Next time you see big, beautiful, green heads of cabbage in the market, grab one up and make this delicious Classic Cabbage Rolls Recipe!
TIPS for making the stuffed cabbage rolls recipe:
The filling comes together quickly and easily, similar to an easy meatloaf. The sauce is super easy to make too. The cabbage leaves are the only thing that need a little finessing to make it easy to roll up the beef filling. Here are a few tips that will help make this recipe a breeze!
- Buy the biggest head of cabbage you can find.
- Look for a cabbage that is a little loose, with leaves that are easy to peel off.
- Select a cabbage with plenty of dark green leaves on the outer layers. These large green leaves make the best rolls.
- If you can only find small tight cabbages, pick up two so you have enough of the bigger outer leaves to use for rolling up the filling.
- If you find yourself with a lot of inner, lighter colored, small leaves, they will work just fine but they need to be cooked a little longer to make them pliable and soft enough for rolling.
- Don’t worry if each cabbage leaf is not the same size. Adjust the amount of filling so you are able to roll it up easily.
- Use toothpicks to secure the cabbage if needed on the smaller rolls.
- There are two different methods I recommend for preparing (precooking) the cabbage leaves. Core the cabbage and carefully peel off the leaves taking care not to tear them. For this first method you can boil the leaves for a few minutes in a stockpot of salted water. If you have a hard time removing the tight leaves from the head of cabbage, place the whole cored head in a large mixing bowl covered with plastic wrap. Microwave for 3 minutes on high until the outer leaves of cabbage are pliable and translucent. Carefully remove the wilted, outer leaves with tongs and repeat the process until you have enough for the recipe. Whichever method you use, make sure you can bend, and roll the leaves easily to form the rolls.
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Here are a few more hearty family style dinner recipes you might enjoy:
Try our easy Beef Stroganoff Recipe made with tender, quick-cooked strips of beef, sliced shallots, mushrooms and paprika simmered in a flavorful sauce of beef broth, dry white wine and sour cream. Serve over egg noodles, mashed potatoes or rice for an easy company-worthy dish that comes together in under an hour. Click HERE to get the recipe for Beef Stroganoff.
The Dublin Coddle is a delicious savory Irish classic made with potatoes, onions, rashers (bacon) and bangers (sausages) with a little chicken broth and beer thrown in. This would also be great with cabbage too. Click HERE to get the recipe for Dublin Coddle.
Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe – put your leftover turkey to work in this creamy, hearty casserole loaded with peas, carrots, Parmesan cheese and plenty of mushrooms. Click HERE to get the recipe for Turkey Tetrazzini.
Haha – my husband found this at the farmer’s market – what would you make with all this cabbage? Cabbage rolls of course!
Kitchen Essential Tools Spotlight: Stainless Sauté Pan
A well equipped kitchen needs a good all-purpose stainless sauté pan that easily goes from stove-top to oven. This affordable 5 1/2 quart Cuisinart Chef’s Classic comes with a lid and helper handle for easy removal from the oven. Click on the photo for more information about our favorite large stainless skillet.
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- 16-18 large cabbage leaves
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes (do not drain)
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley leaves for garnish
- Preheat oven to 375F.
Heat a large pot of salted water over high heat until boiling. Drop the cabbage leaves, a few at a time, into the boiling water. Cover and cook for about 3 minutes or until wilted and pliable. Remove with tongs to a strainer to drain. Repeat until all leaves are par-boiled. Remove the thick central ribs by cutting along both sides of the rib in a long narrow triangle. Discard ribs. Set leaves aside. (SEE NOTES BELOW)
- Heat oil in a large ovenproof skillet (or Dutch oven) over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook until starting to caramelize, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for 30-seconds. Remove the skillet from the heat. Transfer half the onion to a large mixing bowl.
- Off heat, add the ground beef, cooked rice, salt, pepper, egg and milk to the remaining onion mixture in the skillet. Stir with a wooden spoon to combine. Divide the ground beef and rice mixture evenly between the 16 cabbage leaves. Overlap the cut ends of the cabbage to prevent the filling from spilling out. Place the filling over the area that overlaps and fold in the sides. Roll the leaf tightly around the filling to create a tidy roll. Place the cabbage roll, seam side down, in the now empty skillet, Dutch oven or baking dish. Repeat until all filling is used.
- In the mixing bowl with the remaining onions, add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, brown sugar, vinegar and water. Pour over the cabbage rolls. Cover the skillet with a lid or foil and bake until the sauce is bubbling and the rolls are heated through, about 45 minutes. Remove the lid and spoon some of the sauce over the cabbage rolls. Continue to bake, uncovered, for an additional 15 minutes.
- Carefully remove the cabbage rolls to a serving plate. Put the skillet with the sauce on the stove top and heat on medium. Whisk together the cornstarch and water and slowly add to the sauce in the skillet. Heat until thickened. Pour the tomato sauce over the cabbage rolls and serve immediately garnished with parsley.
- There are two different methods I can recommend for preparing (precooking) the cabbage leaves. Core the cabbage and carefully peel off the leaves taking care not to tear them. For this first method you can boil the leaves for a few minutes in a stockpot of salted water. If you have a hard time removing the tight leaves from the head of cabbage, place the whole cored head in a large mixing bowl covered with plastic wrap. Microwave for 3 minutes on high until the outer leaves of cabbage are pliable and translucent. Carefully remove the wilted, outer leaves with tongs and repeat the process until you have enough for the recipe. You can do one method or the other, or a combination of both. Whichever method you use, make sure you can bend and roll the leaves easily to form the rolls.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Tricia
Originally posted October 2012, updated October 2018
I haven’t made cabbage rolls in years, and I love them! Your photos are stellar, and make me long for a bowl of this– as soon as our Indian summer is over. That photo of your husband that the humongous cabbage is hilarious!
Thank you so much! Cabbage rolls are a favorite of ours too.
This looks like a perfect fall comfort dinner and I’m going to our farmers’ market this week! Oh my goodness that’s a big head of cabbage that your husband is holding!
We love cabbage rolls but don’t make them often enough. Thanks!
These rolls look SO yummy!
They kind of look like raviolis with all that red sauce around.
Thanks Thomas.
This is a beautiful thing! I love cabbage rolls. A while back for the blog I made a de-constructed cabbage roll dish, just because it seems that I always need about 3 heads of cabbage to get the best leaves. This way I just layered it with the goodies, although I used a white sauce instead of red. The the cabbage rolls are the prettiest presentation!
Thanks Mimi. I love this idea of making a deconstructed version of this dish – must be so much easier!
Love cabbage rolls, my grandmother used to make them for me anytime I asked her. They are a labor of love that I now realize when I make them myself. Your version sounds good.
Thanks Karen – there are a few moving parts but they come together easily. Hope you try them – this sauce is fantastic.
Cabbage rolls used to be a real treat when I was growing up in Germany. Now you buy them already made in cans, can you believe that? Your version looks super delicious.
Canned cabbage rolls – sounds like something my husband would try 😉 Cabbage rolls have been around forever and for good reason. Thanks Gerlinde!
This is my all time favorite, and I didn’t grow up with it, but later in life came to love this meal. Gorgeous photos!
Thanks Sue – bet you’ll love this recipe – the sauce is so good!
I have never made cabbage rolls!! This recipe looks amazing 😀
Thanks Sheenam 😉
I really enjoy cabbage rolls, especially when someone else makes them – your look delicious as do the other dishes in this post.
Thanks Larry!
I love cabbage rolls, but don’t make them nearly often enough! You recipe looks perfect. Will be cooking up a batch soon 🙂
I don’t make them often enough either Jennifer – thanks so much!
My mom never made cabbage rolls but I remember discovering them at a friends house as a child. I thought it was the best thing ever! These look amazing Tricia and I have been eyeing up all the beautiful cabbage at the markets!
Thanks Chris! My mom didn’t make as much sauce as I do. I love the flavors and hope you’ll give it a try sometime!
These look so good. I used make a vegetarian version years ago but I have never had them with meat! I would love to try this recipe.
Thanks for sharing
Julie
What did you use for the vegetarian version? Rice and vegetables would be good too – thanks for the inspiration!
Making this for dinner tonight!
These look so good and I have them bookmarked to make this Friday night (wild, I know). Im going to try subbing cauliflower for the rice – cant wait and will let you know how it goes! ps – HOPING to have the blog up and running within 2 weeks.. waiting on internet peeps is a defo exercise in patience..
That was huge! Any leftovers for me?
Hi Tricia, I can only imagine how good these were. My Aunt makes them so good, I'm always afraid mine won't measure up. Your husband is adorable and I always save room for dessert, will be back for sure.<br />-Gina-
This looks fabulous!!! I've been drooling and dreaming about cabbage rolls for a couple years now but never got around to making them. Your recipe(and photos)look great. I can't wait to see what else you make with that monster head of cabbage:)
This looks really good! I'll try it. I'm always on the look out for substantial high protein low carb dinners that will satisfy both my man and me.<br /><br />http://www.shilohstaste.com
That is a huge cabbage! I've never made cabbage rolls, but these look great and don't sound that difficult to put together.
The photos are gorgeous, and I'm pretty sure that stuffed cabbage is not the easiest thing in the world to make look so glamorous! I really want to make these, I've been seeing huge cabbages at the market myself. While I was in Wisconsin my daughter's boyfriend cut up a big head of red cabbage and is brining his own sauerkraut, it looks great!
These look great! I just bought a head of cabbage, though MUCH smaller than yours, and had no idea what to do with it!<br />Thanks for the recipe!! :-)<br />*Susan
I love that picture of your husband, so funny! I haven't had cabbage rolls for a very long time also but from the looks of yours, Tricia, it might be time to re-visit! You make everything look good!
That looks delish!<br />
Oh, my gosh!! That is the biggest head of cabbage I have EVER seen!! Recipe One of the Giant Cabbage Head looks delicious. <br /><br />Keep your hatches battened down!! 😉 blesssings ~ tanna
Now that's a head of cabbage. Your cabbage rolls look delicious and I really like your presentation.
How sweet of your husband! <br />These cabbage rolls look divine, Tricia.