This Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Casserole is a great way to enjoy classic stuffed cabbage dishes without all the work. The simple ingredients come together quickly and make for an easy, delicious dinner option.
Packed with ground beef, meaty tomatoes, and rice, this casserole is sure to become a family favorite.
Next time try Skillet Kielbasa and Cabbage. It's a quick 30-minute meal!
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What makes this recipe irresistible
It's delicious of course! The combination of rice, beef, and tomatoes is pure comfort food! The flavors are simple and tasty! Classic spices like garlic and paprika give this dish plenty of flavor without being overpowering.
Here's what I love - with the Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Casserole, there's no need to stuff the cabbage leaves! This recipe makes it easy to enjoy all the flavors of a stuffed cabbage dish without the tedious work.
Ingredients you’ll need
Please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements.
- ground beef - ground turkey or chicken can be substituted if you want to make this delicious recipe a little lighter.
- Worcestershire sauce
- paprika, salt, black pepper
- head of cabbage
- onions
- garlic
- pasta sauce
- fire roasted tomatoes
- cooked rice
- Shredded cheese - you can use mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese or even Colby jack cheese.
Step-by-step instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For complete directions, scroll down to the bottom!
- Preheat the oven, spray the casserole with nonstick cooking spray, and set aside.
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, drain if necessary.
- Season with Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix to combine. Add cabbage, onions, and garlic. Saute until the cabbage begins to wilt.
- Remove and place in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the rice, pasta sauce, fire-roasted tomatoes, and 2 cups of shredded cheese, mix well.
- Spoon into the prepared casserole dish. Cover tightly with foil. Bake for 20 minutes.
- When the timer goes off, remove the foil, and add the remaining cheese. Bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Sit loosely covered with foil for 10 minutes!
Essential tools for this recipe
- casserole dish
- large skillet
- large bowl
- aluminum foil
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s)
I like using green or savoy cabbage to make this easy meal.
This recipe is sometimes called lazy cabbage rolls because you don't have to worry about cooking and stuffing the cabbage leaves, making this casserole less work and traditional cabbage rolls.
Deb’s tips for the perfect dish
If you're going to make this recipe, make sure to follow this top tip!
- Make sure that your chopped cabbage is roughly the same size so that it cooks evenly in the oven.
- I prefer to use cooked white rice for this recipe. However, you can use cooked brown rice or cooked cauliflower rice instead. You'll need to adjust the cooking time.
How to store leftovers
Refrigerate - Store leftover casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
Freezer - You can also freeze this casserole for up to three months. Let the dish thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating and serving.
Reheating - To reheat, place the casserole in an oven-safe dish, cover it with aluminum foil and bake at 350℉ for about 15-20 minutes or until heated through. You can also microwave single servings.
More great casserole recipes
Still hungry for a great casserole? You've definitely come to the right place. Here are some of our favorite easy weeknight meals!
- The Johnny Marzetti Casserole is so beefy and delicious!
- The Chicken Spaghetti Recipe is the most popular on the blog. It's rich and cheesy with just the right amount of spice.
- Lemon Pepper Chicken Casserole - light and lemony, the oven does all the work!
- The Stuffed Pepper Casserole is an excellent meal, and it couldn't be easier to make!
- Move over, mac and cheese! The Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Recipe is a true comfort food classic.
Perfect pairings: what to serve with
- You can never go wrong with homemade bread! Be sure to give this recipe for Air Fryer Garlic Bread a try. It's so good!
- Turn this into the perfect meal that your whole family will love by pairing it with this No Bake Lemon Ice Box Pie. It's sweet, full of lemon juice and delicious flavors. Making it the perfect dessert to end this meal with.
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If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating!
Stuffed Cabbage Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 6 cups chopped cabbage about ½ head of cabbage
- 1 cup diced onions
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 24 ounces pasta sauce
- 15.5 ounce can fire roasted tomatoes lightly drained
- 1 ½ cups cooked rice
- 3 cups shredded cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees, spray casserole with non stick cooking spray, set aside.
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. When the meat is no longer pink, drain.
- Season with Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt and pepper. Mix to combine. Add cabbage, onions and garlic. Saute for 5-6 minutes, until the cabbage just begins to wilt.
- Remove and place in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the rice, pasta sauce, fire-roasted tomatoes, and 2 cups of shredded cheese. Mix until well combined.
- Spoon into prepared casserole dish. Cover tightly with foil. Place in preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- When the timer goes off, remove the foil, sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Return to the oven for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- If you'd like to brown the casserole dish, place it underneath the broiler for 1-2 minutes until the top is golden brown.
- Allow to sit loosely covered with foil for approximately 10 minutes, serve and enjoy!
Jo M says
This was an excellent recipe!! Everything came together so well. I will definitely be making again.
Debra Clark says
That's wonderful, thank you so much for sharing Jo! I'm glad it was a hit!!
Pam says
Can I make this without the cheese?
Bowl Me Over says
Yes Pam, you can skip the cheese. That's totally up to you.