Cabbage Roll Casserole is a simple, hearty dinner.
This Cabbage Roll Casserole offers all the traditional flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls in an easy, deconstructed bake. Featuring savory ground meat, tender cabbage, and a tangy tomato sauce, it is a comforting and hearty meal perfect for family dinners.
- Author: info.mealsmell
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Eastern European
- Diet: Gluten Free
- 1 medium head of green cabbage, chopped
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 1 cup cooked rice (white or brown)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add chopped cabbage and blanch for 3-5 minutes until tender-crisp. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground meat. Drain excess fat.
- Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet, cooking for 3-4 minutes until fragrant.
- In a large bowl, combine the meat mixture, cooked rice, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
- In a greased 9x13-inch baking dish, layer half of the cabbage, then half of the meat mixture. Repeat layers, ending with cabbage.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese if desired. Cover with aluminum foil.
- Bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- To save time, use a bag of pre-shredded coleslaw mix instead of a whole head of cabbage.
- You can substitute the white rice with cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option.
- Ensure the meat is fully drained to prevent the casserole from becoming too oily.
- The brown sugar helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes but can be omitted if preferred.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx 1/6th of dish)
- Calories: 315 kcal
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Cabbage Roll Casserole, Unstuffed Cabbage, Ground Beef Casserole, Hearty Dinner, Comfort Food