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A serving of stuffed cabbage casserole topped with melted cheese and fresh herbs on a white plate.
Linda

Stuffed Cabbage Casserole

All the cozy flavors of classic stuffed cabbage rolls without the fuss of rolling, layered into a hearty one-dish dinner.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Eastern European
Calories: 342

Ingredients
  

For the Base
  • 1 medium head green cabbage cored and chopped into 1-inch pieces (about 8 cups)
  • 1 lb ground beef 85% lean
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
For the Sauce
  • 15 oz tomato sauce one can
  • 14.5 oz diced tomatoes one can, drained
  • 0.75 cup long-grain white rice uncooked
  • 1 cup beef broth low sodium
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp paprika smoked or sweet
For Finishing
  • 0.5 cup sour cream for serving
  • 2 tbsp fresh dill chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • Large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven (12-inch)
  • Chef's Knife

Method
 

Prep
  1. Preheat oven to 375F. Remove any tough outer leaves from the cabbage, then cut into quarters through the core. Cut out the core and chop the cabbage into rough 1-inch pieces. You want about 8 cups; don't worry if it's a bit more or less.
  2. Heat a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until it starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the diced onion and continue cooking until the beef is fully browned and the onion is softened, about 4 minutes more. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds.
  3. Add the tomato sauce, drained diced tomatoes, uncooked rice, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and paprika. Stir well to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. The mixture will look soupy; that's exactly right.
  4. Pile the chopped cabbage on top of the beef mixture and press down gently so some liquid comes up through the cabbage. Cover tightly with a lid or foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove the lid, stir everything together (the cabbage will have wilted significantly), and bake uncovered for another 15 minutes until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
  5. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. The sauce will thicken slightly as it sits. Serve hot with a generous dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of fresh dill.

Notes

For extra depth, substitute half the ground beef with mild Italian sausage. The casserole can be assembled up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerated; add 10 minutes to the covered baking time if starting cold. Leftovers reheat beautifully and taste even better the next day as the flavors meld.