Description
Stuffed Cabbage Casserole is a rustic, hearty comfort food dish layered with savory ground beef, rice, smoky bacon, tomato sauce, tender cabbage, and melty cheese. This American-style baked casserole delivers all the flavors of traditional stuffed cabbage rolls with a fraction of the effort.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1 cup bacon, chopped and cooked
- 1 large onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 heads medium green cabbage, coarsely chopped
- 14.5 oz. can petite diced tomatoes with juice
- 15 oz. can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 1/2 cups cooked white rice or brown rice
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9×13 or 10×13-inch casserole dish with non-stick spray.
- In a large frying pan over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned and cooked through, breaking it apart as it cooks. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the same pan. Once hot, add diced onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic, thyme, rosemary, basil, and smoked paprika. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring.
- Add diced tomatoes with juice, tomato sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Return beef to the pan and stir to combine.
- Add chicken broth, stir, and simmer until slightly thickened, about 15–20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare cabbage: cut in half, remove core and wilted leaves, chop into 1-inch pieces.
- In a large pan or Dutch oven, heat remaining olive oil and cook cabbage over medium-high heat until wilted and partially cooked. Season with salt and pepper.
- Once the meat mixture is thickened, stir in the cooked rice and gently combine.
- Layer half of the cabbage in the casserole dish, top with half of the meat mixture, half the bacon, and 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat with remaining cabbage and meat mixture.
- Cover with foil and bake for 40–45 minutes.
- Uncover, top with remaining bacon, mozzarella, and cheddar cheese. Bake uncovered for 10 more minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Let cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use pre-cooked rice to save time.
- Substitute turkey for ground beef for a leaner version.
- Can be made ahead and reheated — it’s even better the next day!
- Try adding a dash of hot sauce for a spicy kick.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 391
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 710mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 75mg