Baked Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a hearty filling of seasoned ground beef, rice, onion, and garlic, then baked slowly in a rich tomato sauce until everything is juicy, tender, and full of flavor.
🍽️ Recipe at a Glance
- Yield: 12 cabbage rolls
- Servings: 6
- Prep time: 30 minutes
- Bake time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Total time: About 1 hour 45 minutes
- Oven: 350°F (175°C)
🛒 Ingredients
🥬 For the Cabbage Rolls
- 1 large green cabbage
- 1½ lb (680 g) ground beef
- 1 cup cooked white rice
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
🍅 For the Tomato Sauce
- 2 cans (15 oz / 425 g each) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz / 411 g) diced tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, optional
🧀 Optional Topping
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan
- Fresh parsley
🔥 Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to:
350°F (175°C)
Lightly grease a large 9 × 13-inch baking dish.
Set it aside.
🥬 Step 2: Prepare the Cabbage
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Remove any damaged outer cabbage leaves.
Carefully place the whole cabbage into the boiling water.
Cook for approximately 2–3 minutes.
As the outer leaves soften, carefully remove them with tongs.
Continue boiling the cabbage and removing leaves until you have approximately 12–14 good-sized leaves.
Don’t discard the cabbage!
Save the smaller inner leaves. You can chop them and place them in the bottom of the baking dish.
❄️ Step 3: Cool the Leaves
Place the cabbage leaves in a bowl of cold water or spread them on a clean baking sheet.
Allow them to cool enough to handle.
Pat them dry.
🔪 Step 4: Trim the Thick Veins
Lay each cabbage leaf flat.
Using a small sharp knife, carefully shave down the thick center rib.
Don’t cut completely through the leaf.
This makes the leaves much easier to roll without tearing.
🧅 Step 5: Prepare the Filling
Place the ground beef in a large bowl.
Add:
- 1 cup cooked rice
- Diced onion
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 egg
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Paprika
- Dried parsley
- Oregano
- Onion powder
Mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon until everything is evenly combined.
Don’t overmix.
Overworking the meat can make the filling dense.
🍅 Step 6: Make the Tomato Sauce
In a large bowl, combine:
- Tomato sauce
- Diced tomatoes
- Beef broth
- Tomato paste
- Brown sugar
- Italian seasoning
- Paprika
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Minced garlic
- Worcestershire sauce
Stir well.
Taste and adjust the seasoning.
If you like a sweeter sauce, add another teaspoon of brown sugar.
For more savory flavor, add another splash of Worcestershire sauce.
🍅 Step 7: Add Sauce to the Baking Dish
Spread approximately 1½ cups of tomato sauce across the bottom of your prepared baking dish.
If you saved chopped cabbage from the inner leaves, scatter it underneath the sauce.
This creates a flavorful bed for the rolls and prevents them from sticking.
🥬 Step 8: Fill the Cabbage Leaves
Place one cabbage leaf flat on your work surface.
Add approximately:
⅓–½ cup meat filling
near the lower center of the leaf.
Don’t overfill it.
The rice and meat will expand slightly during cooking.
🌯 Step 9: Roll the Cabbage
Fold the bottom of the cabbage leaf up and over the filling.
Fold the sides inward.
Then roll the cabbage tightly toward the top.
You want a compact little package.
Repeat with the remaining leaves and filling.
🍅 Step 10: Arrange the Rolls
Place the cabbage rolls seam-side down in the baking dish.
Arrange them snugly together.
This helps prevent them from unrolling during baking.
Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the top.
Make sure the rolls are generously coated.
🥩 Step 11: Cover
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
This traps steam and helps the cabbage become wonderfully tender.
🔥 Step 12: Bake
Place the covered dish in the oven.
Bake for approximately:
60 minutes
Then carefully remove the foil.
🧀 Step 13: Add Cheese
If using cheese, sprinkle the top with:
- Mozzarella
- Parmesan
Return the uncovered dish to the oven.
Bake for another:
10–15 minutes
until the cheese is melted and lightly golden.
🌡️ Step 14: Check the Filling
The ground beef filling should reach at least:
160°F (71°C)
in the center.
The cabbage should be very tender and easy to cut with a fork.
⏰ Step 15: Rest
Remove the casserole from the oven.
Let the cabbage rolls rest for approximately 10 minutes before serving.
This allows the filling to settle and the sauce to thicken slightly.
🍽️ How to Serve
Place 2 cabbage rolls on each plate and spoon plenty of tomato sauce over them.
Serve with:
- 🥔 Mashed potatoes
- 🍞 Crusty bread
- 🥗 Green salad
- 🥕 Roasted vegetables
- 🌽 Buttered corn
- 🥒 Pickles
A dollop of sour cream on top is also delicious.
🥩 Beef & Pork Version
For especially tender and flavorful cabbage rolls, use:
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ lb ground pork
The pork adds extra richness and moisture.
🍚 Rice Options
You can use:
- White rice
- Brown rice
- Basmati rice
- Jasmine rice
- Cauliflower rice
For cauliflower rice, use approximately 1½ cups, and there’s no need to cook it beforehand.
🌶️ Spicy Cabbage Rolls
Add to the meat mixture:
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
- 1 finely diced jalapeño
You can also add a few dashes of hot sauce to the tomato sauce.
🧄 Garlic Herb Version
For a more herb-forward flavor, add:
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
Finish with fresh parsley just before serving.
🍅 Extra-Saucy Cabbage Rolls
If you love lots of sauce, increase the tomato sauce by about 50%.
Extra sauce is fantastic spooned over mashed potatoes or crusty bread.
👩🍳 Tips for Perfect Cabbage Rolls
Don’t skip blanching
Soft cabbage leaves are much easier to roll and won’t crack.
Don’t overfill
Too much filling can cause the rolls to split as they cook.
Keep them snug
Arrange the rolls tightly in the baking dish.
Cover while baking
The steam is essential for tender cabbage.
Use cooked rice
Pre-cooked rice gives you better control over the final texture and prevents the rolls from becoming overly packed.
🧊 Storage
Cool leftovers and refrigerate them in an airtight container.
They will keep for approximately 3–4 days.
The flavor often becomes even better the next day.
🔥 Reheating
Reheat individual rolls in the microwave until steaming hot.
For several rolls, place them in a covered baking dish and warm at:
325°F (165°C)
until heated through.
Add a little extra tomato sauce if necessary.
❄️ Freezing
Cabbage rolls freeze very well.
Place cooled rolls with plenty of sauce in a freezer-safe container.
Freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
⭐ Final Result
You’ll have tender cabbage leaves wrapped around juicy seasoned beef and rice, surrounded by rich, savory tomato sauce.
The slow baking makes the cabbage incredibly tender while the filling stays moist and flavorful. Serve them with mashed potatoes and a spoonful of sour cream for the ultimate cozy comfort-food dinner. 🥬🍅
