Classic Homemade Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Ground Beef and Rice
Make these classic stuffed cabbage rolls for a comforting, flavorful dinner. Tender cabbage leaves wrap a savory filling of ground beef and rice, all baked in a rich tomato sauce.
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 90 min
- Total Time: 120 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Eastern European
- Diet: Vegetarian
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 or beef broth
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the cabbage: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Carefully remove the core from the cabbage head. Submerge the whole head in boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes until the outer leaves are pliable. Remove the head and let it cool enough to handle. Gently peel off 12 to 16 large outer leaves, trimming the thick center vein on 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 and cook, breaking it up, until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
- Combine filling ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the cooked ground beef mixture, cooked rice, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine the savory ingredients.
- Roll the cabbage: Place about 1/4 cup of the filling mixture near the base of a cabbage leaf. Fold the sides of the leaf inward over the filling, then roll the leaf up tightly away from you, creating a neat package. Place the finished rolls seam-side down in a large baking dish.
- Make the sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and 1/4 cup water or broth. Pour this rich tomato sauce evenly over the cabbage rolls in the baking dish.
- Bake the rolls: Cover the baking dish tightly with foil. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- To soften the cabbage leaves faster, you can microwave the whole head for 5-7 minutes instead of boiling.
- For a deeper flavor, substitute half of the ground beef with ground pork or Italian sausage.
- You can prepare these homemade cabbage rolls ahead of time and refrigerate them, covered, for up to 24 hours before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 rolls
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 11
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 22
- Cholesterol: 65
