How to make Cabbage Roll Casserole at home? (Tender and Zesty)

With this casserole of cabbage rolls, we’ve got you covered! Tender cabbage, rice, and beef are layered and served with a tangy tomato sauce.

This cabbage casserole is created with basic ingredients, is quite simple to put together, and can be prepared in advance (over the weekend!). This recipe is easy and pleasant, and both the family and the cook will enjoy it!

Cabbage Roll Casserole That Is Cozy

• This dish is incredibly easy to make and is also known as lazy cabbage rolls.
• Without the hassle of rolling or boiling whole cabbage leaves, we may enjoy all the flavors of our beloved quick cabbage rolls.
• This produces a filling meal for a large family and reheats and stores nicely.
• By substituting riced cauliflower for the rice in this casserole, low-carb eating can be achieved.
• Add the optional cheese on top (or leave it off, if you’d like).

Cabbage Roll Casserole ingredients

In this recipe, green cabbage is utilized. There is no need to roll or peel leaves because everything is chopped and cooked. Other varieties of cabbage can be used in this recipe, however the cooking time may need to be slightly altered.

This recipe includes the typical components of the cabbage roll filling from my grandmother’s recipe! Rice, spices, and a tangy tomato sauce are blended with ground beef, ground pig, or all beef.

Everyone like the optional topping in this dish. While cheese is not typically used in cabbage rolls, we do adore it on this casserole since it creates a wonderful brown crust. You are free to exclude it if you’d like.

Making a Cabbage Roll Casserole Recipe

Enjoy all the typical cabbage roll flavors without the hassle.

1. PREPARE Beef SAUCE: Prepare the meat, onion, and garlic as directed in the recipe. Stir in the remaining sauce ingredients.
2. COOK CABBAGE – Cut up and fried cabbage while the meat is cooking.
3. ASSEMBLE – Combine the rice and meat sauce in a casserole dish, then top with the cabbage.
4. BAKE: Add a topping, if desired, and bake until bubbling and golden.

Leftovers and Prepare Ahead

Casserole leftovers can be frozen or kept in the fridge for 4 days.

This casserole is excellent for freezing after being doubled. After baking or before, the dish can be frozen. For three months, they can be stored in the freezer.

To bake from frozen, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then proceed with the recipe’s instructions for baking (you may need to add about 15-20 minutes if the casserole is cold from the fridge).

Baked Cabbage Rolls

Layers of beef sauce, rice, and cabbage are combined in a casserole dish called a cabbage roll, which is then baked with cheese on top.

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef or pork, or ½ pound of each
• 1 large onion diced
• 3 cloves garlic crushed
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 28 ounces diced tomatoes 1 can, including juice
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• ½ teaspoon salt & pepper each
• 2 cups cooked rice (white or brown)
• 1 large head cabbage 12-14 cups
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon dill optional

topping

• 2 cups Gruyere cheese or Monterey jack cheese, shredded
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup milk

Instructions

1. Turn on the 375°F oven.
2. Over medium heat, brown meat or pork, onion, and garlic until no pink is present. Remove any fat.
3. Seasonings, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and chopped tomatoes (with juice) should all be stirred in. Until thickened, simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes.
4. Add cooked rice after turning the heat off.
5. Slice the cabbage into 1-inch squares, then rinse and shake it dry. Half of the cabbage, 2 tablespoons of water, and a skillet of heated oil are added. only until softened (about 10 minutes). the remaining cabbage, then repeat.
6. 1/2 of the cabbage should be put in a 9×13 casserole dish. Add half of the beef sauce on top. recur in layers.
7. Foiled-covered, bake for 45 minutes.

topping

1. Combine the cheese, egg, and milk in a small bowl. Bake casserole uncovered for a further 20 minutes after removing foil and adding cheese mixture to the top.

Notes

Use lean ground pork, beef, or a mix of the two.

Two cups of cooked rice, or around two and a third cups of long grain white rice, is called for in this recipe. This recipe will still turn out good even if you have a tiny bit more or less. Rice made from cauliflower can be used, but it must be precooked to prevent the casserole from becoming watery.

You can steam, boil, or fry cabbage. For simple preparation and flavor, we suggest frying.

When steaming or boiling the cabbage, make sure it is thoroughly drained. Before adding the cabbage to the casserole, make sure it is reasonably tender because it will get a little softer while it bakes.

Although wonderful, the cheese topping is not required. To prevent the top from drying out if you omit the cheese topping, bake covered for the final 20 minutes.

Nutrition information

Calories: 428 | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 647mg | Potassium: 827mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 929IU | Vitamin C: 71mg | Calcium: 463mg | Iron: 3mg