Description
Make traditional, comforting stuffed cabbage rolls filled with savory ground beef and rice, baked in a rich tomato sauce. This recipe delivers the hearty flavor of a classic family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large head of green cabbage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup uncooked white rice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Prepare the cabbage: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Carefully remove the outer leaves of the cabbage one by one. Place the leaves in the boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes until they are pliable. Remove the leaves and set them aside to cool. Trim the thick center rib from each leaf.
- Prepare the filling: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Combine filling ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the cooked beef mixture, uncooked rice, salt, and pepper.
- Assemble the rolls: Place about 1/4 cup of the filling mixture near the base of each softened cabbage leaf. Fold the sides of the leaf over the filling, then roll it up tightly like a burrito.
- Prepare the sauce: In a large baking dish, mix the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and water. Stir to combine.
- Arrange and bake: Place the stuffed cabbage rolls seam-side down in the baking dish over the sauce. Pour any remaining sauce over the top. Cover the dish tightly with foil.
- Bake the rolls at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove the foil for the last 15 minutes of baking if you prefer a slightly firmer top.
- Let the cabbage rolls rest for 10 minutes before serving warm with extra sauce.
Notes
- For a tangier sauce, add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to the sauce mixture.
- If you want to make this a budget friendly dinner recipe, substitute half the ground beef with ground pork or turkey.
- You can make these ahead of time; assemble the rolls, place them in the baking dish, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 1 hr 30 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 rolls
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 11
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 25
- Cholesterol: 75