed together to form the base of your dish.
The meat mixture gets wrapped up inside cooked cabbage leaves, then the cabbage rolls are layered in a baking dish on top of homemade tomato sauce and baked. This dish takes over an hour to bake because to want to make sure your meat is cooked through, so plan accordingly!
If you try to remove raw cabbage leaves from the cabbage head, you’ll want to slice off the root end and very carefully peel the leaves off to avoid tearing. Sometimes tearing is inevitable no matter how careful you are, so I’ve found the best method is to cook the head of cabbage first. Cut off the root end, then submerge your cabbage head in a pot of boiling water until the leaves are tender and can easily be peeled away.
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls recipe is made with cabbage leaves stuffed with a flavorful mixture of ground meat and rice. After that baked to perfection in a tomato-based sauce. A delicious and filling dinner, which also freezes well, so you can meal plan and prepare it in advance. A complete meal on its own with protein, carbs, and fiber!
Casserole recipes are a staple around here, and this one is definitely a favorite. I like how this classic dish is so easy to prepare, and a great way to use some leftover rice. Since this recipe is so popular on the blog, we have made a slow cooker version for you to enjoy. Also, if you are short on time, we recommend you try this Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls recipe. It has the same great flavors, but it cuts down the prep work.
Ingredients
2 cups raw long-grain rice
4 cups water
2 massive heads savoy cabbage
1 cup water
2 onions, chopped
3 tablespoons butter