Cabbage Roll Casserole

Name: Cabbage Roll Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 240 min
Total time: 255 min
Ingredients: 2 lbs ground beef; 3 garlic cloves, (minced); 1 onion, (chopped); 1 15 ounce can tomato sauce, (divided); 1⅓ cup water, (divided); 1 can condensed tomato soup, (divided); 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, (undrained); 1 teaspoon paprika; 1½ teaspoons salt; ½ teaspoon thyme; ¾ cup white rice, (uncooked); 1 head cabbage; 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese

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This hearty and savory cabbage roll casserole combines the flavors of rich tomato sauce with cabbage, beef, and cheese. Without the hassle of making traditional cabbage rolls, the casserole version is perfect for any weeknight dinner!

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

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✔️ Quick Recipe Overview
ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works
🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
📋 Variations
🔪 How To Make Cabbage Roll Casserole
🙋 Recipe FAQs
💭 Expert Tips
🥗 Serving Suggestions
Cabbage Roll Casserole

✔️ Quick Recipe Overview

Why This Is The Best Cabbage Roll Casserole: Slow cooked in the crock pot, you'll love the satisfying flavors with each layer of beef, cabbage, rice, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese!

How Long It Takes: 4 hours

Equipment You'll Need: crock pot, skillet

Cabbage rolls are absolutely delicious, but it takes a lot of effort to stuff and roll them. When you're short on time but want to enjoy the flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls, make this cabbage roll casserole. Similar to lasagna, this recipe is layered with seasoned ground beef, tomato sauce, rice, and cabbage topped with melted mozzarella cheese. And just like my beef enchilada casserole, this is one of the most delicious and comforting casseroles you'll ever eat!

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

Traditional cabbage rolls require you to boil the cabbage leaves and then fill them with meat, rice, tomato sauce, and cheese. They are then rolled and baked. While delicious, it's messy and can be a hassle if the cabbage leaves rip. That's why I love this version so much. This is more of an unstuffed cabbage casserole version that is made in the crock pot.

This dish can be made with simple ingredients that can be found at any local grocery store. This is a budget friendly meal and you'll enjoy the flavors of classic cabbage rolls in every bite!

ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works

1. With only 20 minutes to prepare, layer all the ingredients and let the crock pot do all the work!

2. You don't have to cook the cabbage leaves ahead of time. The cabbage is chopped instead and layered with simple ingredients.

3. There's no need to double the recipe. This cabbage roll casserole makes a lot and is great for leftovers!

🛒 Ingredients You'll Need

Ground beef, cabbage, cheese, tomato sauce, herbs, rice on counter.

See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

📋 Variations

It's easy to make modifications without changing the incredible taste of this comforting dish.

Instead of ground beef, try using ground turkey meat, pork, or any plant based meat.
To keep this dish lean, use 92% or 96% ground beef.
Substitute brown rice for white rice.
To make a low carb version, leave out the rice completely.
Add some heat by adding ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes or a freshly chopped jalapeno pepper.
Use pepper jack or monterey jack cheese instead of mozzarella.
For a Mexican flavor, add in a small can of chopped green chiles.

🔪 How To Make Cabbage Roll Casserole

Start by chopping the onion. Put the ground beef in a large skillet. Add the chopped onion, fresh garlic, paprika, thyme, and salt to the skillet and cook over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain the fat in a colander and then set aside.

Ground beef and onions browning in a skillet.

Next, add 1 cup of the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, 1 cup water, and ½ can of tomato soup to the skillet with the cooked ground beef. Add the rice to the skillet and mix well until heated through, about 10 minutes. Set aside.

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

While the beef and cabbage roll sauce is heating in the skillet on the stove top, go ahead and cut the cabbage into 4 wedges and remove the core. Chop the cabbage into large bite sized pieces. From there, layer ½ of the beef and cabbage roll sauce mixture in the crock pot. Then, layer ½ of the freshly chopped cabbage. Repeat the layers again.

👩‍🍳 Chef's Note: If you love cheese, add some mozzarella into the layering process! Simply add an extra ½ cup of shredded mozzarella on top of the chopped cabbage before adding on the last layer of sauce mixture.

After the layering is complete, combine the remaining tomato soup, remaining tomato sauce, and ⅓ cup water into a large bowl. Stir to combine and then pour the mixture over the top layer of cabbage. Put the lid on the crock pot and cook on low for 4 hours.

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

Once done, turn the crock pot off and top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Allow the cheese to melt before serving. Add salt and pepper to taste.

This easy family favorite combines all the delicious flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls with a lot less work. These are lazy man cabbage rolls in casserole form that is cooked to savory perfection!

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

🙋 Recipe FAQs

How do I store cabbage roll casserole?

Store any leftovers in a container with a lid in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. To reheat, place a serving in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, until warmed all the way through.

Can I freeze cabbage roll casserole?

I don't recommend freezing this recipe. When thawed and reheated, it tends to turn out mushy.

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

💭 Expert Tips

While pre-shredded cheese works fine in this recipe, use freshly grated cheese for best results.
Don't use cauliflower rice. It will change the texture and make it mushy.
Make sure to follow the instructions on the divided ingredients in the recipe card. It makes a difference taste wise.
Don't overcook. When the rice is fully cooked, it's done.
While a leaner % of ground meat will keep this dish healthier, using a higher fat ground meat will provide more flavor.

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

🥗 Serving Suggestions

Bread, salad, and vegetables pair really well with this cabbage roll casserole. These are some of the best side dishes I pair with this recipe!

For another traditional recipe made easy, check out this chicken pot pie casserole! Ready in 1 hour, each bite is packed with tender chicken, veggies, and a buttery crust. This baked casserole dish will quickly become a family favorite!

Update Notes: This post was originally published in 2016, but was re-published with updated step-by-step instructions, pictures, and tips in Jan 2023.