Description
Unstuffed cabbage rolls are a hearty one-pot dish made with tender cabbage, seasoned ground beef, and a rich tomato sauce, delivering the comforting flavors of traditional cabbage rolls without the time-consuming rolling process.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 can (15 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 6 cups chopped green cabbage
- 2 cups cooked white rice (for serving)
- 1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and chopped onion and cook for 8–10 minutes until the beef is browned and the onions are soft. Drain excess fat.
- Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Stir to combine.
- Add the chopped cabbage and mix until it is evenly coated in the sauce.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- If the mixture becomes too thick, add a small amount of extra beef broth.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve hot over cooked white rice and top with sour cream and chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
- Green cabbage works best because it softens well during cooking.
- For extra flavor, mix ground beef with ground lamb or pork.
- Ground turkey can be used as a lighter alternative to beef.
- Add vegetables like carrots or bell peppers for extra nutrition.
- The flavors deepen after resting, making leftovers even better the next day.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Central European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
