This delicious traditional Polish stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe combines ground sausage, ground beef, and long-grain rice wrapped in tender cabbage leaves with a sweet and tangy tomato sauce.
They are one of our favorite full-flavor comfort food recipes, perfect for the cold fall and winter months. I like to serve this stuffed cabbage recipe with pumpernickel bread with soft butter or crusty potato bread, mashed potatoes, and sautéed green beans.
This cabbage roll recipe calls for ground beef and sausage, but you can use all of one. You can even use ground pork or a mixture of these ground meats. It boils down to what you and your family like best. Please read all my helpful hints and tips for this soul-warming recipe. Cabbage Rolls should be fun and easy, so you make them often for your family.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients.
- Olive oil: extra virgin is best
- Vegetables: onion, garlic, canned diced tomatoes, a large head of cabbage (so you have large leaves to work with), and extra leaves just in case.
- Vinegar: I use apple cider vinegar, but you can use balsamic, red wine, or champagne vinegar.
- Brown sugar: for just a touch of sweetness and to cut the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Seasonings: salt, black pepper, dried parsley, and paprika
- Ground meat: choose whatever mixture of ground beef, pork, or sausage your family likes best. My husband loves sausage, so I often make it with 100% ground sausage.
- Egg: one large egg, please
- Rice: I use Minute Rice. If you cannot access Minute Rice, parboil 1 cup of rice.
How to make Cabbage Rolls
This is the nutshell version. See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and instructions.
- Soften the cabbage leaves by submerging the leaves in boiling water.
- Prepare the sauce for the cabbage rolls by cooking the onion and garlic. Then add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, vinegar, and brown sugar.
- In a large bowl, mix the ground sausage, ground beef, rice, onion, garlic, egg, parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread a thin layer of the simmering tomato sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish.
- Roll the cabbage rolls and place them seam-side down in a single layer in the casserole dish. Repeat until all the cabbage rolls are stuffed.
- Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake.
Preparation Tips and Storage
- Don’t skip the step of boiling the cabbage. It makes all the difference when rolling these guys. Rolling a cabbage leaf that isn’t boiled is almost impossible because it’s as stiff as a board.
- The ground meat does not need to be precooked.
- After boiling the cabbage, use a sharp knife to slice the root end off about 1/2 – 3/4 inch up. This will make it easier to remove the leaves.
- Are you always in a hurry and need to cut a few corners? Use your favorite jarred marinara sauce and add 1 tablespoon vinegar and 1 1/2-2 tablespoons brown sugar.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with foil so the rolls steam in the oven and soften the cabbage leaves.
Ways To Soften Cabbage Leaves
To roll cabbage rolls, the leaves must be soft and pliable, or they will tear. Here are 3 ways to achieve this.
- Boil the head. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. I use an 8-quart stockpot. Then, submerge the head of cabbage in the pot for about five minutes. I usually roll it over about halfway through the cooking time. Then, remove it and drain it in a colander. Once drained and cooled, cut about 1/2-3/4 inch above the stem end and discard.
- Freeze the head: Freeze the whole uncored head of cabbage for 2 days. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
- Microwave the head: Place a cored head of cabbage on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high for 7-8 minutes. Carefully turn the head halfway through the cooking time.
More Cabbage Recipes
- Braised Cabbage
- Cabbage and Sausage
- Cabbage Roll Soup
- Corned Beef and Cabbage
- Colcannon
- Cabbage Casserole
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Family-friendly Cabbage Rolls stuffed with ground pork, ground beef, and rice smothered in a sweet and tangy tomato sauce.
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Servings: 12 cabbage rolls
Calories: 173kcal
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ medium onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- 1½ tablespoons brown sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
Cabbage Rolls
- 1 large head green cabbage
- ½ pound ground pork sausage
- ½ pound ground beef
- ½ medium onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup Minute Rice or long-grain parboiled white rice
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Bring a large stockpot of water to a boil. Add the whole head of cabbage and boil for 5 minutes. Remove to a colander to drain and cool. Once cooled, cut 1/2 inch off the stem end of the cabbage. Carefully remove 12 leaves and cut the tough rib out of the stem end in the shape of a V.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring several times. Reduce heat to low and add garlic. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, cider vinegar, and brown sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Spoon a thin layer of the tomato sauce into a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. In a large bowl, mix the ground pork sausage, ground beef, onion, garlic, egg, rice, parsley, and paprika.
- Place about 1/3 cup of the meat mixture in the center of the cabbage roll. Bring in the sides and roll tightly. Place the rolls in a single layer in the casserole dish. Repeat until you have made and arranged all the cabbage rolls in the casserole dish. Top with remaining tomato sauce.
- Cover with aluminum foil. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 80-90 minutes.
Video
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on reduced power in the microwave.
- To freeze, first cool to room temperature. Cover the baking dish with 2 layers of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge. Remove the casserole from the fridge 40 minutes before reheating. Remove the plastic wrap and cover with aluminum foil only. Reheat at 350 degrees for about 30-35 minutes or until hot.
Nutrition
Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 154mg | Potassium: 260mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 153IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg
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Cheyenne Faunce
Quick question! Do I need to cook the beef and sausage prior or just mix it in raw ?
Beth Pierce
Mix it in raw. Happy cooking!
Marlaine Hitchcock
You never mentioned the oven temperature..I cook on 380 or 350 degrees. I added to the recipe.. The tomato sauce I added light seasonings, onion, garlic, wine, fresh cut diced tomatoes, about 2 tablespoons of fresh cut leaks, scallions, sweet peppers, garlic. In the meat roll, I used some ground lamb, sausage, hamburger, added spices, ground fresh garlic, fresh onions, leaks, scallions, sweet peppers, celery, all minced up. 1/4 cup wine, 2 eggs, rice, small amount of bread crumbs. Mixed up together, made rolls. rolled the meat mixture lightly as not to make hard.wrapped in the cabbage leaves. Cooked on 360 degrees for 1 1/2 hrs. Side dish of noodles, with garlic bread. Yum
Beth Pierce
Thanks for all the great tips. The full recipe is at the bottom of the post. It is 350 degrees for 80-90 minutes.
Danielle
In case anyone is wondering, if your husband takes out ground TURKEY instead of ground BEEF from the freezer, these are still absolutely delicious 😂🤦🏼♀️
Beth Pierce
That is too funny. Thanks for the tip!
James Bonnell
Well, I finally found my bucket of pickled cabbage. Somebody didn’t like the smell and put it out behind the barn. Your recipe is nearly exactly how I do mine except for the whole cabbage boiling thing. It will be soft enough after soaking the brine out of it. It’s on its third rinse (in a covered pot).
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tip.
Christina
HI James, I’m curious- do you soak the pickled cabbage in water to make it softer? And how long do you soak for? TIA!
Anita
Yum!! followed the recipe exactly with the addition of a little salt. So good!! Was much easier than I thought it would be. This will definitely be something I make often and not just on 1 day a year. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Anita! So glad that you enjoyed it!!
Ceci
I just love cabbage rolls and this recipe is so delicious and easy. Thank you for your recipe.
Beth Pierce
My pleasure Ceci!
heather smithers
I find the most notable difference between
Freezing the Cabbage and boiling it,
Is the tendernesses of the leaves.
If you take your time and don’t boil on a rapid boil,
The leaves come out so tender.
I’ve furies freezing the cabbage before, leaves are always tough and chewy.
Nicole
Boiling the cabbage is definitely the secret. You can change this classic up by adding Italian complements like home-made tomato sauce (sugar definitely necessary to balance the acid. otherwise, no change, but I did top with a mix of Italian cheeses and went a little heavier on the parsley and garlic. From the Germ-alian family here in Canada:) Happy mix!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Nicole! So glad that you liked it!
Deborah Ann
Oh my! I just made this and it was delicious! I didn’t have tomato sauce so I used a tin of tomato soup and I put the separated cabbage leaves in the microwave for 1 minute at a time until they were soft, that way I kept as much of the nutrients as possible. Was my first time making cabbage rolls and I was delighted that my hubby asked for more. Will definitely be keeping this recipe so I can make them again. Thank you Beth
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome Deborah Ann! So glad that you and your husband liked them! I have not made them in a while. I really should put them on the menu this week.
Kelly
Thank you!
This recipe is similar to one my mom used for years. Loved it! Served with mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, peas and dark rye bread. Recipe is currently on repeat and will be doubled so I can freeze a batch.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Kelly! So glad that you like it! That sounds like the perfect meal.
Terry
Only thing I did different was I used mayonnaise instead of egg for my binder and used savory cabbage instead of green because it us sweeter then green and I put a soufly cup of hot water in the center of the baking dish to keep extra moisture to help prevent drying out which is usually not a problem just a safe guard. All together these cabbage rolls stands up to any of the rolls my family members ever made.
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tips, Terry! Glad that you liked the cabbage rolls.
Pattie W.
Hello. Can you tell me if the parboiled rice is one cup before cooking it? Or is it one cup after the parboil? Also, I’ve never parboiled rice. I’m assuming just stop cooking it before it’s completely cooked. When you do that, isn’t there going to be liquid left in the rice?
Thanks.
P.s. I’ve never made cabbage rolls. I do love them!
Beth Pierce
Sorry about the delay. I thought I had answered this. Use one cup rice before parboiling (the amount will not change much as you are only cooking it for a few minutes) and here are some instructions on how to parboil rice.