Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

If you are over 40, then you probably have fond memories of a tradition that is slowly dying; Sunday night dinner. 

Going over to your grandmother’s house or aunt’s and enjoying the best home-cooked food you could ever imagine. So much so that it has stuck with you for years and you probably still make at least one of those meals.

With all of the wonderful foods from your past; there is probably one that always will haunt you. As a kid, a big thing for us was look and smell. Even if it tasted amazing, we still could not be convinced to try it unless it was the only way to leave the dinner table.

For us; that recipe was anything that had to do with cabbage. We were told how healthy it is for us but the smell was offputting. Well, we are about to switch the game up with this one and bring you to love cabbage. Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are so full of flavor that you won’t be able to believe it has taken you this long to try them. 

Made with ground beef, rice, seasonings, and that unbeatable homemade tomato sauce. Roll the leaves up, cook, and sauce for a meal that covers all bases. Even the kids will be asking for seconds once they try one of your Stuffed Cabbage Rolls. 

These rolls keep well in the fridge and are perfect to make in large batches to serve during a large gathering or with your family. 

What if I don’t have time to make homemade tomato sauce?

Our lives are full of reminders, tasks, appointments, and schedules that fill our days up. So if you have to use a premade sauce it can still be leveled up. Add Italian seasonings including oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley, and garlic to bring that homemade flavor to your canned sauce.

Here are all the ingredients you need to make your Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

For the tomato sauce:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup onion, yellow finely chopped

1 teaspoon garlic minced

1 teaspoon crushed red peppers

28 ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes, do not drain

15 ounce can of tomato sauce

salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

For the cabbage rolls:

2 pounds ground beef 80/20

1 ½ cups cooked white rice

1/2 cup onion, yellow, finely chopped

2 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced

2 eggs

1 head cabbage

cooking spray

Let’s walk through baking these Stuffed Cabbage Rolls at home

Add the olive oil to a large pot over medium heat.

Add the onion and cook until the onions are translucent.

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B)

C)

Add the minced garlic and toss with the onion.

Add the fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt and pepper, and seasonings to the pot.

A)

B)

C)

D)

Stir to combine, and cook for 4 minutes.

Add in the brown sugar and red wine vinegar, and stir to combine.

Bring the mixture to a simmer.

Cook the sauce for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

In a large stockpot filled to ¾ full, bring the water to a boil.

Add the cabbage head to the boiling water.

Cook for 7-8 minutes or until cabbage leaves is pliable.

Remove the cabbage from the stockpot and place it on a baking tray.

Peel 12 large leaves off the cabbage.

In a large bowl add the ground beef, rice, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, seasonings, parsley, and egg in a bowl.

A)

B)

C)

D)

E)

Stir to combine.

B)

C)

Use your hands to combine the meat mixture.

Lay each cabbage leaf on a cutting board or flat service.

Use scissors to cut off the thick part of the cabbage rib.

Take a portion of the meat mixture and form it into a log shape, then place it in the center of a cabbage leaf.

Roll the cabbage leaf around the meat mixture, like you would a burrito.

Repeat with remaining meat and cabbage leaves, until all the meat mixture is used.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Use a 9″x13″ pan and coat it with cooking spray.

Place 1/2 of the fire-roasted tomato sauce at the bottom of the baking dish.

Place the cabbage rolls, seam side down, in the dish.

Top with remaining sauce.

Cover the baking dish with foil.

Bake for 90 minutes or until the cabbage is tender.

Garnish and enjoy!

How many of these Stuffed Cabbage Rolls could you eat?