Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

No ratings yet

This really easy unstuffed cabbage rolls recipe is a comforting homestyle meal with central European vibes! It's way less work to make than actual cabbage rolls.

Prep Time15

Cook Time45

Total Time1

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Eastern European

Keyword: Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls, Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

Servings:

Author: Natasha Bull

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
1 medium onion chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt + pepper to taste see note
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon (packed) brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 (15 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 cup beef broth + more if needed
6 cups chopped green cabbage
For serving: cooked rice, sour cream, chopped parsley optional, to taste

Instructions

Add the beef and onions to a Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned (about 8-10) minutes. Drain excess fat.
Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt & pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
Add in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, and cabbage. Give it a good stir. Once it starts bubbling, reduce the heat to a simmer (medium to medium-low) and cook for 30 minutes, covered, stirring occasionally, or until the cabbage has reached your desired tenderness. Consistency of canned tomatoes can vary (some are thicker than others), so keep an eye on it and add some extra beef broth if it looks a bit dry. The cabbage will release some water as it cooks down.
Season with extra salt & pepper as needed and serve over cooked rice with a dollop of sour cream and parsley sprinkled on top if desired.

Notes

To serve 4 people, I cook 1 cup of rice.
If not using sea salt or kosher salt, you may want to use half the amount and then add more to taste if needed.
Serves 4-6 depending on portion size and how much rice you make it with. Nutrition info is for 1/4 of the recipe and doesn't include rice/sour cream/parsley.

Nutrition