The Lazy Cabbage Roll Dinner I Keep Making on Busy Nights

Name: Cabbage Roll Casserole (Delicious Family Recipe)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef (or mixed ground meat); 1 medium yellow onion (diced); 1 ½ teaspoons fresh garlic (minced); ¼ teaspoon cajun spice; 1 teaspoon sweet paprika; 1 tablespoon white sugar (or brown sugar or substitute with ½ tablespoon liquid sweetener of choice); 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce or puree (or tomato soup); 1 can (15 oz) chopped tomatoes (in liquid); 1 ½ cup cooked brown rice (or white rice); 3 tablespoon olive oil (divided); 6 cups green cabbage (cut into 1 or 1 ½ inches cubes); 1/4 cup water; 1 cup carrot (medium grated); 1 cup mozzarella (grated); 1 teaspoon salt or to taste; ½ teaspoon black pepper; dill or parsley for serving

Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole is here to save the day when you're craving the cozy flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls but don't have the time (or patience!) to make them.

This recipe is all about simplicity - layers of tender cabbage, savory ground beef, juicy diced tomatoes, and a melty cheese topping that ties it all together.

baked cabbage roll casserole with fresh dill

With over 17k shares and 20k visits a month, it's one of the most-loved recipes on the blog - and for good reason!

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Cabbage Roll Casserole Video

Why Lazy?

The reason is simple: It is the translation of the Ukrainian dish "Lenivie Golubtsi."

Instead of boiling, rolling, and stuffing cabbage leaves, we cook everything together in a Dutch oven or casserole dish.

I love adding a new spin to an old classic with an additional layer of melted cheese.

Ingredients in Cabbage Roll Casserole Recipe

You only need a few ingredients (the full list is in the recipe card below).

Cabbage - Pick a medium-sized head of cabbage. You can choose from green cabbage, sweet savoy cabbage, or napa cabbage. Try red cabbage if you want some color, but remember your dish may have a purple hue to it!
Lean ground beef - You can also use ground pork. I love using lean ground meat as it is an essential ingredient for classic cabbage filling. It has less saturated fat, so you'll only need to drain a little fat from the pot.
Sugar - Many restaurant chefs add a bit of sugar, usually plain white sugar, to balance out the tomato's acidity. You can skip it for a healthier option or use less processed sweeteners like honey or maple syrup. It might change the taste a bit, but the dish can still be delicious without any sweeteners.
Minced garlic and onion - Use fresh, not canned. You can make this recipe without garlic, but the dish will lack flavor. These aromatics are the foundation of great flavor in a casserole.
Rice thickens the filling, and you can even double it. If you are short on time, cook white rice instead of brown rice (takes a while to cook!). For a low-carb meal, feel free to use quinoa or cauliflower rice (P.S. The flavor will be different!).
Shredded cheese - Cheese is not typical for traditional cabbage rolls, but our family enjoys the taste! Adding cheese is optional; you can skip it or use half the amount (non-dairy cheese works too). For a vegan option, you can sprinkle nutritional yeast flakes on top.
Spices - I like adding extra spices like chili powder, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram to the recipe. If you don't have sweet paprika, smoked paprika is a great alternative!
Diced tomatoes - Use fresh tomatoes or a can of crushed or diced tomatoes; both work well.

Great time-saver tip: Instead of cutting the cabbage, use a bag of coleslaw mix. It may also be cheaper.

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How To Make Cabbage Roll Casserole Step By Step

Saute veggies. Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Cook the onions and carrots until soft.
Brown the beef. Add the ground beef and break it into pieces as it cooks. Keep going until it's no longer pink (you don't have to cook it all the way; it'll continue to cook in the casserole dish). Stir in garlic. If there's too much liquid, drain it out.
Season with salt and pepper, sugar, paprika, and Cajun seasoning. Add tomato sauce and chopped tomatoes. Stir to combine. Adjust the stovetop to medium heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a baking dish. Mix the beef mixture with cooked rice and set aside.

browned ground beef in pan with carrots and onions

tomatoes added to ground beef mixture in skillet

Assemble the casserole. Sauté chopped cabbage until soft, then add half to the baking dish. Top the cooked cabbage with the meat mixture, repeat the layers, and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Cover and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 20 minutes until the cheese is melted. Optionally, broil shortly for a golden top.
Garnish with dill, parsley, and sour cream before serving. Enjoy this cheesy goodness with a lighter side like cucumber salad, vegetable salad, or sauteed asparagus.

layers of ground beef and cabbage mixture in casserole dish

cabbage casserole sprinkled with mozzarella cheese before baking

My Favorite Equipment

Nonstick Frying Pan

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Dutch Oven

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9x13 Baking Dish

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Tips For The Best Cabbage Casserole

I prefer to cut cabbage larger, about 1 ½ inch cubes. It just tastes juicier like this. The casserole will also bake perfectly with thinner and "coleslaw" style cabbage slices.
Ultimately, the casserole will have some liquid on the bottom, which is normal. You can either leave it as is or tilt the dish slowly over the sink to drain the juices.
Ideas for leftovers: Use it as a base for breakfast hash and top it with a fried egg . Or mix the meaty filling into an omelet.

Julia's Tip

Be careful if using red cabbage, as it will likely leach color into the rest of your dish. I prefer green cabbage in most of my cabbage recipes, like this cabbage pie or sauerkraut and kielbasa.

What To Serve With Cabbage Casserole

Skip the traditional ''heavy'' sides like starchy mashed potatoes or cornbread here.

For this dish, I'd keep it light and serve it as is. If you want a little something on the side, try a fresh salad or some roasted veggies:

Greek salad (yum!) or healthy cucumber salad
Glazed carrots
Air fryer cauliflower
Roasted asparagus
Air fryer roasted Brussels sprouts

How To Store and Freeze Cabbage Casserole Leftovers

Allow the cabbage casserole to cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. I use these glass meal prep containers to store leftovers - they keep everything fresh for days.
To Freeze cabbage casserole for later: Assemble the casserole, cover it with foil or plastic wrap, and freeze ''unbaked'' for 2-3 months.
To Reheat: When ready to bake, allow the casserole to thaw in the fridge for a day or so. Remove the wrap and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes; add cheese and bake again until cheese is melted.
You can freeze cooked casserole for 1 month. Thaw the leftover casserole in the fridge overnight, cover it, and then reheat it in the microwave or oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake for 15 minutes or until heated.
Note: While microwaving is an option for reheating, I don't recommend it as it will turn the cabbage soggy.

How To Make Ahead Cabbage Roll Casserole

If you plan on making the casserole a day or two before, follow the instructions for meal prep:

Assemble: Follow the recipe until layering in the dish before baking.
Cool: Let it cool to room temperature; avoid putting a hot dish in the fridge.
Cover: Seal with plastic wrap or foil to preserve freshness.
Refrigerate: Store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Bake: Preheat the oven according to the recipe and allow the dish to sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes.
Cook: Follow the original baking instructions for the recipe.
Note: The longer the casserole sits, the more liquid the rice will absorb. If you can, make it fresh; it's better!

I've also put together an entire list of 40+ BEST cabbage recipes, all done for you to make dinner prep easier.

Ground Beef Recipes

You'll also love these readers' favorite recipes: ground beef and cabbage, stovetop unstuffed cabbage rolls, or chicken and cabbage.

Before You Head Out

If you gave this recipe a try, I'd be so thankful if you could leave a ★★★★★ rating and review below. It helps other readers, supports my work, and means the world to me. Thank you for being part of The Yummy Bowl family. Happy cooking! ❤️

Recipe Card

Julia

Cabbage Roll Casserole (Delicious Family Recipe)

4.96 from 270 votes

This easy and budget-friendly lazy cabbage roll casserole has layers of ground beef, making it cheesy and satisfying. It's got all the flavors of cabbage rolls without the fuss of rolling them up in the kitchen.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 40

Total Time 1

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Ukrainian

Calories: 319

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Video Notes

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef or mixed ground meat
1 medium yellow onion diced
1 ½ teaspoons fresh garlic minced
¼ teaspoon cajun spice
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 tablespoon white sugar or brown sugar or substitute with ½ tablespoon liquid sweetener of choice
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce or puree or tomato soup
1 can (15 oz) chopped tomatoes in liquid
1 ½ cup cooked brown rice or white rice
3 tablespoon olive oil divided
6 cups green cabbage cut into 1 or 1 ½ inches cubes
¼ cup water
1 cup carrot medium grated
1 cup mozzarella grated
1 teaspoon salt or to taste
½ teaspoon black pepper
dill or parsley for serving

Equipment

Method

Let's start by heating olive oil in a medium-sized skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, cook the onion until softened (about a minute) and add the carrot. Allow the mixture to cook for an additional minute.
1 medium yellow onion, 3 tablespoon olive oil, 1 cup carrot
Add the beef to the veggie mixture. Brown the beef, using a spatula to break it apart as it cooks. Cook it until no longer pink but not cooked through entirely (the beef will continue to cook in the casserole later). Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for another minute. If there is excess liquid from the meat, drain it before proceeding.
1 pound ground beef , 1 ½ teaspoons fresh garlic
Place all the seasonings in the skillet: black pepper, sugar, salt, sweet paprika, and Cajun seasoning. Then, add the tomato sauce and chopped tomatoes. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
¼ teaspoon cajun spice, 1 teaspoon sweet paprika, 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce or puree, 1 can (15 oz) chopped tomatoes , 1 teaspoon salt or to taste, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon white sugar
Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes - taste for additional salt and pepper.
While the mixture is simmering, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare an 8x11-inch or 2-quart casserole dish by spraying it with cooking oil.
Remove the skillet from the heat and transfer the beef mixture to a deep pot or large Dutch oven. Mix in the cooked rice and adjust the seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste. Set aside.
1 ½ cup cooked brown rice, 1 teaspoon salt or to taste, ½ teaspoon black pepper
Clean the skillet or pot and heat the remaining tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the chopped cabbage with ¼ cup of water, then simmer until the cabbage softens and the water evaporates. Once cooked, transfer half of the cabbage to the prepared baking dish.
6 cups green cabbage, ¼ cup water
Layer the cabbage with the beef and rice mixture, repeating the process for a second layer. Ensure the top layer is even, then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
1 cup mozzarella
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Optionally, broil for 1-2 minutes to achieve a golden brown cheese topping.
Garnish with dill, parsley, and a dollop of sour cream before serving.
dill or parsley for serving

Nutrition

Calories: 319kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 23gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 200mgPotassium: 543mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 3965IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 148mgIron: 3mg

Video

Notes

Timing: With proper planning and ingredient prep, this casserole takes just a few minutes to throw together!
Note: The longer the casserole sits, the more liquid the rice will absorb. If you can, make it fresh, it is better.
I prefer my cabbage slices larger, about 1 ½ inches cubes. It just tastes juicier this way. This cabbage roll casserole will bake perfectly with thinner and "coleslaw" style cabbage, too.
By the end of cooking, there will be some iquid will be in the bottom of the dish; this is normal. You can leave it as is, or if you prefer, carefully tilt the dish to drain the excess liquid into the sink.
To Reheat: When ready to bake, allow the casserole to thaw in the fridge for a day or so. Remove the wrap and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes; add cheese and bake again until cheese is melted.
To Make Ahead:
- Assemble: Follow the recipe until layering in the dish before baking.
- Cool: Let it cool to room temperature; avoid putting a hot dish in the fridge.
- Cover: Seal with plastic wrap or foil to preserve freshness.
- Refrigerate: Store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
- Bake: Preheat the oven according to the recipe, then allow the dish to sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes.
- Cook: Follow the original recipe instructions.

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Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.

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Cabbage Roll Casserole: FAQs

How do you cut cabbage for a casserole?

First, cut the cabbage in half so you have two pieces. Then, lay each half flat side down and cut it in half again. Remove the thick part (the core).

Lay each quarter flat side down and slice it. Finally, cut those slices into squares or thicker slices.

Can you freeze cabbage roll casserole?

Yes, you can freeze cabbage roll casserole.

Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or store it in an airtight container before putting it in the freezer to keep it fresh.

What to serve with cabbage roll casserole?

Serve cabbage roll casserole with creamy mashed potatoes or warm garlic bread for a delicious meal.

A fresh green salad with a light dressing also goes well with the casserole and adds a refreshing touch.

How long to bake cabbage roll casserole?

To bake cabbage roll casserole, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake it for 20 minutes.

Remove the foil and bake for another 20 minutes.

How many calories in cabbage roll casserole?

This cabbage casserole yields about 6 smaller servings and each is 319 kcal.

Should you wash cabbage?

Yes, I'd normally wash all of my veggies! For cabbage, remove the outer leaves, chop it, and rinse under running water. Don't slice the cabbage if you're not ready to cook it.

How long do you cook ground beef?

Browning a pound of ground beef takes about 7 to 10 minutes on most stovetops.

Keep stirring and breaking it into evenly-sized pieces with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula. In this recipe, brown the beef for 2-3 minutes less since it will keep cooking in the casserole and become even more tender.

How do you cook ground beef without drying it out?

Don't Drain All the Grease: When you cook ground beef, pouring off all the fat can make your dish less tasty.

Instead, leave a tablespoon or two of the grease in the pan and mix it with your browned beef. This keeps the meat moist and flavorful without making it too greasy.

According to TheKtchn, adding some baking soda helps the ground beef brown better and become more tender.

Can I freeze the cabbage raw?

To freeze cabbage properly, you'll have to follow a few steps. Slice it and blanch it in boiling water for a couple of minutes. My how-to-store cabbage guide provides more detailed instructions.

More Family Favorite Cabbage Recipes

If you have extra cabbage and need recipe ideas, check out this extensive roundup collection of the best cabbage recipes.

More Favorite Casserole Recipes

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Comments

4.96 from 270 votes (215 ratings without comment)