Cabbage Casserole (a.k.a. Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole)

Nikkie_too

Cabbage rolls is one of those recipes (like tuna salad) that everyone makes their own special way. I've been making this super-easy slow-cooker version of "unrolled" cabbage rolls for years. I mean, really, who's got time for all that rolling???

I'll tell you how I make it, but you can use your own (your mother's, your grandmother's) cabbage roll recipe instead and just cook it the same easy (lazy) way.

1 green cabbage (about 1.5 lbs)
1 lb lean ground beef (I used sirloin)
1 cup long grain brown rice, uncooked
28 oz can tomato sauce, divided
1 tsp thyme
salt & pepper to taste

This will work in a 4-quart crock pot.

Cut the cabbage in half (then in quarters to cut the core out easily). Cut one half into roughly 1" pieces and break up the layers a bit as you place them in the bottom of the crock pot. If desired, salt the cabbage a bit and toss to mix.

In a mixing bowl, combine the rice, ground beef, about 1 cup of tomato sauce, thyme, salt & pepper. Press into a layer on top of the cabbage in the crock pot.

Cut the remaining half head of cabbage like the first half and salt (if desired), placing it on top of the meat/rice layer.

Top with remaining tomato sauce (try to cover all the cabbage a bit).

Cook on low 8-10 hours.

Makes 4 very generous servings. Nutrition for 1/4 of the recipe:
Cal: 532
Fat: 21 g
Sodium: 1251 (without added salt)
Carbs: 58g
Fiber: 10g
Sugars: 13.5g
Protein: 31g

The fat could totally be reduced with Laura's lean beef or truly lean ground turkey. I'm not sodium sensitive, but it wouldn't be a great dish for those who are.

Enjoy!

Nikkie

Helenatrandom

Does the brown rice have to be cooked first, or does it cook in the crock pot during the 8 hours?
Somewhere I have a recipe similar to this, but it never occurred to me to use brown rice.

nannyx6

I love the recipe but where does all the sodium come from?I would def change up to leaner beef and use a low sodium crushed tomato and maybe a tomato paste .This is one of my favorite winter crockpot kind of meals! Thanks

MzFury

thanky

Nikkie_too

Thanks for the questions - I'm no recipe author!

The rice is uncooked - the moisture from the cabbage and tomato sauce is enough to cook it completely.

The sodium is from the tomato sauce I chose from the food DB - I'm sure there's a low-sodium version out there - or you could thin tomato paste to the right consistency. Paste is usually unsalted. Crushed tomatoes might be a bit thin... but you could definitely try it.

jackiebo

maybe a dumb question...but is it 532 for the whole she-bang? I'm thinking yes. That would be only about 133 calories/serving, right? I could go and figure it out, but I'm lazy, too. This sounds good, I love cabbage rolls.

rf1170

Sounds great! Did you get some cabbage in your CSA box lately? I hope I get some soon myself, but I'm still working on a pile of kale and some beet greens.

I don't know if you're a fan of fruit and meat together, but I'd recommend some raisins in there if you are. I love the contrast. And I've made some good cabbage rolls with whatever meat I had on hand - ground pork, lamb, even some sausage that I squeezed out of its casing. It's always good to use what you've got, right?

Thanks for the recipe! I'll have cabbage on the brain until I get the chance to make some.

ajvallance

Thanks! I have a huge crockpot but could probably make it work. I would definitely use a low sodium tomato sauce or would reduced crushed tomatoes.

Nikkie_too

jackibo - it's 530 cal per 1/4 of the whole recipe (think 1/4 cup rice, 1/4 lb beef). That's a HUGE portion though (not that I didn't eat that much...). Most people will probably make 6 servings from it. I'll make that clearer on the post.

rf1170 - YES!!! This is the second time I've had cabbage from my CSA. Savoy cabbage a couple of weeks ago (which also went into cabbage casserole... hehehe). This week was a common green cabbage. Raisins sound like an awesome add. I'll have to give that a try!

wvfrog22

Sounds yummy!

Nikkie_too

Thanks! I have a huge crockpot but could probably make it work. I would definitely use a low sodium tomato sauce or would reduced crushed tomatoes.

ajvallance - I've also got a 7 quart crock pot ('cause I'm a little crazy that way...) I just add more stuff! Especially cabbage! It'll freeze just fine if you think that's too much for your family.

sallykath60

i love cabbage rolls to, but to make them lower in calories, take your ground beef and mix with 1 cup of diced onion and in the bottom of pan put 8-10 peeled carrots. when you roll your cabbage rolls put them on top of the carrots then pour 2 large cans of tomatoes that have been blended on top of all. cook in a slow cooker or a reg. pan and season with curry powder and garlic powder and salt and pepper. the carrots taste so good and no rice to add extra calories:happy:

abby459

I am making this today!!! I used the no salt added tomato sauce (1 small can) and 1 small can of diced tomatoes with no salt added.....it greatly reduced the sodium- only 62mg per serving!! Also...when I put my recipe into the recipe tool on here it came out to about 451 cals per serving??? I used 97% lean beef.....is that what you used?? Oh and I used white rice but still 1 cup......not sure why I got a cal difference??

Either way....its in the crock pot for tonight!!! Looks great....thanks for sharing, I love stuffed cabbage but never have time to make it!!! This only took me about 15mins to prepare...then it will cook while I work....love the recipe already!!!

horsiegall

Bump

chubby_checkers

this sounds delicious. i'm definitely going to try it in the near future.

pbl1966

Thanks, plan to try it this week!:happy:

Wendyma1

OK, can I ask a dumb question??? Does the meat need to be cooked before adding it into the crockpot????? I will be using ground turkey.

Thanks,
Wendy

Nikkie_too

No, put it in raw - mixed with the uncooked rice, etc. Hope you enjoy it!

morkiemama

Bump!

Nikkie_too

OK, can I ask a dumb question??? Does the meat need to be cooked before adding it into the crockpot????? I will be using ground turkey.

Thanks,
Wendy

No, the meat goes in raw - mixed with the uncooked rice, etc. Hope you enjoy it!

RAQUELINATOVAR

that sounds super good and easy. i copied so i can try it later. thanks