Mmm 😍 Stuffed cabbage rolls are pure comfort food — tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a savory filling and baked in rich tomato sauce.
Here’s a classic, hearty version:
🥬 Classic Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
For the Rolls:
- 1 large green cabbage
- 1 lb ground beef (or beef/pork mix)
- ½ cup uncooked white rice
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
For the Sauce:
- 2 cups crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar
- ½ tsp salt
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Soften the Cabbage
- Bring a large pot of water to boil.
- Core the cabbage and carefully place it in the water.
- Peel off softened leaves as they loosen (about 2–3 minutes each).
- Trim the thick rib at the base of each leaf.
2️⃣ Make the Filling
In a bowl, mix:
- Ground meat
- Rice
- Onion
- Garlic
- Egg
- Salt, pepper, paprika
Mix gently — don’t overwork.
3️⃣ Roll Them Up
- Place 2–3 tbsp filling near the base of each leaf.
- Fold sides inward.
- Roll tightly like a burrito.
4️⃣ Prepare the Sauce
Mix crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, sugar, lemon juice, and salt.
5️⃣ Assemble & Bake
- Spread a little sauce in the bottom of a baking dish.
- Place rolls seam-side down.
- Pour remaining sauce over top.
- Cover with foil.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 1½ to 2 hours, until tender.
✨ Tips for Extra Flavor
✔ Mix a little sauce into the meat before rolling
✔ Add fresh dill for Eastern European flavor
✔ Use smoked paprika for depth
✔ Let them rest 15 minutes before serving
🧡 Variations
- Sweet & sour style (add raisins and more brown sugar)
- Polish-style (Gołąbki)
- Ukrainian-style (Holubtsi)
- Use ground turkey for a lighter version
If you’d like, I can also share a slow cooker version or a shortcut version using cabbage wedges instead of rolling.
