Description

These Easy Cabbage Rolls are a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender cabbage leaves stuffed with a flavorful mixture of ground meat, rice, and seasonings, baked in a rich tomato sauce. Perfect for a family dinner, this recipe balances savory flavors and a tender texture with a relatively simple preparation and cooking process.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables and Herbs

1 large head of green cabbage
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Meat and Grains

1 pound of ground beef, turkey, or chicken
1 cup of cooked rice (white or brown)

Tomato Sauce

1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes (or 2 cups fresh tomatoes, chopped)
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

Seasonings and Oils

2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon of dried oregano
1 teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of black pepper

Instructions

Prepare the cabbage: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Carefully remove the core from the cabbage and place the whole head into the boiling water. Blanch for 2-3 minutes until the leaves become pliable. Remove and set aside to cool.
Make the filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meat of your choice, cooked rice, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a baking dish by spreading some tomato sauce on the bottom to prevent the cabbage rolls from sticking during baking.
Assemble the rolls: Gently separate the cabbage leaves. If the thick vein in the leaf is too stiff, cut it out to aid rolling. Place about 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture at the base of each leaf, fold in the sides, and roll it up tightly to encase the filling.
Arrange in the baking dish: Place the cabbage rolls seam side down in the prepared baking dish. Pour the remaining tomato sauce evenly over the top of the rolls.
Bake: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes. In the last 10 minutes, remove the foil to allow the rolls to brown slightly on top.

Notes

You can use ground beef, turkey, or chicken based on your preference for flavor and fat content.
Removing or thinning out the thick vein of the cabbage leaf makes rolling easier.
Brown the ground meat in a skillet before mixing for a deeper flavor, if desired.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Serve with a side of sour cream or extra fresh parsley for garnish.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: cabbage rolls, stuffed cabbage, baked cabbage rolls, ground beef recipes, comfort food, easy dinner, family meal, cabbage recipe