Description

Stuffed cabbage rolls are a classic comfort food that combines tender cabbage leaves with a savory filling of seasoned ground beef and rice, all simmered in a rich tomato sauce. This dish is perfect for cozy family dinners or meal prep—it even tastes better the next day! Don’t be intimidated; once you try it, this recipe will quickly become a favorite.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cabbage Rolls:

1 large head of green cabbage
1 lb (450 g) ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
½ cup uncooked long-grain white rice
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large egg
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp paprika

For the Sauce:

2 cups crushed tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp sugar
½ cup water or beef broth

Optional Garnish: Fresh dill or parsley

Instructions

1. Prep the Cabbage

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Remove the core from the cabbage and carefully lower the head into boiling water.
Cook 8–10 minutes until the outer leaves soften. Peel off 12–14 leaves and let cool.
Trim thick ribs from each leaf to make rolling easier.

2. Make the Filling

In a large bowl, combine ground beef, rice, onion, garlic, egg, salt, pepper, and paprika.
Mix gently by hand until combined—don’t overwork the meat.

3. Roll the Cabbage

Lay a leaf flat and place ~2 tablespoons of filling near the base.
Fold the bottom over, then fold in sides and roll tightly.
Place seam-side down in a large pot, repeating with remaining leaves.

4. Prepare the Sauce

Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
Stir in crushed tomatoes, sugar, and water/broth. Simmer 5–10 minutes and adjust seasoning.

5. Cook the Rolls

Pour sauce over cabbage rolls, nearly covering them.
Cover and simmer on very low heat for 1 hour 30 minutes until rice and meat are tender.

6. Serve

Serve 2–3 rolls per plate with sauce on top.
Garnish with fresh dill or parsley.
Perfect with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles.

Notes

Pork & Beef: Swap half the beef for ground pork for extra flavor.
Grain Swap: Use brown rice, quinoa, or lentils (par-cook first if needed).
Greek Twist: Add chopped mint and lemon juice to the filling, serve with avgolemono sauce.
Sweet & Savory: Add ¼ cup raisins to the filling and 1 tbsp brown sugar to the sauce.
Shortcut: Use high-quality store-bought marinara sauce.