This delicious traditional Polish stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe combines ground sausage, ground beef, and long grain rice wrapped in tender cabbage leaves with a sweet and tangy tomato sauce.
They are one of our favorite full-flavor comfort food recipes, perfect for the cold fall and winter months. I like to serve them with pumpernickel bread with soft butter and a light dessert like lemon chiffon pie or apple cobbler.
This cabbage roll recipe calls for ground beef and sausage, but you can use all of one. You can even use ground pork or a mixture of these ground meats. It boils down to what you and your family like best. Please read all my helpful hints and tips for this soul-warming recipe. Cabbage Rolls should be fun and easy, so you make them often for your family.
If your family is anything like mine, they love an excellent cabbage dinner. My family loves cabbage and can never seem to get enough of it. Have you tried any of my other cabbage recipes? Southern fried cabbage, haluski, cabbage stir fry, and these delectable cabbage rolls are just a few of our favorites.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Olive oil: extra virgin is best
- Vegetables: onion, garlic, canned diced tomatoes, a large head of cabbage, so you have large leaves to work with, and extra leaves just in case.
- Vinegar: I use apple cider vinegar, but you can use balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, or champagne vinegar.
- Brown sugar: for just a touch of sweetness
- Seasonings: salt, black pepper, dried parsley, and paprika
- Ground meat: choose whatever mixture of ground beef, pork, or sausage your family likes best. My husband loves sausage, so I often make it with 100% ground sausage.
- Egg: large one, please
- Rice: I use Minute Rice. If you cannot access Minute Rice, parboil 1 cup of rice.
How to make Cabbage Rolls
This is the nutshell version. See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and instructions.
Start by submerging the whole head of cabbage in a big pot of boiling water for about five minutes. This helps the leaves become more pliable for stuffing and rolling. It also helps keep the leaves from tearing when removed from the head. Let the cabbage drain, then carefully peel 12 leaves from the head.
Next, heat a little olive oil in a large skillet or pan. Add the onion and cook for several minutes. Reduce the heat, add the garlic, and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, cider vinegar, and brown sugar. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Let the sauce simmer while you prepare the stuffed cabbage.
In a large bowl, mix the ground sausage, ground beef, rice, onion, garlic, egg, parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread a thin layer of the simmering tomato sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish.
Working with the cabbage rolls on a flat surface, add about 1/3 cup of the meat mixture to the center of each cabbage leaf. Fold in the sides and roll up the cabbage. Place cabbage rolls seam-side down in a single layer in the casserole dish. Repeat until all the cabbage rolls are stuffed.
Pour the remaining sauce over the cabbage rolls. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for about 80-90 minutes.
Preparation Tips and Storage
- Don’t skip the step to boil the cabbage. It makes all the difference when it comes to rolling these guys. Rolling a cabbage leaf that is not boiled is almost impossible since it is stiff as a board.
- The ground meat does not need to be precooked.
- After boiling the cabbage, use a sharp knife to slice the root end off about 1/2 – 3/4 inch up. This will make it easier to remove the leaves.
- Are you always in a hurry and need to cut a few corners? Use your favorite jarred marinara sauce and add 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 1 1/2 -2 tablespoons brown sugar.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with foil so they steam in the oven, softening the cabbage leaves.
How to soften and remove the leaves from a head of cabbage
First, bring a large pot of water to a boil. I use an 8-quart stockpot. Then, submerge the head of cabbage in the pot for about five minutes. I usually roll it over about halfway through the cooking time. Then, remove it and drain it in a colander.
Once drained and cooled, cut about 1/2-3/4 inch above the stem end and discard. These simple steps will make it much easier to remove the leaves and make them more pliable for rolling.
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat at reduced power in the microwave.
To freeze, first cool to room temperature. Cover the baking dish with 2 layers of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge. Remove the casserole from the fridge 40 minutes before reheating. Remove the plastic wrap and cover only with aluminum foil. Reheat at 350 degrees for about 30-35 minutes or until hot.
Try these Cabbage Recipes
Classic Cabbage Rolls
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 can 15 ounce tomato sauce
- 1 can 14.5 ounce petite diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
Cabbage Rolls
- 1 large head green cabbage
- 1/2 pound ground pork sausage
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup Minute Rice or long-grain parboiled white rice
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Bring a large stock pot of water to boil. Add the whole head of cabbage and boil for 5 minutes. Remove to a colander to drain and cool. Once cooled, cut 1/2 inch off the stem end of the cabbage. Carefully remove 12 leaves and cut the tough rib out of the stem end in the shape of a V.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring several times. Reduce heat to low and add garlic. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, cider vinegar, and brown sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Spoon a thin layer of the tomato sauce into a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. In a large bowl, mix the ground pork sausage, ground beef, onion, garlic, egg, rice, parsley, and paprika. Place about 1/3 cup of the meat mixture in the center of the cabbage roll. Bring in the sides and roll tight. Place the rolls on the tomato sauce in a single layer in the casserole dish. Repeat until all the cabbage rolls are made and in the casserole dish. Top with remaining tomato sauce.
- Cover with aluminum foil. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 80-90 minutes
Video
Notes
- Don’t skip the step to boil the cabbage. It makes all the difference when it comes to rolling these guys. It is almost impossible to roll a cabbage leaf that has not been boiled since it is stiff as a board.
- The ground meat does not need to be precooked.
- After boiling the cabbage, use a sharp knife to slice the root end off about 1/2 – 3/4 inch up. This will make it easier to remove the leaves.
- Are you always in a hurry and need to cut a few corners? Use your favorite jarred marinara sauce and add 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 1 1/2 -2 tablespoons brown sugar.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with foil so they steam in the oven, softening the cabbage leaves.
Nutrition
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Anita
Yum!! followed the recipe exactly with the addition of a little salt. So good!! Was much easier than I thought it would be. This will definitely be something I make often and not just on 1 day a year. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Anita! So glad that you enjoyed it!!
Ceci
I just love cabbage rolls and this recipe is so delicious and easy. Thank you for your recipe.
Beth Pierce
My pleasure Ceci!
heather smithers
I find the most notable difference between
Freezing the Cabbage and boiling it,
Is the tendernesses of the leaves.
If you take your time and don’t boil on a rapid boil,
The leaves come out so tender.
I’ve furies freezing the cabbage before, leaves are always tough and chewy.
Nicole
Boiling the cabbage is definitely the secret. You can change this classic up by adding Italian complements like home-made tomato sauce (sugar definitely necessary to balance the acid. otherwise, no change, but I did top with a mix of Italian cheeses and went a little heavier on the parsley and garlic. From the Germ-alian family here in Canada:) Happy mix!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Nicole! So glad that you liked it!
Deborah Ann
Oh my! I just made this and it was delicious! I didn’t have tomato sauce so I used a tin of tomato soup and I put the separated cabbage leaves in the microwave for 1 minute at a time until they were soft, that way I kept as much of the nutrients as possible. Was my first time making cabbage rolls and I was delighted that my hubby asked for more. Will definitely be keeping this recipe so I can make them again. Thank you Beth
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome Deborah Ann! So glad that you and your husband liked them! I have not made them in a while. I really should put them on the menu this week.
Kelly
Thank you!
This recipe is similar to one my mom used for years. Loved it! Served with mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, peas and dark rye bread. Recipe is currently on repeat and will be doubled so I can freeze a batch.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Kelly! So glad that you like it! That sounds like the perfect meal.
Terry
Only thing I did different was I used mayonnaise instead of egg for my binder and used savory cabbage instead of green because it us sweeter then green and I put a soufly cup of hot water in the center of the baking dish to keep extra moisture to help prevent drying out which is usually not a problem just a safe guard. All together these cabbage rolls stands up to any of the rolls my family members ever made.
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tips, Terry! Glad that you liked the cabbage rolls.
Pattie W.
Hello. Can you tell me if the parboiled rice is one cup before cooking it? Or is it one cup after the parboil? Also, I’ve never parboiled rice. I’m assuming just stop cooking it before it’s completely cooked. When you do that, isn’t there going to be liquid left in the rice?
Thanks.
P.s. I’ve never made cabbage rolls. I do love them!
Beth Pierce
Sorry about the delay. I thought I had answered this. Use one cup rice before parboiling (the amount will not change much as you are only cooking it for a few minutes) and here are some instructions on how to parboil rice.
Charity
I definitely think it is easier to freeze the head of cabbage and thaw it completely, save my fingers from scalding. I like that the meat and minute rice are added raw, this makes a nice cabbage roll ‘log’ that doesn’t crumble apart when you cut into it. If you need a shortcut, swapping canned tomatoe soup for the sauce definitely works and tastes great, but keep amounts equal. The only thing I would change is dill instead of parsley, just what I’m used to.
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tips Charity.
Christina
I made the recipe and it turned out good but I realized there were no measurements for salt or pepper so make sure to add it!!
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it! Thanks for the heads up.
Ron
I find it’s easier to freeze the head of cabbage overnight. Leaves will be as easy to work.
Felicia
Do i cook the rice first or just put the raw minute rice in with it and let it cook while it bakes?
Beth Pierce
Do not cook the rice. It will cook in the cabbage rolls.
Nicole K
This is absolutely delicious! It was hearty and comforting on a cold winter day.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Nicole! So glad that you like them!! Happy New Year!
Juanita
I don’t use rice,,, I use Italian breadcrumbs
Melanie
Doesn’t rice have more nutritional value?
Jan Mckenzie
I like the recipe, however the easiest way to soften cabbage is to put it in your freezer, allow it to freeze for a few days and thaw.
You will have very soft leaves and safe to deal with no boiling water, etc
Shelley Davie
Oh that’s a great tip Jan, I’m definitely going to try it! Thank you!
Mary Ann Hoeft
I agree. My brother in law puts his cabbage in the freezer as well. This method does spare your hands and seems to leave a more tender cabbage leaf.
Nicole Duvall
Do I put the whole head of cabbage in the freezer, or should I remove the leaves first?
Leslie Granat
No., put the whole cabbage head in the freezer!
Melanie
How long does it take to thaw? That would be great for planning on ahead!
Nikki VanderPoel
Do I need to precook the minute rice?
Beth Pierce
No you do not. Happy cooking!!
Angela
This was excellent and exactly what i was looking for. I followed the recipe (as I usually do on the first go round), expect that I used all ground pork, because that’s what I had and I did add 1 tsp of salt to the meat mixture, which I feel was needed. To my surprise, my BF said he’d never, ever eaten stuffed cabbage (this from a midwestern man?) and he loved it! Really solid and so simple stuffed cabbage recipe. I served it with mashed potatoes and it was a comforting, cold weather meal. We’re visiting his 90 year old father next week and he even asked me to make this for him. Quite a compliment. Thank you!
Beth Pierce
That is awesome. Cooking can make sure great memories. So glad that you and your BF enjoyed them. I hope his father does too!!
Patty
You don’t add any salt to the meat mixture?
Beth Pierce
No but you certainly can if you like.
Deborah Loyd-Lloyd
I am making these this week and dividing them out into 4 meals. What is the best way to freeze them? Individually or in small separate baking dishes. Also, can you bake these from frozen or do I need to thaw them overnight in the refrigerator?
Beth Pierce
I would freeze them in microwave safe containers, defrost in the refrigerator, and heat in the microwave.
Deborah Loyd-Lloyd
Thank you so much.
I also wanted to tell you I made your Haluski tonight and it turned out good. I have a friend that is Hungarian and she told me that when she makes her mother’s version she uses sauerkraut instead of raw cabbage. The next time I try this I will try it with the sauerkraut and let you know how it turns out. Thank you again for your quick answer.