Description
Make comforting, traditional stuffed cabbage rolls filled with savory ground beef and rice, baked in a rich tomato sauce. This recipe delivers the hearty flavor you crave without complicated steps.
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 cup cooked white rice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup water (for sauce)
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare the cabbage: Core the head of cabbage. Place the whole head in a large pot of boiling water. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes until outer leaves are pliable. Carefully remove the leaves, one by one, and set them aside to cool. Trim the thick center vein from each leaf so it rolls easily.
- Prepare the filling: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
- Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it up, until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
- In a bowl, combine the cooked beef mixture, cooked rice, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Assemble the rolls: Lay a cabbage leaf flat. Place about 1/4 cup of the filling near the base of the leaf. Fold the sides in over the filling, then roll the leaf up tightly toward the tip. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
- Make the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the tomato sauce, water, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar.
- Arrange the rolls: Place the finished cabbage rolls seam-side down in a large baking dish. Pour the tomato sauce mixture evenly over the rolls.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish tightly with foil. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove the foil for the last 15 minutes of baking if you prefer a slightly thicker sauce.
- Serve hot. This is a perfect comfort food dinner idea.
Notes
- To soften the cabbage faster, you can microwave the whole head for 5 minutes before boiling.
- For a richer flavor, substitute half the ground beef with ground pork or Italian sausage.
- If you want an easy cabbage rolls alternative, try making an unstuffed cabbage rolls skillet instead of rolling.
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 90 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American/Polish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 rolls
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 11
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 30
- Cholesterol: 85