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Home » Recipes » Meat & Poultry » Beef » Crock Pot Cabbage Roll Casserole

Crock Pot Cabbage Roll Casserole

By Amanda Mason | May 17, 2019 | Updated October 27, 2019 | Beef, Casseroles, Crock Pot, Gluten Free, Healthy Eating, Meat & Poultry, Recipes

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This hearty and savory Crock Pot Cabbage Roll Casserole is cooked in a rich tomato sauce with cabbage, beef, and herbs! Super easy to make, this Crock Pot Cabbage Roll Casserole makes for a perfect weeknight meal!

White plate containing Cabbage Roll Casserole served with a spinach salad.

Calling all casserole lovers!! Ok, here we go…

Cabbage Roll Casserole = seasoned ground beef, tomato sauce, rice, and cabbage topped with melted mozzarella cheese…oh my love!!

This is the most delicious and comforting simple food of my sweet dreams!

I’m southern. I love a good casserole. And this casserole is healthy and can be made gluten free! You just don’t typically hear those 4 words together…healthy, casserole, southern, gluten free. But this casserole is just all of THAT.

And it’s made in my Crock Pot! Winning! WINNING big time here!!

White plate containing Crock Pot Cabbage Casserole topped with melted mozzarella cheese.

What is Cabbage Roll Casserole?

Who loves cabbage rolls? If you’ve never had them, a cabbage roll is a boiled cabbage leaf filled with rice and meat and then baked. My recipe is more of an “unstuffed cabbage casserole”.  It’s similar to a cabbage roll, just made in a crock pot with the ingredients layered. I like to refer to this dish as “lazy man cabbage roll casserole” because you literally just throw the ingredients together and let the crock pot do all the hard work.

Video: Making Crock Pot Cabbage Casserole

Take a quick look at this video I put together on how to turn your typical cabbage rolls into a crock pot cabbage casserole.

How To Make Crock Pot Cabbage Roll Casserole

You’ll need these ingredients to make this recipe:

  • ground beef
  • garlic cloves
  • onion
  • tomato sauce
  • condensed tomato soup
  • diced tomatoes
  • paprika
  • thyme
  • salt
  • long grain white rice
  • cabbage
  • mozzarella cheese
  • water

Step 1

The first thing you’ll do is chop the onion. Then brown the ground beef and add the chopped onion, garlic, paprika, thyme, and salt over medium heat until no pink remains. Make sure you drain the fat.

Ground beef and onions browning in a skillet.

Step 2

Add 1 cup of the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, 1 cup water, and ½ can of tomato soup to the beef. Stir in rice and mix well until heated through (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat.

Pot containg diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, rice, and ground beef.

Step 3

While your beef mixture is heating on the stove top, chop the cabbage into 4 wedges and remove the core. Chop into large bite sized pieces. Layer ½ of the meat mixture and ½ of the cabbage in the crock pot. Repeat layers by placing half the meat and then half the cabbage in the crock pot.

Now, combine the remaining tomato soup, remaining tomato sauce, and ⅓ cup water. Pour over top of cabbage. Place the top on the crock pot and cook on low 4-6 hours or just until rice is cooked.

Crock Pot containing ingredients for Cabbage Roll Casserole including cabbage, ground beef, rice and tomatoes.

Once done, turn crock pot off, sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top, and let sit 10 minutes to set and melt the cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Oh, that melted mozzarella cheese on this Cabbage Casserole! Is your mouth watering yet? My friend, Vicky Crowley brought this dish to work for several us to try as a part of a lunch coop. FANTASTIC is all that needs to be said on this one! I had seconds…FOR LUNCH. I never do that. It makes me too sleepy to eat that much at lunch!  Yep…it’s THAT good!

White plate containing Crock Pot Cabbage Casserole sitting on a blue table mat, fork on plate.

Tips for Making Crock Pot Cabbage Casserole

  • Make sure to follow the instructions on the divided ingredients in the recipe card. It actually does make a difference taste wise.
  • Adding the shredded mozzarella cheese makes this dish.
  • Don’t overcook this recipe. Mushy cabbage is gross. I’ve made this recipe at least 12 times now and the magic hour for the perfect doneness is around 5 hours.
  • If you’re gluten free, make sure you use a gluten free version of tomato soup. I love Amy’s Cream of Tomato soup.
  • If you wanted to use brown rice, you can. I don’t recommend using cauliflower rice in this dish. It will turn to mush.
  • I like keeping this dish lean so I use 96% lean ground beef, but you can use any grade of ground beef you like.

 

White plate containing Cabbage Roll Casserole sitting on a blue placemat, served with a spinach salad, fork and crackers on table.

What to Serve with Cabbage Roll Casserole

  • My Romaine Salad pairs perfectly with this casserole.
  • These Roasted Green Beans with Mushrooms, Balsamic and Parmesan are full of flavor. I love green beans with casseroles!
  • This Brussels Sprout Salad with it’s dried cranberries and balsamic vinegar pops the flavor in this casserole.

You are going to love this Cabbage Roll Casserole. It’s pure comfort in every bite with zero guilt!

Go get’em casserole lovers! Y’all are gonna just LOVE this one!

Enjoy!

White plate containing a serving of Cabbage Casserole, fork on side of plate.

If you loved this recipe, give this recipe a star review! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #recipesworthrepeating and tagging me @recipesworthrepeating.

5 from 11 votes
White plate containing Cabbage Roll Casserole served with a spinach salad.
Print
Crock Pot Cabbage Roll Casserole
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
6 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 15 mins
 

This hearty and savory Crock Pot Cabbage Roll Casserole is cooked in a rich tomato sauce, full cabbage, beef and herbs! Super easy to make, this Crock Pot Cabbage Roll Casserole makes for a perfect weeknight meal!

Course: dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cabbage, cabbage roll, cabbage roll casserole
Servings: 15 people
Calories: 182 kcal
Author: Amanda Mason
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs 96% lean ground beef
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 15 ounce can tomato sauce, divided
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 can condensed tomato soup
  • 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  • 3/4 cup long grain white rice, uncooked
  • 1 head cabbage
  • 1 1/2 cups Mozzarella cheese
  • 1/3 cup water
Instructions
  1. Brown beef, onion, garlic and seasonings over medium heat until no pink remains. Drain.

  2. Add 1 cup tomato sauce, 1 cup water and ½ can of tomato soup and diced tomatoes to the beef.

  3. Stir in rice, and mix well until heated through. Remove from heat.

  4. Chop cabbage into 4 wedges and remove core. Chop into chunks (Vicky’s were about ¾”x1.5″).

  5. Layer ½ of the meat mixture and ½ of the cabbage in the slow cooker. Repeat layers. Place half the meat and then half the cabbage in cooker.

  6. Combine the remaining tomato soup, remaining tomato sauce and ⅓ cup water. Pour over top of cabbage.

  7. Cook on low 4-6 hours or just until rice is cooked. Once done, turn Crock Pot off, sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top and let sit 10 minutes to set and melt cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes
  • Make sure to follow the instructions on the divided ingredients in the recipe card. It actually does make a difference taste wise.
  • Don't overcook this recipe. Mushy cabbage is gross. I've made this recipe at least 12 times now and the magic hour for the perfect doneness is around 5 hours.
  • If you're gluten free, make sure you use a gluten free version of tomato soup. I love Amy's Cream of Tomato soup.

 

Nutrition Facts
Crock Pot Cabbage Roll Casserole
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 182 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 46mg15%
Sodium 197mg9%
Potassium 457mg13%
Carbohydrates 15g5%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 17g34%
Vitamin A 280IU6%
Vitamin C 25.5mg31%
Calcium 94mg9%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

Cabbage Roll Casserole topped with mozzarella cheese and fresh ground pepper.

 

Update Notes: This post was originally published in 2016, but was re-published with updated step-by-step instructions, pictures, and tips in May 2019. You will also find affiliate links on this page.
Recipe source from Vicky Crowley inspired by: Spend with Pennies 

Comments | 40 comments
Tagged with:Cabbage, Cheese, Dinners, Garlic, High Fiber, High Protein, Low Carb, Rice

About Amanda Mason

Hi! I'm Amanda, the founder and creator behind Recipes Worth Repeating! Simply put, I focus on creating delicious recipes for everyone. I offer variety. I offer convenience. I offer yumminess! And that's why people keep coming back. The recipes I create are absolutely worth repeating.

Founded in 2012, Recipes Worth Repeating grew from people routinely asking me to email them the recipe for my latest dish. Recipe development comes naturally to me and I find cooking relaxing. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, I developed a passion for cooking at an early age and I love to showcase a variety of recipes on my blog.Creating delicious new recipes, still photography, and video for Recipes Worth Repeating is the driving force behind what engages my readers to keep coming back for more recipes they will love.

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Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    March 4, 2018 at 1:49 pm

    5 stars
    Love that it’s made in a crock pot, aka my BFF. Love that the ingredient list is simple. Love how yummy it looks. Love, love, love this recipe!

    Reply
    • Amanda Mason says

      March 4, 2018 at 2:46 pm

      So funny…my slow cooker is my BFF, too! My Instant Pot is my 2nd BFF!!

      Reply
  2. Monica | Nourish & Fete says

    March 4, 2018 at 1:59 pm

    5 stars
    I had to smile reading about how you grew up with casseroles, because this recipe reminds me a lot of something my own Mom used to make! Unfortunately for her I’m pretty sure I turned up my nose at it at the time, but of course now it sounds really tasty to me! I can’t wait to try it and tell her – she’ll laugh and be glad I’ve evolved, I am sure!

    Reply
    • Amanda Mason says

      March 4, 2018 at 2:47 pm

      HA HA!! yes – she sure will be proud! I hope you enjoy this one!

      Reply
  3. Kristina says

    March 4, 2018 at 7:01 pm

    5 stars
    What’s funny is that I HATED casseroles when I was younger, but now that I’ve grown older (and hopefully wiser) I can’t get enough. This looks like the perfect late winter easy recipe!

    Reply
    • Amanda Mason says

      March 5, 2018 at 5:29 pm

      Yes! It’s a great winter recipe! Enjoy!!

      Reply
  4. Jessica Pinney says

    March 5, 2018 at 1:16 pm

    5 stars
    Mmm…love me some cabbage rolls! I’ll definitely be adding this to my list of low carb dinner recipes.

    Reply
    • Amanda Mason says

      March 5, 2018 at 5:28 pm

      I hope you enjoy!!

      Reply
  5. Jackie says

    August 20, 2018 at 5:52 am

    Thoughts on using riced cauliflower instead of traditional rice? What modifications should I make before I attempt making this?

    Reply
    • Amanda Mason says

      August 20, 2018 at 1:45 pm

      I don’t recommend using cauliflower rice in this recipe. It will fall apart and become all mushy.

      Reply
  6. Kevin says

    September 16, 2018 at 2:38 pm

    5 stars
    Very tasty!! I read the recipe and sounded so yummy and we wanted to have something different to try and this one was it!! I love it and shared it with my kitty cat and she loved it as well!!😁

    Reply
    • Amanda Mason says

      September 16, 2018 at 6:02 pm

      Hi Kevin! I’m SO glad you liked it…and your kitty, too!! Thanks so much for writing in and leaving a comment!

      Reply
  7. Holly says

    September 17, 2018 at 6:47 am

    do you think I could use brown rice in place of the white?

    Reply
    • Amanda Mason says

      September 17, 2018 at 9:14 am

      Absolutely!! Brown rice would be great to use in this recipe!!

      Reply
  8. Alan says

    October 11, 2018 at 6:12 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks for posting this great-looking recipe. I use my slow-cooker almost exclusively. I was wondering if it would be okay to add pre-shredded cabbage (ie, for Cole slaw) instead of chopping the cabbage as you’ve directed?

    Reply
    • Amanda Mason says

      October 12, 2018 at 7:21 am

      Absolutely!! Cut corners where you can to save time! Using a bag of pre-shredded cabbage (like coleslaw) should totally work! I would look for bigger chunks in your pre-cut bag. Let me know how it turns out!

      Reply
  9. TamaraFleury says

    October 20, 2019 at 3:35 pm

    5 stars
    This is the best crockpot cabbage casserole recipe, we love it..I mix cream cheese in it just before adding the mozzarella to melt.. it’s delicious..

    Reply
    • Amanda Mason says

      October 20, 2019 at 6:51 pm

      Tamara – I’m SO glad you guys love it!! It’s one of my all time favorite crockpot recipes!! Love the idea on adding cream cheese!!!

      Reply
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I'm Amanda! Welcome to my little corner of the internet. I'm a wife, mother of two, lover of all things food and wine, and photographer. Here at Recipes Worth Repeating, you're going to find the most delicious and easy to make gluten free recipes everyone will love! Read More…

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