Easy Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
I have fond memories of my Polish grandmother making cabbage rolls and the whole family enjoying them in her dining room complete with floral wallpaper. Her cabbage rolls were delicious, but boy did she ever slave over them. Meticulously rolling them up and so many steps and so many hours. Ain’t no one got time for that. At least not me. Enter: this easy recipe for deconstructed cabbage rolls that’s made in one pot and is ready in 30 minutes. It’s a perfect weeknight family dinner when you need to get something on the table fast. This is hearty comfort food that the whole family will love and will keep you full for hours. It’s naturally gluten-free as a bonus. There are layers of flavors and textures, including onions, garlic, ground beef, cabbage, rice, tomatoes, Worcestershire, paprika, and a pinch of cayenne. Tip: For all the cabbage fans, please check out my Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup and my Slow Cooker Corned Beef Cabbage, too!
What’s in Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls?
For these unstuffed cabbage rolls, you’ll need:
Olive oilGround beefSweet Vidalia onionGarlicGreen cabbageCooked riceCanned diced tomatoesTomato sauceWorcestershire sauceKosher salt and pepperSpicesGranulated sugarParsley
How to Make Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
Add the olive oil to a large Dutch oven along with the ground beef and onion. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion is softened. Add the garlic and cook another minute or so until fragrant. Add in the remaining ingredients and cook uncovered for a few minutes until the cabbage begins to wilt. Then, pop the lid on and let the mixture simmer until the cabbage has softened. Once cooked through, garnish with fresh parsley and serve!
Do I Have to Add Sugar?
No, the sugar is optional. I sometimes add it in if I feel the mixture is too acidic from the tomatoes.
Can I Freeze Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls?
Yes, cabbage rolls can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Tips for Making Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
Rice – To save some time, I use packaged precooked rice in these cabbage rolls. You can also make the rice yourself, of course. However, major heads – don’t try to make this unstuffed cabbage rolls recipe with uncooked rice as there’s not enough liquid in the pot for the rice to absorb. Thick Stew-like Consistency – This cabbage rolls recipe is not as brothy as a cabbage roll-inspired soup but could venture into soup territory if you add another can of tomato sauce. I’d call it hearty stew texture as written. Not Spicy – Note that the cayenne doesn’t make the dish spicy but rather gives it some flavor because let’s face it, a head of cabbage can be bland and no one wants bland food. However, if you’d like it to read spicier, feel free to shake out a bit more cayenne.
More Easy Dinner Recipes:
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