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A large casserole dish filled with baked stuffed cabbage roll casserole

Hearty Stuffed Cabbage Roll Casserole with a Kick

This hearty casserole combines all the delicious flavors of traditional stuffed cabbage rolls with a spicy kick, assembled in easy layers for a comforting and satisfying meal.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Casserole
  • 1 large head green cabbage about 2-3 lbs
  • 1.5 lbs ground beef 80/20 blend recommended
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup cooked brown rice
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, for a kick
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped plus more for garnish
  • 1 teaspoon salt divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper divided
Optional for Serving
  • sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • extra fresh parsley
  • crusty bread

Equipment

  • large pot or Dutch oven
  • large skillet
  • large mixing bowl
  • medium bowl
  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • aluminum foil

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Core and chop the cabbage into 1-inch squares. Boil in water for 5-7 minutes until tender-crisp, then drain well.
  2. Brown ground beef in a skillet, drain grease. Add onion and cook until softened, then stir in garlic, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes (if using) for 1 minute.
Assembly
  1. Transfer meat mixture to a bowl, add cooked brown rice, crushed tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper; mix well.
  2. Whisk together crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl.
  3. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish, then spread half of the par-cooked cabbage evenly on the bottom.
  4. Spoon the meat and rice mixture over the first cabbage layer, then top with the remaining cabbage.
  5. Pour the prepared tomato sauce evenly over the casserole. Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
Baking & Serving
  1. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 60-70 minutes, until tender and bubbly.
  2. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with sour cream or Greek yogurt and crusty bread, if desired.

Notes

For extra flavor, you can caramelize the onions slightly before adding the ground beef. Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred level of spice. This casserole can be made ahead of time and refrigerated before baking, adding an extra 10-15 minutes to the baking time if cold.