healthy lazy stuffed cabbage casserole recipe

Lazy Stuffed Cabbage Casserole Recipe

Share & Save for later!

This stuffed cabbage casserole recipe with ground beef and tomato is a delicious and healthy twist on a classic dish. Packed with flavor and easy to prepare, it’s the perfect comfort food for any night of the week. The tender cabbage leaves are combined with a savory mixture of ground beef, and rice, then baked in a rich tomato sauce. Discover a variety of easy gluten-free casserole recipes that are both delicious and satisfying

Not only is this casserole delicious, but it’s also a great way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet. The cabbage and tomatoes provide essential vitamins and minerals, while the grass-fed ground beef adds protein. This dish is also low in carbohydrates, making it a healthy choice for those watching their intake.

main image for Lazy Stuffed Cabbage Casserole Recipe with ground beef and tomato close up

This stuffed cabbage casserole is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, making it a great option for those with dietary restrictions. For a lower-carb version, simply swap out the rice for cauliflower rice.

Easy Stuffed Cabbage Casserole Recipe Ingredients

This delicious and easy-to-make unstuffed cabbage casserole requires only simple ingredients that you likely already have on hand.

  • 1 lg head of cabbage
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 – 28oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 – 15oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 Tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • salt and black pepper to taste
individual ingredients for Lazy Stuffed Cabbage Casserole Recipe with labels

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here for my full disclosure policy

Ingredients Tips and Substitutions

Cabbage is the star of the show in this unstuffed cabbage roll casserole, make sure to use green cabbage for best results.

For this recipe, I’m using brown rice for a heartier texture, but feel free to use white rice or even leftover rice. If you’re looking for a lower-carb option, you can easily swap out the rice for cauliflower rice.

For a truly superior dish, we recommend using grass-fed and finished ground beef. You can find high-quality meats like this online and have them shipped right to your door when you order from Crowd Cow. You are free to try this recipe with ground turkey, chicken, or ground pork.

grass fed beef and quality pork

How to Make a Lazy Stuffed Cabbage Casserole Recipe

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare the Cabbage

Next, you will need to prepare the savory cabbage. With a wooden cutting board, and a sharp knife carefully remove the core of the cabbage.

green cabbage on cutting board with knife and core removed

Then bring a medium or large pot of water to a boil and cook the head of cabbage for 5-7 minutes to soften the leaves.

head of green cabbage in pot with hot water

When the cabbage is finished cooking, remove it from the water, drain, and set aside to cool.

cooked green cabbage in fine mesh strainer

Make the Tomato Meat Mixture

Next, cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat until it is cooked, brown, and crumbly.

cooking ground beef in skillet with wooden spoon

Then add the onion and garlic to the skillet with the ground meat. Cook until the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant.

cooked ground beef in skillet with onions and garlic

Next, stir in the cooked rice, tomatoes, and the seasoning.

black skillet with tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, brown rice and italian seasoning

Reduce to medium heat, and stir to combine.

large skillet with tomato meat sauce and rice and onions and wooden spoon

How to Assemble the Casserole

By now the cabbage should be cool enough to handle. Remove the outer leaves, and layer the bottom of a casserole dish with a few cabbage leaves.ย 

soft green cabbage leaves in casserole dish

Then spoon a layer of the meat mixture into the baking dish. Just enough to cover the leaves.

red meat sauce with rice in casserole baking dish

Repeat this layering process until all of the tomato meat rice mixture is used.

layers of green cabbage and tomato meat sauce with rice

How Long to Bake a Cabbage Casseroleย 

Cover the baking dish with foil and place in the preheated oven to bake for 40 minutes. Then remove the foil, and bake uncovered for 20 more minutes. When ready, the casserole will be hot and bubbly and the flavors will meld beautifully.

casserole dish with cabbage and meat tomato sauce

Healthy Lazy Stuffed Cabbage Casserole with Ground Beef

For cabbage fans who crave the flavors of traditional stuffed cabbage rolls but prefer a less labor-intensive option, this deconstructed cabbage roll casserole is a game-changer. With its easy recipe and minimal prep time, itโ€™s a perfect weeknight dinner that the whole family will love.

top view of tomato cabbage casserole with rice and beef

The tangy tomato sauce and hearty filling capture the essence of traditional stuffed cabbages, while the unstuffed format makes it a hassle-free meal.

close up of Lazy Stuffed Cabbage Casserole Recipe on plate with rice and meat

This stuffed cabbage casserole is a hearty meal in itself. However, you can also serve it with a side dish like mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a green salad. Store leftovers in an airtight container for a satisfying and convenient reheated meal.

Lazy Stuffed Cabbage Casserole Recipe with ground beef on small dish

More easy healthy gluten free casserole recipes:

Stuffed Cabbage Casserole Recipe with Ground Beef

Stuffed Cabbage Casserole Recipe with Ground Beef

Yield: 9
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Healthy and hearty, this lazy stuffed cabbage casserole recipe with ground beef and tomato is a delicious weeknight meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 lg head of cabbage
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 - 28oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 - 15oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 Tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Remove the core from the head of cabbage.
  3. Place the cabbage in a pot of boiling water, and cook for 5-7 minutes to soften. Then remove, drain, and set aside to cool.
  4. In a large skillet cook the ground beef over medium-high heat.
  5. Then add the onion and garlic and cook until the onions are translucent.
  6. Stir in the rice, tomatoes, and seasoning.
  7. Then layer the bottom of a casserole dish with a few cabbage leaves.
  8. Spoon a layer of the meat mixture into the leaves.
  9. Repeat this layering process until all of the meat mixture is used.
  10. Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes,
  11. Then uncover and bake for 20 more minutes.
  12. Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 9 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 226Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 527mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 6gSugar: 11gProtein: 19g

nutritional values are estimates and may vary depending on products/ingredients used.

Share & Save for later!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *