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    Home » Recipes » Beef Dishes

    Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole

    Published: Aug 9, 2023 · Modified: Jan 1, 2025 by Eileen Murphy Kelly

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    Lazy Cabbage Roll CasseRole Pinterest PIN
    Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole Pinterest Pin
    Pinterest pin of cabbage roll casserole with text overlay.

    This Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole is a delicious and easy dinner option for those busy weeknights! Tender cabbage, beef, and white rice are all cooked in a tangy tomato sauce for a hearty comfort food meal that your whole family will love. 

    Lazy cabbage roll casserole in a large pan with rice.

    This unstuffed cabbage roll casserole is one of my favorite ways to save some time in the kitchen but still get a filling meal on the table for my family. Not only is full of delicious flavors but it's great for busy days or even special occasions. You won't regret making this simple recipe. 

    Looking for specifics on the recipe? Use the table of contents to click on sections of the recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredient List
    • Equipment
    • Instructions
    • Eileen's Tips for Success
    • Variations
    • Make ahead, storage, and freezer tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Similar recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • You only need basic ingredients that are easy to find at your local grocery store to make this deconstructed cabbage roll casserole. 
    • All the flavors of traditional cabbage rolls without all the extra prep work to stuff them. 
    •  It's family-friendly and even the picky eaters in your household will love this lazy man cabbage casserole.

    Ingredient List

    The ingredients to make lazy cabbage casserole with text overlay.

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    • ground beef
    • salt
    • black pepper
    • tomato sauce
    • beef broth
    • green cabbage
    • yellow onion
    • uncooked long-grain white rice
    • non-stick cooking spray

    Equipment

    • 9x13 inch casserole dish
    • Cast Iron Skillet
    • Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
    • Measuring Spoons and Cups
    • Wooden Spoon
    • knife
    • Cutting Board

    Instructions

    This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.

    Ground beef in a large pan being browned for cabbage roll casserole.

    Step 1: In a large skillet brown the beef. Once cooked all the way through drain the excess grease.

    A large saute pan with cooked ground beef, rice, and chopped cabbage.

    Step 2: In a large bowl stir together the beef broth and tomato sauce. Then mix in the remaining ingredients.

    A saute pan with cooked ground beef and cabbage for a lazy cabbage casserole.

    Step 3: Once the ingredients are well combined transfer them into a 9x13 casserole dish.

    A cabbage roll casserole ready to go in the oven.

    Step 4: Bake covered in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for one hour. Then uncover and bake for an additional 30 minutes.

    A cooked lazy cabbage roll casserole on a large baking pan.

    Eileen's Tips for Success

    • I use an 80/20 beef mixture for this casserole. If you want to use lean ground beef, adding a small amount of vegetable oil to the skillet will prevent the meat from sticking. 
    • Garnish this casserole with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of fresh parsley for a pop of color. 

    Variations

    Do you want to change up this recipe?

    • Change up the ground meat: Instead of using ground beef, you could use ground pork or ground turkey to make this easy recipe. 
    • Low Carb version: Switch out the rice and use cauliflower rice instead. Reduce the broth by half so that your casserole isn't watery. 
    • ​Make it spicy:  Add hot sauce, red pepper flakes, chili powder, or even red pepper flakes to increase the heat.
    • Make it cheesy: If your family loves cheese, add mozzarella cheese or even Colby jack cheese to this recipe. 
    • Spices: Add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, or even a dash of Worcestershire sauce to the cabbage mixture.  

    Make ahead, storage, and freezer tips

    Storage - Store leftover casserole in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge for 3-4 days. 

    Make ahead -  You can assemble the casserole a day ahead of time and store it in the fridge. When you're ready to bake, just take it out and pop it in the oven!

    Freezing - This casserole also freezes well. Let the cooked casserole cool before transferring it to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. Store in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. 

    Reheating - Reheat the entire casserole in the oven at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until warm. Or reheat single servings in the microwave until warm.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why is the cabbage on my cabbage rolls tough?

    If your cabbage is tough, then it was not cooked enough. Return the casserole to the oven and cook it for another 15 minutes or so. 

    Do I need to boil the cabbage first?

    There is no need to boil the cabbage before adding it to this casserole dish. Roughly chop it into bite-sized pieces so that it cooks in the oven. 

    Can you freeze cabbage rolls? 

    Yes,  cabbage rolls can be frozen. Allow the casserole to cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container and freezing for up to 3 months. 

    Serving Suggestions

    I love to pair a hearty casserole like these unstuffed cabbage rolls with a fresh vegetable side dish like this Easy Roasted Broccoli with Garlic. It's tangy and super simple to make.

    If your family is like mine and they want a bread side dish with your meals then you will want to give these Easy Yeast Rolls. The best thing about this recipe is that even beginners can make it.

    Do you like to enjoy a bite of something sweet after your meal? If so, then give this Lemon Lush Dessert a try! It's creamy, tangy, and super easy to make.

    Cabbage roll casserole on a plate.

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    If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

    If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    📖 Recipe

    Cabbage roll casserole in a large baking dish.

    Cabbage Roll Casserole

    Enjoy all the flavors of cabbage rolls in this easy cabbage roll casserole. An easy cabbage casserole with all the flavors of cabbage rolls in a quick and easy dinner.
    5 from 5 votes
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    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: European
    Keyword: cabbage roll casserole, lazy cabbage roll casserole, unstuffed cabbage rolls
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
    rest time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 2 hours hours
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 463kcal
    Author: Eileen Murphy Kelly

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

    Equipment Needed:

    • 9x13 inch casserole dish
    • Cast Iron Skillet
    • Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
    • Measuring Spoons and Cups
    • Wooden Spoon
    • knife
    • Cutting Board

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds ground beef 80/20 ground beef mix works best
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 (29) ounce can, tomato sauce
    • ½ teaspoon Hungarian paprika optional
    • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning optional
    • 3½ cups beef broth
    • 3½ pounds green cabbage cored and chopped
    • 1 cup yellow onion peeled and diced (1 large onion should produce 1 cup of diced onion)
    • 1 cup long grain white rice uncooked
    • 1 Tablespoon avocado oil to grease the casserole pan Note 1

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    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F/177°C. Prepare a 9"x 13" casserole dish with 1 Tablespoon avocado oil or nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
    • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown 2 pounds ground beef, break it up as the meat browns. Remove and discard excess grease from the pan. Season the ground beef with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Set aside.
    • In a large mixing bowl, stir together the 29-ounce can tomato sauce and 3½ cups beef broth. Optional, add ½ teaspoon Hungarian paprika and ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning. (Note 4)
    • To the bowl, stir in 3½ pounds chopped green cabbage, 1 cup chopped yellow onion, 1 cup long grain white rice, and browned ground beef.
    • Transfer the ingredients to the prepared casserole dish.
    • Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven.
    • Uncover the casserole and carefully stir the contents in the casserole dish. Re-cover and continue baking for an additional 30 minutes.
    • Remove the casserole from the oven and allow it to rest for 10 minutes prior to serving.

    NOTES

    Be sure to check Expert Tips and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help ma
    Note 1: I use avocado oil to grease the casserole dish. A non-stick cooking spray can be used. 
    Note 2: 1 large onion should produce 1 cup of chopped onion. 
    Note 3: Brown rice can be used. I recommend not using instant rice for this recipe. Use long-grain rice. 
    Note 4: I make this recipe a lot. I have adjusted the recipe for an additional level of flavor by adding ½ teaspoon Hungarian paprika and ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning. This is optional. If you do not have Hungarian paprika and would like additional seasoning, try using smoked paprika or regular paprika. 
    I'm not a registered dietician, I do my best to provide the most accurate nutritional values. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation. Actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes.
     
    Don’t forget to shop at the Everyday Eileen store on Amazon

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 463kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 1004mg | Potassium: 1227mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 656IU | Vitamin C: 82mg | Calcium: 127mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @Everyday_Eileen or tag #everydayeileen!

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