Old-Fashioned Stuffed Cabbage
These cabbage rolls are among the best comfort foods around.
- SERVES
- 6
- COOK TIME
- 1 Hr 45 Min
If you're looking to spend a cozy night indoors with a meal that'll fill your belly with old world comfort, then you'll love our Old-Fashioned Stuffed Cabbage. This stuffed cabbage recipe features hearty ground beef, tomato sauce, and rice to make this a dinner recipe you'll love coming to the table for. We've carefully crafted this recipe so that it produces rolls just like Grandma used to make, so they're sure to be a hit at the dinner table tonight. This is the best stuffed cabbage roll recipe we've ever had, and we know you'll love it!
As a bonus, this is also a super easy recipe. All you have to do is combine your favorite ingredients, make your cabbage rolls, and then let the whole thing cook in the oven until bubbly and delicious. We even have a great tip below for preparing your cabbage leaves without steaming them. It will save you time, and it couldn't be simpler. Be sure to check it out!
What You'll Need
- 1 large cabbage, cored
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, not drained
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup cooked rice, cooled
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
What to Do
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large saucepan, bring 1 inch of water to a boil over high heat. Place cabbage in water, cored-side down; cover pan, and reduce heat to low. Steam 20 minutes, or until cabbage leaves pull apart easily. Drain and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes and their juice, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice; mix well and set aside. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, rice, onion, egg, salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons tomato mixture; mix well.
- Place 1 cup tomato mixture in bottom of prepared baking dish. Peel a cabbage leaf off the head and cut off thick stem. Place 1/4 cup meat mixture in center of leaf. Starting at core end, make a roll, folding over sides and rolling loosely. Place seam-side down in baking dish; repeat with remaining cabbage leaves and meat mixture. Spoon remaining tomato mixture evenly over top of cabbage rolls and cover.
- Bake 1-1/4 hours. Uncover and cook 10 additional minutes, or until beef is no longer pink.
Notes
- Instead of steaming the cabbage, an easy way to peel the leaves is to core the cabbage, freeze it overnight, thaw it completely, then peel away...easily!
- Wondering what goes with stuffed cabbage rolls? Well, we like to serve ours with crusty bread, to soak up every last bit of the sauce!
- Don't forget to try our other cabbage recipes, too! You can find some of our favorites in our collection of 35 Easy Cabbage Recipes.
If you enjoyed this old-fashioned recipe, be sure to check out our collection of 12 Traditional German Recipes You Can't Miss.
Did You Know? Stuffed cabbage, also often referred to as "cabbage rolls," is eaten all over the world, though it's most popular in Eastern European cuisine. While our version is stuffed with ground beef and rice, some cultures prefer to use other meats, such as lamb or pork. You can also choose to make the rolls with everything from eggs to veggies and top them a flavorful sauce. The options are basically endless! Whether you make them our way, or make them another way, one thing is true across the board: you need to start with large cabbage leaves. After all, the larger the leaf, the easier it is to roll (and the more you can stuff inside, too!). Did you grow up eating baked stuffed cabbage? How does your family's recipe differ from ours? Let us know in the comments below!
Up Next:
Read NextSaucy Cola Meatballs
Nutritional InformationShow More
Servings Per Recipe: 6
- Amount Per Serving % Daily Value *
- Calories 335
- Calories from Fat 116
- Total Fat 13g 20 %
- Saturated Fat 4.8g 24 %
- Trans Fat 0.7g 0 %
- Protein 21g 42 %
- Amount Per Serving % Daily Value *
- Cholesterol 82mg 27 %
- Sodium 692mg 29 %
- Total Carbohydrates 37g 12 %
- Dietary Fiber 8.2g 33 %
- Sugars 20g 0 %
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karenellenberger 1 048058
Aug 24, 2018
I made this for the first time last night and it was better than i thought it would be and the fam loved it, I think next time i am gonna add some sausage to the meat mixture . But awsom recipe !!!!
richris65 4167556
Jun 10, 2018
Meat mixture is the same but we use a couple of cans of Cream of Mushroom soup instead of the tomatoes for the sauce. We make about 24 at a time, so we use 2 cans of soup with a half can of water mixed and poured over top. Cooked the same way.It is a nice change if you are not that fussy on tomatoes.
wczerewko 0807309
Dec 05, 2017
I have to say that my Ukrainian mother taught me how to make cabbage rolls, we would only cook the rice half way and do the same to the beef, add salt and pepper. We would line the bottom with sauerkraut, and bacon, layer the rolls, cover with leftover leaves, add about a cup of cabbage water so they can steam, when the leaves almost are transparent, add stewed tomatoes, sauted onions and cooked bacon broken into pieces
achumley0003 31706 34
Oct 27, 2017
I like fried cabbage , but I have never tried stuffed cabbage and I think I might like it. This will be one of the recipes I may for myself,though, since my family is so picky. My family will not touch cabbage. But, I think it sounds good with beef, tomatoes and rice. If I can ever get around to it I will make this.
Member 6997083
Dec 31, 2016
I have a variation on preparing the cabbage, after you core the head, put it in the microwave take the leaves off as they wilt. Be careful as they will be hot. Put them in cold water to cool and drain on towel. Prepare filling as instructed with a variation of meat filling, I have use gr.venison mixed with equal amount of sausage, or venison, beef and pork as the meat mixture. I also like to add some sauerkraut to the meat mixture. ( I don't think you can do anything to spoil it.) Always good the following day with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt on top....So good on New Years Eve and Day.
Amber C
Mar 21, 2016
I love this recipe. The first time we made it was for 20-25 people for Easter last year. I have since made it for Christmas as well and about to make it for Easter again this year for 30 people. It was such a hit the first and second time. Everyone loved it. My husband in particular is a picky eater and he smashes this recipe! The only substitution that I make is Turkey ground meat which I do for ALL. Other than that I follow this recipe to the T.
gingerbaby1 956992 5
Mar 04, 2016
My family has been making stuffed cabbage for way over 50 years. No tomato sauce in ours. We use the chop meat, cooked white rice (whatever you want to spice it up if you want to), sour kraut is used on the bottom of our pot, then layer the cabbage rolls then more sour kraut till you get to the top of the pot. Pour in some water and cook. The second day is much better because we cook it in salt port to heat it up and its so good!
tomwyant 3316516
Aug 27, 2017
So did you make this recipe and not like it or did you give it a one star rating simply because it's not the one your family has made for 50 years? It's RUDE to rate a recipe one star when you haven't even made or eaten it! Start your own webpage if you want to share your original recipes, but stop being rude and giving low rating to recipes you've never tried!!! HOW RUDE!
mjw37 0383738
Feb 29, 2016
I have been making stuffed cabbage for over 50 years. I have a reputation of great stuffed cabbage. To my taste, some of the things wrong are. No brown sugar, onions should be browned, meat should be slightly browned. Mixture should be beef (you can mix half beef and half pork) 2 eggs onions rice salt and pepper and oil used to brown the onions. Stuff leaves and place either in a large pot or baking pan. Cover with tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce. cook on stove or oven for about 1 hour. Make that 1 medium to large onion. Use just enough oil to brown. Beef should be browned but not dry.
Jaylah
Feb 22, 2016
I almost always make a recipe the first time exactly as written In this case I really wish I hadn't Jeff Smith The Frugal Gourmet used to say that there are some foods you eat because you have to You can't afford anything better Later in life it is hoped that your circumstances have changed for the better to the point where you no longer have to eat those foods but find yourself occasionally needing to eat those foods because they have become part of who you are For that reason I was looking for a recipe for stuffed cabbage rolls the other day First for those of you complaining that minutes is too long to soften the cabbage there's always the amazing idea of lifting the lid off the pot from time to time and when the twelve outer leaves of the cabbage have given up their death grip on…Read More the head whether that takes minutes or an hour take it out of the pan and remove the leaves However I am afraid I am only giving this one star because with the tablespoons of brown sugar I found this entirely TOOOOOOOOO sweet The recipe is a good starting point but the next time I make it I will make the following changes Omit the brown sugar entirely Use tomato sauce rather than crushed tomatoes In fact I put all of the tomato mixture into my blender and pureed it before eating the leftovers of this attempt Without pureeing the tomato mixture was so thin from the tomato juice that it didn't really coat the cabbage bundles And what I remember from eating this as a child was not thin watery tomato juice with chunks of tomato but a nice thick sauce that clung to the bites of cabbage and filling Given those two changes I'd probably give this stars
bmpm2 1115838
Sep 28, 2016
I agree. Check the cabbage from time to time and pull off leaves as they are ready. I would not use the sugar either. My mom used tomato soup (only Campbell's) mixed with a little water and a few tablespoons of vinegar sprinkled over the top. I think it adds more flavor than tomato sauce.
mchart 2691417
Nov 17, 2016
For years I freeze my cabbage and take it out of freezer 24 hours before making cabbage rolls. I core the cabbage and the leaves are awesome for rolling the filling in them. When I was first told about this I thought it would be to soggy and change the taste, but you cannot tell the difference at all once cooked. It sure saves time as steaming the cabbage takes forever and it also is so hot to handle. The way I do it makes it so much easier and so much faster, and they taste awesome.
dagoonda22 2028510
Jan 07, 2016
I also agree that 20 minutes is too long to steam the cabbage and I've always cut the hard stalk out before rolling the leaves. One difference in my family recipe is the sauce. My uncle made his sauce mixing Hunt's tomato sauce together with Campbell's tomato soup (instead of crushed tomatoes), and the brown sugar (no Worcestershire sauce), which makes the sauce sweeter. Some people may like it less sweet so they should use this recipe as is but my family enjoys the sweeter flavor.
Member 1539820
Sep 13, 2015
The method for this dish is in my opinion faulty. When steaming the cabbage prior to cooling and stuffing the separate leaves you will ruin the cabbage by steaming it for 20 minutes in fact this long in the boiling water it would turn bitter. The cabbage needs to be blanched for no more than 5 minutes to deal with the oxalic acid in the leaves and then they can be filled and slow-roasted in the oven in the tomato sauce. Also the method for stuffing the leaves is best if you cut a V-slot where the stalk was as it makes wrapping them up easier. The end result is likely to be very similar to making beef meat-balls in tomato sauce and serving the cabbage separately. One wonders why go to the fiddle of stuffing leaves when all the dish ends up with is beef cabbage rice and tomato?
goincouderay 17187 72
Sep 24, 2015
thank you for the heads up i also thought 20 mins was too much
Test Kitchen Team
Sep 25, 2015
Hey there, thanks for you comments :) The Test Kitchen has tested this recipe many times and when cooking a large head of cabbage, it usually talks 20 minutes to soften the leaves to where they pull apart nicely. We cored the cabbage before cooking, which leaves the "v-cut" for when you pull it apart.
fatimaaqsmall 0522 465
Jan 25, 2015
made this for my family of heavy meat eaters even though the meat was covered in cabbage the LOVED it and it was easy and tasty
Sue in CT
Jan 17, 2015
Absolutely one of the best stuffed cabbage recipes I have ever used! They were delicious. Absolutely delicious. I followed the recipe to the T. They turned out great! Thank you! Try this recipe. Easy, tasty and loved how everything turned out and real good directions to follow.
Casitia
Jul 31, 2014
Followed recipe but used ground turkey rather than ground beef. Better than any Turkey Stuffed Cabbage Rolls recipe on the web. Keeper!
c8stalblue 2757465
Apr 19, 2014
Love the idea to core and freeze the cabbage.... I hate having to steam them or microwave the cabbage to get the leaves. Will try this next week... thanks for a great tip!
FifiHummingbird 83 01854
Mar 22, 2014
There are way too many ingredients in this recipe that aren't needed. We always made ours with ground beef, uncooked rice, onion, 2 eggs, S & P to taste and 3 15 oz. cans of tomato sauce. It was the BEST!
ksmuller50 8642268
Nov 08, 2014
I have made it using Manwitch sauce. All the goodies, none of the hassel.
jjbosslady 9601237
Mar 21, 2014
Continue to have trouble adding to recipe box. When I click on "add", I'm told I can't be signed in although you show my screen name and password. Moving to Facebook, same screen name and password, I'm logged in but can't add recipe to my box. What's up, folks? I do enjoy this site.
Test Kitchen Team
Mar 24, 2014
We apologize for the inconvenience and we are currently working on resolving this issue as we speak.
grannyblu
Feb 02, 2014
love stuffed cabbage many times I add a roll of breakfast sausage or a lb. of ground pork and 2 cloves of minced garlic or just some garlic powder brings it over the top
bkhardy 5277370
Feb 01, 2014
My husband absolutely loved this stuffed cabbage. I made it exactly as recipe stated. I wouldn't change a thing. Thank you Howard the this great recipe.
pattyluvsyogi 3541 995
Jan 29, 2014
I used steam in the bag brown rice for convenience, but everything else by the recipe. Turned out great. Will definitely be in my "keeper" box.!!
momminpins 2487120
Jan 28, 2014
I am 75 years old and my Swedish Grand- mother taught me an inexpensive way to make this! 1 pound ground beef, small onion chopped medium fine, 1 egg, salt pepper and garlic. Combine all ingredients and roll up in the cabbage leaf, that was done as you did, then tie them with clean white thread. Layer in pot, add 2 cans tomato sauce and 2 cans of water, bring to boil, turn down heat to low and cook for 1-2 hours, until meat cooked
ldmff
Jan 27, 2014
I stick the head of cabbage in the microwave for 2-3 minutes and leaves usually peel off fairly easy. Then lay the leaf on a jar like the size pickles or instant coffee comes in and take a veggie peeler, I have a wishbone or slingshot looking one, and run that over that fibrous spine in the middle of the leaf a few times, I even parboil the leaf to make it a little more pliable to roll up when filled with your stuffing. I put mine in a crock pot and cover with chicken broth and simmer on high for 2-3 hours. Yummmmmmy! Bon Appetit Adios n' Hasta La Bye Bye! L.D.
Jackiesmom
Jan 27, 2014
Instead of boiling the cabbage, I leave it in the plastic grocery bag and freeze it. about 6 hours before stuffing leave it in the sink to defrost and the leaves will be very plyable to roll.
Member 5233683
Nov 24, 2013
Very easy to make. Everything tasted great, especially the sauce. Thank you for a great recipe.
dbarlett12 1915617
Nov 19, 2013
Can this be done in a Dutch oven?
renegade159 455036 9
Nov 22, 2013
I have been making this in a "lasagna" style for years. It is simple, EASY and delicious, with the same flavors!! Just shred the cabbage and layer it...next layer meat, and repeat a couple times!! Add tomato sauce or any kind of tomatoes, along with a good cup of water.....and enjoy, oven or slo-cooker! I make this at least once or twice a month.
edonov 2108448
Nov 18, 2013
even better when you put a handful of sauerkraut into the mix. yum
tmollica 7411431
Nov 02, 2013
Finally made this ooooh so easy stuffed cabbage..delicious and will definitely make again.
katydid1936 365218 1
Sep 23, 2013
I've made this recipe for years. I sprinkle sauerkraut on top of the rolls when baking. Also freezing the cabbage makes the leaves tougher and stringy, best to steam them. My Mom was old country Ukraine, and boy could she cook.
greatcooksmallkitc hen
Sep 23, 2013
I use a combination of ground beef and corned beef cabbage. I also add garlic, dill and marjoram. Add a small amount of kraut to the rolls. I place the rolls on a bed of kraut and then dump a can of kraut and a can of diced tomatoes to the top. Everyone loves these. Serve with fat free sour cream.
greatcooksmallkitc hen
Sep 23, 2013
I have made cabbage rolls for 40 years. I use a mixture of ground beef and corned beef. I add dill, marjoram and garlic. I place the rolls on a bed of kraut and then add another can over as well as a can of diced tomatoes. I serve them with non-fat sour cream.
jkschmid 5867446
Sep 22, 2013
When layering the cabbage leaves on the bottom of pan I sneak a sprig of dill in with the leaves. Learned this "secret" at a Russian Orthodox church cabbage dinner here in Wisconsin. This small church outside of Clayton serves about 600 dinners on the 3rd Sunday in Sept. every year. Absolutely wonderful! I know there are other "secrets" I haven't figured out.
theresa4601
Apr 14, 2013
old family recipe, you can use plain old V-8 juice for sauce. Adds nice flavor, too.
Vegas Granny
Apr 12, 2013
I no longer steam my cabbage. I pull off the number of leaves I'm going to use and put them in the microwave a few at a time 'til they are limp. This saves lots of time, and I usually make cole slaw with the rest of the cabbage.
RCS137
Jan 25, 2013
My "2nd Mom", Margie, made this for her family when I was growing up. After leaving Munhall, PA and moving to LA, I would visit as much as I could. Margie always made her stuffed cabbage for me and this recipe comes very close! She added sauerkraut . . .
dizzydeb58
Oct 09, 2012
My daughter's grandmother made the sauce with one jar of chili sauce, 3 T of grape jelly, and one chili sauce jar full of water (shake it to loosen chili sauce that was still left in the jar). Delicious and has a little sweet and sour flavor.
Kelly363
Oct 07, 2012
I don't Like just caned tomatoes over my stuffed cabbage ,I always use stewed tomatoes Everyone has always Loved them
03marjorie 5077195
Sep 29, 2012
My step father once made this dish for my family, and I never forgot about it. I loved it then and always wanted to try and make it. My friend told me to put a little vinegar in the water when steaming cabbage to make it less bitter. from, 03marjorie
leachsrl 6023371
Sep 29, 2012
Cooked as directed freezing the cabbage first and my cabbage did not get tender enough. I put it back in the oven for an extra 45 minutes and it did not make a difference. Taste was excellent though. I read another comment that said to just add more liquid to the dish and that will soften it. i will try this when I cook it again. Worth the effort!!!
Member 19734
Sep 29, 2012
I had the same problem...I made this for dinner last night....I was so disappointed....it tasted good except the cabbage was very tough...we just discarded the cabbage and pretended it was meatloaf...lol!!
Wis 8566607
Sep 29, 2012
ok you freeze the cabbage, what if you don't use the whole head? Is the rest of the head ruined or do you just have to use it up.
skbelgian 0783670
Sep 29, 2012
I've been freezing cabbage before stuffing it for years. Never has=d a problem with the cabbage not being cooked once it simmered in the tomato sauce If yours isn't getting tender, try adding a bit more liquid to the dish. This has worked whether I cook the stuffed cabbage in the oven, on the stove top or in a slow cooker.
Alette61
Sep 28, 2012
Meat mixture was Very Good Tastie Freezing the Head of Cabbage Instead of Steaming the Cabbage to remove the Cabbage Leaves AWESOME HINT The Down Side w Not Steaming the Cabbage was Still RAW Yuk So FYI After removing the Cabbage Leaves Par Cook way Then onto Rolling Leaves w Raw Meat What we had done the Next Day we removed the Cabbage from the Meat Used a Little of the Sauce and then added enough water to cover the cabbage and boiled it till it was Cooked Removed the Cabbage from the water into New Qt Pot added the Beef along w cans of tomato' Soup Then we heated everything till it was Warmed to Temp of The Sauce was way too sweet But that may have been Since we were used to Stuffed Cabbage being made with Tomato Soup Finished off Dinner with Home Made Mashed Potatoes Corn Now…Read More that was Ohhhhh So Good
catlady6866 288727 4
Sep 22, 2014
Alette61: So, you mean to say that it takes your family 2 days in order to make Stuffed Cabbage?! That's ridiculous, and you're making it much harder than it actually is! Your 'recipe' is confusing and difficult to understand, and it actually makes no sense! My family has been making "Golambki" ever since I can remember, and it's NOT as confusing as your recipe is. 'Real' Stuffed Cabbage may be a little time-consuming, but it isn't very difficuilt to make.
mountainmama 41828 30
Sep 28, 2012
Love the freezing hint. Will try it next time for sure. Flora
suemacraeii 133559 7
Sep 27, 2012
what can be substituted for worcestershire sauce? it usually has achovies in it and I can't have fish products due to allergies.
coco1101
Sep 29, 2012
I'm sorry to tell you this, but Worcestershire sauce has anchovies in it for flavor... Many other international cuisines also have their own version of Fish Sauce. However I can think of no substitute for this item. Frankly, I'd just leave it out, it's not so much it has a great bearing on the overall taste, it's just a nuance flavor. Good luck.
granny416 5298327
Sep 26, 2012
If you freeze the cabbage ahead of time and take out a day ahead you don't have to boil the cabbage and it is ready to work with and softer than when you boil it.
Tasha
Sep 26, 2012
I really want to try this, only one question, HOW DO I CORE THE CABBBAGE
Alette61
Sep 28, 2012
Coring the Cabbage is done on the Bottom of the Cabbage where the Leave are attached at the Bottom. FYI what I learned of Realised if you are using the Wonderful Hint about Freezing the Cabbage overnight. Which is a Awesome Hint! Make sure you par Cook the Cabbage as I followed the directions and the Cabbage was still raw!
Alette61
Sep 28, 2012
Coring is done by Cutting out the Center bottom Core. You could also ask the Produce person where the Core of the Cabbage is! They would be happy to be of help.
coco1101
Sep 29, 2012
Only one way that I know of to core a cabbage Take a - pointed sharp knife think of the core inside as a tapering pointed stem and run your knife as deep as you can and roll the whole cabbage around so you get the 'core' cut all the way around Try to angle your knife so it is tapered inside the cabbage - then I pull my knife out and use a small knife to chunk out the core wedge by wedge Perhaps a big tall Chef could bang the cabbage down on the counter to make the core come out but I doubt it This only sounds hard just go slow run your knife totally around the core you see on the bottom of your cabbage and image that it tapers off inside the ball cabbage Always watch your knife and fingers hand you should concentrate on doing…Read More the job while also always being aware of where your knife is going to end up so you don't have an accident I roll the cabbage around on the counter to get my knife to go all around the core on the inside I also use a cutting technique of pushing my knife inside the cabbage taking it out a little and jabbing it in again - this helps with the strength needed to core a large head of cabbage It's a careful somewhat slow process But it really isn't hard just a matter of practice Think about how you would core a head of iceberg lettuce - those leaves aren't as tightly packed as a cabbage but it's the same idea You could also just steam the cabbage - let it cool take off the leaves one by one and cut out the big central hard tough core on each leaf then I fill it and roll it all up Might be easier that way
Dkk44 8467172
Sep 25, 2012
I do one thing differently, and it makes a difference for us. I brown the onion in butter, and then add the tomato sauce. I also add a bit of brown to the meat mixture. Comes out great, with a little bit more taste!
Bo b
Sep 25, 2012
When my mother made these she would use a combination of tomato soup and tomato sauce. By the way, you forgot to include the lemon juice in your instructions but I would assume it is added to the tomatoes.
richbetgist 471333 2
Sep 24, 2012
RDG My wife prepared the stuffed cabbage recepie as listed. It was great.
Londonmas 6432573
Sep 24, 2012
Is "crushed tomatoes, drained" an error because crushed are not drained anyway.
bonitageri 7821379
Sep 24, 2012
For the sauce, I use 1 can of stewed tomatoes and 1 can of tomato soup. No w sauce, lemon juice or sugar. All else the same. Yum..an old Polish recipe that has been around for ages. Has been a staple on Christmas Eve at my house for about 40 yrs with friends stopping over all evening long for their treat.
grmaymin 0946468
Sep 24, 2012
This is how I make it except I use sour salt (citric acid) instead of the lemon juice, brown sugar & worstershire sauce. A REALLY helpful hint is to freeze the cabbage & when it's defrosted the leaves come apart & are soft. Saves a tremendous amount of time.
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