Unstuffed Cabbage Recipe With Ground Beef

Unstuffed cabbage rolls are a delicious way to enjoy all the flavor of homemade cabbage rolls without any of the fuss!

This Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Casserole is an easy must-make recipe that everyone will love! Layers of hearty beef, seasoned rice, and shredded cabbage are topped with a savory tomato sauce and baked to bubbly perfection! Sometimes referred to as "lazy cabbage rolls" this baked entrée is super easy to make in one pan, but so flavorful. It's also loaded with healthy ingredients. Try it for supper tonight with some crusty bread.

close up of Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Casserole on a plate

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Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Casserole!

No wrapping or rolling is required! Simply prepare the ingredients and layer them in the prepared dish, then pop it in the oven!
Healthy, hearty, and a potluck favorite, unstuffed cabbage rolls can be cooked in advance, covered, and shared at a potluck or party! Pair unstuffed cabbage roll casserole with a tangy Greek Salad Recipe and some Sourdough Soda Bread.
Similar to the Weight Watchers stuffed cabbage rolls recipe, this casserole is still low in calories, but so much easier to put together! It's great for workday lunches that will keep everyone energized all day.

Ingredients and Variations

MEAT & VEGGIES Fresh ground beef is cooked with flavorful onions and garlic! Plus the sliced cabbage gives the dish a healthy crunch! Unstuffed cabbage roll casserole is also an excellent way to use up leftover ground turkey, too!

RICE Instant or converted rice cooks up with the ground beef, making this dish that much faster to get on the table. Keeping it low carb or keto? Sub in cauliflower rice for the regular rice, or omit it altogether and add extra meat and cabbage or a bag of frozen veggies!

SAUCE Pre-made pasta sauce is a huge timesaver in this recipe! Choose mild, spicy, mushroom, or a garden blend. Mix in some sweet and savory condiments (per recipe) to really punch up the flavor!

How to Make Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

Super easy assembly! Just cook, layer, and bake!

Sauté beef and vegetables. Add rice.
Combine sauce ingredients in a bowl.
Layer the casserole as follows:
- Bottom – 1/3 cabbage, 1/2 beef & rice, 1/3 sauce.
- Middle – 1/3 cabbage, 1/2 beef & rice, 1/3 sauce.
- Top – 1/3 cabbage, 1/3 sauce
Cover and bake until bubbly.

In a Slow Cooker

Unstuffed cabbage roll casserole can be made Crock Pot or slow cooker:

Make as directed in the recipe below, just sauté the ground beef, onions, and garlic in a skillet first.
Layer the remaining ingredients and cover.
Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours, or high for 2-3 hours until cabbage is soft and casserole is bubbly.

Tips & Tricks

Use a can of tomato soup if you don't have pasta sauce on hand. Add 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning to the condensed soup for added flavor.
Short on time? Purchased pre-shredded cabbage in bags that is ready to go in a pinch!
Experiment with different colors of cabbage like green and purple for a new look!

Can you Make it Ahead?

The ground beef and rice mixture can be made and then assembled into the unstuffed cabbage roll casserole. Cover and keep in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Or, bake completely, cool, cover, and keep in the refrigerator.

Can You Freeze?

Freeze portions in air-tight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating. This casserole heats up quickly, either in portions on the stovetop or in the microwave. Leftovers will taste even better as the flavors blend together!

Easy Recipes To Try!

Cabbage and Potato Foil Pack – a quick and easy clean up!
Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage – so flavorful.
Skillet Lasagna – easy one pan dinner.
Turkey Tetrazzini – perfect way to use up leftover turkey.

Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Casserole

These easy unstuffed cabbage rolls recipe layers rice, ground beef, cabbage and tomato sauce in a casserole, and then bakes it to savory perfection in oven.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Polish

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Servings 8 servings

▢ 1 pound ground beef
▢ 2 cups onions chopped, about 1 medium onion
▢ 3 cloves garlic minced
▢ ¾ cup uncooked converted rice like Minute Rice
▢ 2 ½ cups pasta sauce or tomato sauce, 1 can (spicy, or your favorite flavor)
▢ 3 Tablespoons vinegar
▢ 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
▢ 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
▢ ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
▢ 8-9 cups cabbage shredded, about ½ large head of cabbage

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 baking dish.
Add beef, onion, and garlic to a medium skillet. Cook until browned, breaking up meat with meat chopper or a wooden spoon, about 5-6 minutes. Add rice, stir, and set aside.
In a large measuring cup or medium bowl, combine pasta sauce, vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper.
Layer bottom of baking dish with ⅓ of the cabbage. Spoon ½ of the rice mixture on top and drizzle with ⅓ of the tomato sauce mixture. Layer ⅓ of the cabbage, remaining ½ of the rice mixture and drizzle with ⅓ of tomato sauce mixture. Layer remaining ⅓ of the cabbage and ⅓ of the tomato sauce mixture. See notes for laye details.
Cover and bake for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, continue to bake uncovered for 15-30 minutes, or until cabbage is tender, rice is cooked, and casserole is bubbling.
Gently stir and serve.

Layers:
⅓ cabbage
½ rice mixture
⅓ tomato sauce mixture (about 1 ¼ cup)
⅓ cabbage
½ rice mixture
⅓ tomato sauce mixture
⅓ cabbage
⅓ tomato sauce mixture

Calories: 182 , Carbohydrates: 24 g , Protein: 15 g , Fat: 3 g , Saturated Fat: 1 g , Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g , Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g , Trans Fat: 1 g , Cholesterol: 35 mg , Sodium: 621 mg , Potassium: 658 mg , Fiber: 4 g , Sugar: 12 g , Vitamin A: 403 IU , Vitamin C: 35 mg , Calcium: 63 mg , Iron: 3 mg

Keyword: lazy cabbage rolls, unstuffed cabbage roll casserole, unstuffed cabbage rolls

Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.

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