Cabbage Rolls

I grew up with my Grandma and Mom making the best Cabbage Rolls. There are many ways to make cabbage rolls, like adding a layer of sauerkraut before baking. But this main dish recipe is easy as it gets with simple ingredients.

These polish cabbage rolls are full of flavor because of the combination of the beef, pork and rice. If you love comfort food as much as we do, you may also love Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls and Instant Pot Egg Roll in a Bowl.

Why We Love Cabbage Rolls

I love making these stuffed cabbage rolls recipe, which is also known as Golabki because of the variety of ways to make them and how simple they are to make. I like to prepare them ahead of time to easily bake them any day of the week.

The combination of the ingredients make them so filling and even my pickiest eater cleans their plate. These cabbage rolls bake easily in a casserole dish or a Dutch Oven for an easy meal idea.

Ingredients

• Cabbage – We used a head of green cabbage or savoy cabbage to make recipe
• Olive Oil – Use Oil of your choice
• Onion – Check out these Best Onion Substitute if you are out
• Minced Garlic – Learn How to Mince Garlic Cloves
• Ground Pork and Lean Ground Beef – You can also mix in ground chicken for a delicious variation
• Long Grain Rice – Substitute with Brown Rice or Quinoa
• Italian Seasoning – Learn How to Make Italian Seasoning Recipe
• Worcestershire Sauce – See The Best Worcestershire Sauce Substitutes if you are out
• Brown Sugar – Learn How to Make Brown Sugar. This is added to sauce for a touch of sweetness

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Seasoning Variation

These cabbage rolls seasoning can be changed to what you prefer. We love to change the spices or use fresh herbs. Start with ½ teaspoon and add more to taste.

• Fresh Thyme
• Paprika
• Parsley
• Red Wine Vinegar – A great addition to the sauce

How to Make Cabbage Rolls

Step 1 – Remove the outer tough leaves from the head of cabbage.  Place the cabbage (core side down) in a large bowl and pour approximately ½ cup of water around the cabbage. Cool cabbage and drain any excessive water.

Step 2 – Preheat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Add in the diced onions and sauté for 5-7 minutes until soft. Add in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute to aromatic.  Transfer the onion mixture to a large mixing bowl.  

Step 3 – Stir in the ground pork, ground beef, rice, egg, Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper.  

Step 4 – In a separate dish whisk together the sauce ingredients. Set aside. 

Step 5 – Pour ⅓ of the sauce into the bottom of a 9X13 baking dish. 

Step 6 – Then it’s time to prepare the rolls.  Spoon approximately 3 tablespoons of the meat mixture with cooked rice into the center of each cabbage leaf.

Step 7 – Fold up the sides of each tender cabbage leaves and tuck the leaves to form a small burrito and place it seam side down into the baking dish.  Continue this process all the cabbage rolls are prepared and in the baking dish (single layer). 

Step 8 – Top with the remaining sauce. 

Step 9 – Cover tightly with foil and bake for 80-90 minutes until cooked through.

Step 10 – Let the cabbage rolls cool slightly and then the cabbage rolls are ready to serve and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• Steam Cabbage – Make sure not to skip the steaming of the cabbage leaves as it helps make it easier to roll to prepare the cabbage rolls. Microwave for 10 minutes.  Carefully flip the cabbage over in the dish and microwave for another 10 minutes. Let the cabbage cool slightly (so you can handle) and carefully remove the leaves from the cabbage.  You will need 12 cabbage leaves.  Set them aside.
• Prepare Casserole Dish – Ensure that the casserole dish is tightly covered with a lid or foil as it creates steams which cooks the cabbage rolls completely. 
• Leftover Filling – Most of the time we have leftover beef and pork filling, we like to use it to make Easy Crockpot Stuffed Peppers Recipe.

Do I Cook Need to Cook Meat?

There is no need to cook the Ground Beef or Ground Pork before combining with the other ingredients. The combination of the liquid from the sauce and the steam while baking completely cooks the meat and rice in the oven.

This is why it is important to make sure that the baking dish is covered completely so everything cooks through.

What to Serve With Cabbage Rolls?

Cabbage Rolls is a complete meal idea. But we love to serve with easy side dishes such as Tomato Soup Recipe, Homemade Garlic Bread and Air Fryer Broccoli.

Other easy side dish recipes include:

• Easy Oven Roasted Red Potatoes
• Green Beans and Bacon
• Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread
• Easy Homemade Artisan Bread Recipe

Frequently Asked Questions