Cabbage Roll Casserole is an easy family favorite. It combines all the delicious flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls with much less time and effort. This delectable casserole makes eight healthy servings, and the leftovers heat up perfectly in the microwave.
Tasty Cabbage Roll Casserole
This cabbage roll casserole quickly comes together and tastes just as good or better than the cabbage rolls your grandma used to make. Just think of it as an unstuffed cabbage roll casserole. It is delicious, totally homemade, and does not contain cream of anything soup.
How to Make Cabbage Roll Casserole
Start by browning the ground beef in a large pan or skillet over medium heat. When it is about halfway browned, add the onion and cook until the beef is fully browned. Turn the heat to low and toss in the garlic at the last minute of cooking. Drain any excess fat from the skillet. Stir in the paprika, onion powder, cayenne, brown sugar, tomato sauce, beef broth, and rice. Bring the mixture to a low boil and then turn it to a simmer and cover it with a lid. Simmer until the rice is tender. Season with salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
In a separate large skillet, add a little olive oil. Add half of the chopped cabbage and cook until it starts to get tender. Add the cooked cabbage to a casserole dish sprayed with a little nonstick cooking spray. Spread half of the beef mixture on top of the cabbage and top with half of the cheddar and Monterey Jack Cheese. Cook the second half of the cabbage the same way and add it to the casserole dish. Top with the remaining cheese and bake covered for about twenty minutes, then remove the foil and continue cooking until the cheese is lightly browned.
Can Cabbage Roll Casserole be prepared in a skillet?
Of course, with a couple of easy steps, you can prepare this in the same skillet you cooked the cabbage in. You could do it either on the stovetop or in an ovenproof skillet. For the stovetop, after you finish cooking the cabbage, layer cabbage, cooked beef mixture, cheese, and cabbage in the skillet. Then, turn the heat to a low simmer and cover with a lid or foil. Cook until the cabbage is tender and the cheese melts.
To cook it in the oven, ensure your skillet is ovenproof. Layer the cooked cabbage, cooked beef mixture, and cheese. Repeat the layers, ending with the remaining cheese. Cover with foil and bake for twenty minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until the cheese is lightly browned and melted.
Recipe variations
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning added at the same time as the other spices.
- Add 1-2 pinches of crushed red pepper to the tomato sauce and beef broth.
- Stir in a (14.5-ounce) can of fire-roasted tomatoes added at the same time as the tomato sauce.
- Use Pepper Jack Cheese or mozzarella cheese in place of the Monterey Jack.
- Add some minced jalapeno added at the same time as the minced garlic.
This delectable Cabbage Roll Casserole is family-friendly, easy, quick, and adaptable to your taste buds. Put the ingredients on your shopping list today and make this wholesome casserole for your family.
Cabbage Roll Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 14.5 ounce can low sodium beef broth
- 1 cup long grain white rice uncooked
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium head green cabbage chopped
- 1 1/2 cups finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 1/2 cups finely shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or olive oil spray.
- Brown ground beef. When the ground beef is about halfway browned, add the onion; cook until the beef is fully browned. Reduce the heat to low. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring continuously. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Add paprika, onion powder, cayenne, brown sugar, tomato sauce, beef broth, and rice. Bring the mixture to a low boil. Turn to a simmer and cover with a lid. Simmer for 20 minutes until rice is tender. Season with salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1/2 of the chopped cabbage and cook until slightly tender; 5-7 minutes. Spread cabbage over the bottom of the casserole dish. Top with 1/2 of the ground beef mixture. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the cheeses, blending them. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the other 1/2 of the chopped cabbage and cook until slightly tender, 5-7 minutes. Spread the cabbage over the cheese in the casserole dish. Top with the other 1/2 of the beef mixture and then with the remaining cheese.
- Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 20 minutes or until the cheese is lightly browned.
Video
Notes
- Substitute ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork for the ground beef.
- Add fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, parsley, or dill.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
Nutrition
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Amanda Wren-Grimwood
I love the idea of layering the ingredients instead of all the fiddly bits! Can’t wait to try this.
Dannii
We are always looking for new ways to enjoy cabbage, and this looks delicious. So hearty too.
saif
What a delicious cabbage casserole. A combination with ground beef makes it perfect. I will definitely going to make one. Thanks
Jeannette
Easy AND great to pack for work the next day. What a fabulous way to use up the cabbage at home. Thanks for sharing!
Vicky
Wow! This is a great dish! Casseroles make dinner so much easier. Can’t wait to make it for the family!
Julie
Awesome recipe!!!!!! Thank you!
Jen
Oh this recipe is GOLD! Thank you so so much! Saving it for my recipe box so we can make it on repeat!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Jen! So glad that you like it!!
Lisalia
Yummy I love cabbage rolls. And this recipe had all the tastes that I love – without all the work. SO SO good.
Linda Hughes
After browning meat season can you make it the rest of the way in Crock-Pot or slow cooker ?
Beth Pierce
Honestly Linda I have never tried. However I do not see any reason why it would not work.
Betsy Gardner
I made this recipe tonight. It was just delicious. It’s definitely a keeper. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Betsy
Beth Pierce
My pleasure Betsy! So glad that you enjoyed it.
Linda
I just made a double batch and it smells delicious!!! I was hoping to freeze it in smaller containers, too. Do you suggest freezing it AFTER you cook the individual casseroles or AFTER you assemble them? Thank you!
Beth Pierce
After you cook them. We don’t freeze a whole lot here because my husband has a big appetite but the readers have reported good success.
Natasha
The cabbage roll casserole was delicious! My husband and I ate until we were as stuffed, thank you for this great recipe!
Kirsten
I made this because I needed to use up some leftover cooked cabbage. Turns out I’ll be making it again even if that’s not the case, because WOW did my family love it.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Kirsten! So glad that you and the family loved it!
Erin
Love this recipe! It’s great leftover the next day too. Yum!
wilhelmina
I love this casserole even more than traditional cabbage rolls. You get all the good flavor with so much less work!
Kathy
We really enjoy this dish. Planted plenty of cabbage. Made it twice. I make two dishes- so much. Freeze one. Perfect
Beth Pierce
Awesome! Thanks Kathy! So glad that you liked it!!
Rachel
This recipe is totally delicious! EVEN my husband loved it! However I steamed the cabbage all together instead of two steps. I cut the cheese in half to save on fat calories. Makes a big bunch of food. Love it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Rachel! So glad that you liked it! It is a big hearty casserole.
Allyson Zea
Even my picky kids love this one!