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Classic Homemade Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Ground Beef and Rice

Six homemade cabbage rolls stuffed with meat filling, baked in a white dish with rich tomato sauce.
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Make these classic stuffed cabbage rolls for a comforting dinner. Tender cabbage leaves wrap a savory filling of ground beef and rice, then bake in a rich tomato sauce. This recipe delivers hearty flavor perfect for family meals.

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 chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  1. Prepare the cabbage: Remove the core from the cabbage head. Place the whole head in a large pot of boiling water. Boil for 5 to 10 minutes until the outer leaves are pliable. Carefully remove the leaves, one by one, trimming the thick center vein from each leaf so it rolls easily. Set aside.
  2. Make the filling: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
  3. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the cooked beef mixture, cooked rice, salt, pepper, and parsley. Mix well.
  5. Assemble the rolls: Lay a cabbage leaf flat. Place about 1/4 cup of the filling near the base of the leaf. Fold the sides in over the filling, then roll the leaf up tightly, like a burrito. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
  6. Prepare the sauce: In a large baking dish (9×13 inch works well), mix together the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Spread half the sauce on the bottom of the dish.
  7. Arrange the cabbage rolls seam-side down in the baking dish over the sauce. Pour the remaining sauce over the top of the rolls.
  8. Bake: Cover the dish tightly with foil. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove the foil for the last 15 minutes of baking if you prefer a slightly firmer top.
  9. Let the cabbage rolls rest for 10 minutes before serving. You earned this delicious comfort food!

Notes

  • For easier leaf removal, you can microwave the whole head of cabbage for 5-7 minutes instead of boiling.
  • If you want a tangier sauce, add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to the tomato mixture.
  • These stuffed cabbage rolls are great for batch cooking; they freeze well after baking.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchnkudos.com/cabbage-rolls-classic-homemade-ground-beef-rice/