Cabbage Roll Casserole

August 18, 2019 by Beth Pierce 224 Comments

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Cabbage Roll Casserole is an easy family favorite. It combines all the delicious flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls with much less time and effort. This delectable casserole makes eight healthy servings, and the leftovers heat up perfectly in the microwave.

Well, the New Year is here, and with it comes lots of chores to do. The Christmas tree needs to be taken down and all the treasured ornaments put away until next year. All the Christmas decorations need to be put back in their storage boxes and loaded on their reserved shelves in the basement. The outdoor lights need to be unhooked and wrapped back up in their appropriate boxes. Supper will be here before you know it. This Cabbage Roll Casserole is quick to come together and tastes just as good or better as the cabbage rolls your Grandma used to make. Just think of it as an unstuffed cabbage roll casserole.

How do you make Cabbage Roll Casserole?

Start by browning the ground beef. When it is about halfway browned, add the onion and cook until the beef is fully browned. Turn the heat to low and toss in the garlic at the last minute of cooking. Drain any excess fat from the skillet. Add the paprika, onion powder, cayenne, brown sugar, tomato sauce, beef broth, and rice. Bring the mixture to a low boil and then turn it to a simmer and cover it with a lid. Simmer until the rice is tender.

In a separate large skillet, add a little olive oil. Add half of the chopped cabbage and cooked until it starts to get tender. Add the cooked cabbage to a casserole dish that has been sprayed with a little nonstick cooking spray. Spread half of the beef mixture on top of the cabbage and top with half of the cheddar and Monterey Jack Cheese. Cook the second half of the cabbage the exact same way and add it to the casserole dish. Top with the remaining cheese and bake covered for about twenty minutes, then remove the foil and continue cooking until the cheese is lightly browned.

Can Cabbage Roll Casserole be prepared in a skillet?

Of course, with a couple of easy steps, you can have this all prepared in the same skillet that you cooked the cabbage in. You could do it either on the stovetop or in an ovenproof skillet.

Stove Top Cabbage Roll Casserole Method

After you finish cooking the cabbage, layer cabbage, cooked beef mixture, cheese, cabbage, cooked beef mixture, and cheese in the skillet. Turn the heat to a low simmer and cover with a lid or foil. Cook until the cabbage is tender and the cheese is melted.

Ovenproof Skillet Cabbage Roll Casserole Method

Make sure that your skillet is ovenproof, and layer the cooked cabbage, cooked beef mixture, and cheese. Repeat the layers ending with the remaining cheese. Cover with foil and bake for twenty minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until the cheese is lightly browned and melted.

Recipe variations

I have lots of readers who like their recipes with a little bit of kick and extra spice. If you are one of them, this section is for you! Pick one or two of these to add some pizzazz to the casserole! Of course, if you were born with a Habanero Pepper in your mouth, go for it.

1-2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning added at the same time as the other spices.
1-2 pinches of crushed red pepper added to the tomato sauce and beef broth
A (14.5-ounce) can of fire-roasted tomatoes added at the same time as the tomato sauce
Pepper Jack Cheese in place of the Monterey Jack
Minced jalapeno added at the same time as the minced garlic

This delectable Cabbage Roll Casserole is family-friendly, easy, quick, and adaptable to your individual taste buds. Put the ingredients on your shopping list today and make this wholesome casserole for your family.

Other casseroles you will love!