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Cabbage Roll Casserole
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Cabbage Roll Casserole

A hearty, family-friendly casserole blending tender cabbage with a savory ground beef and tomato sauce mixture, topped with golden mozzarella cheese for a rich, satisfying one-dish meal.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 420kcal
Author: Samantha Jones

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 beef bouillon cube
  • 1 cup minute rice
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1½ teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 14.5 ounces petite diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 head cabbage, chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 teaspoon salt (for cabbage)
  • ½ teaspoon pepper (for cabbage)
  • 1 tablespoon butter (for cabbage)
  • 2½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • Chopped parsley, optional garnish

Instructions

  • Boil 1 cup water with 2 tablespoons butter and the beef bouillon cube in a saucepan. Remove from heat, stir in 1 cup minute rice, cover, and set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  • In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add ground beef, cook until browned, drain excess grease.
  • Add diced onion and garlic to the beef; cook 5–7 minutes until tender.
  • Sprinkle in parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook 2 minutes to release flavors.
  • Add ¼ cup water, Worcestershire sauce, petite diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Simmer 10 minutes.
  • In a separate saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. Cook cabbage pieces with 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, and 1 tbsp butter until tender.
  • Layer cabbage in the baking dish, top with the meat mixture, then scatter mozzarella cheese over the surface.
  • Bake for 30 minutes until bubbly and golden. Garnish with parsley before serving.

Notes

For a lighter option, use ground turkey instead of beef. Check bouillon cube for alcohol content if avoiding it. Cabbage can be pre-cooked and stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.