These Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls are ground beef, onion, garlic, chopped green cabbage, and white rice simmered in beef broth and diced tomatoes with paprika, thyme, and oregano. You get the flavor of classic stuffed cabbage rolls without blanching leaves or rolling anything, and it all cooks in one pot.
If you like my Reuben Bowls and Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole, you’ll like this one too.
You’ll start by softening the onion and browning the ground beef, then add the rice, tomatoes, broth, cabbage, and seasonings. Everything simmers together in one pot, so there is only one pot to wash.
Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Eat them cold, or reheat them on the stovetop or in the microwave.
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To make unstuffed cabbage rolls, brown ground beef with onion and garlic, stir in uncooked white rice, diced tomatoes, beef broth, and chopped cabbage, season with Worcestershire, paprika, and herbs, then cover and simmer for about 30 minutes until the rice is cooked and the cabbage is tender. The uncooked rice simmers right in the broth and tomatoes, so it takes on their flavor as it cooks. It all comes together in one pot in about an hour and serves 6. You get the same flavors as stuffed cabbage rolls without any rolling.
💛 Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy one-pot meal.
- Good for leftovers. It keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheats well.
- Uses common ingredients you may already have on hand.
- Ready in 1 hour.
- Family-friendly.
➡️ Ingredients
⏲ How to make this unstuffed cabbage rolls recipe
This is an overview of the recipe’s instructions. The full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Heat Oil: Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium heat.
- Cook Onion: Add the chopped onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Brown Beef: Add the ground beef to the pot. Cook until it’s browned, which should take about 5 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
- Season Beef: Stir in salt, pepper, minced garlic, and tomato paste. Cook for 1 more minute, until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add Rice and Tomatoes: Add uncooked white rice and diced tomatoes with their juice. Stir well.
- Add Broth and Cabbage: Pour in the beef broth and add the chopped cabbage, then stir to combine.
- Season and Simmer: Add the Worcestershire sauce, paprika, thyme, oregano, and red pepper flakes, then stir well.
- Simmer Until Rice Is Done: Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the stovetop heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer until the rice is cooked and the cabbage is tender, which should take about 30 minutes.
- Serve: Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired. Garnish with fresh parsley, then serve.
👉 Ingredient substitution suggestions
- Ground Beef: Swap with ground turkey or ground chicken for a leaner option.
- Beef Broth: You can use chicken broth or vegetable broth instead.
- White Rice: Try brown rice or quinoa for a different texture. Brown rice takes longer, so plan on about 45 minutes of simmering and add a splash more broth if the pot gets dry. For a grain-free version, use cauliflower rice; stir it in for the last 10 minutes and cut the broth to 1 cup, since cauliflower rice does not absorb liquid the way rice does.
- Tomato Paste: Tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes can be used, but reduce the broth slightly.
✨ Variations
- Spicy: Add diced jalapeño, a pinch of ground cayenne pepper, or extra red pepper flakes for a kick.
- Cheesy: Stir in shredded cheddar or shredded mozzarella before serving.
〰️ How to serve
- Toppings: Sour cream or Greek yogurt.
- Side Dishes: Mashed potatoes or a simple green salad.
- Bread: Buttered rolls, crusty bread, or garlic bread.
- Soup: Chicken corn soup or vegetable soup.
💬 FAQs
What are unstuffed cabbage rolls?
Unstuffed cabbage rolls are everything in a classic cabbage roll (ground beef, rice, cabbage, and tomato) cooked together in one pot instead of being wrapped and rolled. You get the same flavors in a fraction of the time.
Do you cook the rice before making unstuffed cabbage rolls?
No. I add the uncooked white rice straight to the pot, where it simmers in the beef broth and tomatoes until tender, about 30 minutes.
How should I store leftovers?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Or, freeze for up to 3 months; thaw overnight before reheating. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through.
Can this be made in a slow cooker?
Yes, brown the ground beef and onions on the stovetop first, then transfer all the ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the rice is tender and the flavors have melded together.
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Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium-sized yellow onion, chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 medium-sized head green cabbage, chopped
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes, (optional)
Optional Garnish:
- 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat Oil: Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium heat.
- Cook Onion: Add chopped onion. Cook until onion is soft, about 5 minutes.
- Brown Beef: Add ground beef to pot. Cook until browned, which should take about 5 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
- Season Beef: Stir in salt, pepper, minced garlic, and tomato paste. Cook for 1 more minute, until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add Rice and Tomatoes: Add uncooked white rice and diced tomatoes with their juice. Stir well.
- Add Broth and Cabbage: Pour in beef broth and add chopped cabbage. Stir to combine.
- Season and Simmer: Add Worcestershire sauce, paprika, thyme, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Stir well.
- Simmer Until Rice Is Done: Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer until rice is cooked and cabbage is tender, about 30 minutes.
- Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Garnish with fresh parsley, then serve.
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