Cabbage Roll Casserole – Immaculate Bites

What Makes a Good Cabbage Roll Casserole

The three principal parts of a good casserole are 1) the meat, 2) chopped veggies, and 3) a starchy ingredient to hold it all together. Of course, adding cheese to the mix is a plus. Once you have the basics down, you can mix and match for a different casserole every night of the week.

Regarding turning cabbage rolls into a simple casserole, you’ve got ground beef and pork for the protein, rice for the starch, and cabbage with onions and tomatoes for the veggies. Layer them instead of rolling them for unadulterated comfort food.

Ingredient for a Great Casserole

1. Meat – Lean ground beef and pork deliver a protein-packed dinner. However, you can replace it with ground turkey or chicken. Have you ever used bacon or leftover ham? Yum!
2. Flavor – Onion, garlic, thyme, Creole seasoning, and smoked paprika are my go-to seasonings. Feel free to add diced celery and bell peppers. Worcestershire sauce, bouillon powder, and good ol’ S&P take it up a notch.
3. Sauce – Tomatoes and tomato sauce provide acidity and substance for a delectable meat sauce.
4. Rice – Long-grain rice holds together best; basmati and jasmine are well-known choices. Brown rice takes longer to cook, so parboiled gives you the best results if you want to use it.
5. Green Cabbage is the perfect veggie for this dish. But you can use savoy, napa, or bok choy for a slight flavor twist.
6. Garnishes – Jack cheese and chopped parsley make it beautiful and tasty. Any melty cheese will work fine.

How to Make Cabbage Roll Casserole

Prep Ingredients

• Preheat oven to 350°F (170°C). Spray a large 13″x10″ or 13″x9″ baking dish with non-stick spray.
• Brown Meat – Heat a large skillet or saucepan on medium heat, add olive oil (or other cooking oil), and follow with the ground beef and pork. Cook, breaking it apart as it cooks, until browned and no longer pink (5-7 minutes). Remove browned beef and set aside. (Photo 4)
• Saute Onions – In the same saucepan, add another drizzle of oil. Followed with onions and cook over medium heat until the onion is translucent (4-5 minutes). (Photo 3)
• Seasonings – Add the minced garlic, thyme, Creole seasoning, and paprika, and cook for about 2 minutes more. (Photos 1-2)
• Assemble – Then, return the beef mixture to the pan with the diced tomatoes with juice, tomato sauce, rice, water, Worcestershire sauce, and bouillon powder. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Photo 5)
• Simmer – Bring to a boil and let it simmer until slightly thickened (15-18 minutes). (Photos 6)
• Cook Cabbage – While the sauce simmers, add 1-2 tablespoons of oil to a large skillet or Dutch oven, add the chopped cabbage, and cook over medium-high heat until the cabbage is tender. It doesn’t need to cook much because it will continue cooking in the oven. (Photos 7-8)

Assemble

• Season cabbage with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Remove and layer in the bottom of the casserole dish. (Photo 9)
• Layer the meat and rice mixture over the cabbage and press if needed. (Photo 10)
• Cover the cabbage roll casserole tightly with foil and bake for 35-40 minutes. (Photo 11)
• Cheesy Topping – Carefully remove the foil with oven mitts and sprinkle the cheese over the casserole if desired. (Photo 12)
• Bake uncovered for 7-10 more minutes or until the cheese melts.
• Serve – Remove it from the oven, let it cool slightly, and serve hot.

Recipe Variations

1. Veggie extravaganza. This is your opportunity to sneak in more nutritious veggies. Add spinach, grated carrots, peas, and diced eggplant to the sauce, and no one will even notice.
2. More spices. Caraway, dill, and celery seeds go great with cabbage. Just a pinch works.
3. Low-carb alternative. Replace the long-grain rice with cauliflower rice for a keto-friendly meal.

Tips and Tricks

1. Be careful not to overcook the cabbage before assembling the casserole. I’ve heard horror stories of mushy stuffed peppers and cabbage rolls.😱
2. While shredded cheese isn’t required, it does taste great. I used Jack, but cheddar, Gouda, and Provolone are ideal if you have them.

Make-Ahead and Leftovers Casserole

This one-pot meal isn’t just easy; it’s a great make-ahead time-saver. Assemble the casserole, let it cool, cover with foil. Refrigerate your deliciousness for up to 3 days or freeze it for up to 3 months. Bake as instructed (thaw frozen in the refrigerator overnight).

What Pairs With Cabbage Roll Casserole

This one-dish meal is excellent with bacon-wrapped green beans or cucumber salad. Apple cinnamon muffins or lemon bundt cake makes a delicious finale.

More Hearty Casserole Recipes to Try

1. Green Bean Casserole
2. Cheesy Potatoes Au Gratin
3. Tuna Noodle Casserole
4. Ground Beef Casserole
5. Fiesta Chicken Casserole
6. Chicken Shepherds Pie

By Imma

Watch How to Make It

This blog post was originally published in March 2021 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video