These amazing crockpot cabbage rolls with a mixture of ground beef, ground pork, rice, and a perfect blend of spices are cooked up tender and flavorful in a lightly sweetened tomato sauce with garlic and dill. You will love these tasty slow-cooked cabbage rolls.
My family is hooked on these. They are just that good! Of course, we love cabbage. If you are a cabbage lover, try fried cabbage, braised cabbage, and corned beef and cabbage.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Cabbage: Regular green cabbage or savoy cabbage. Savoy cabbage has softer leaves and a shorter boiling time, but it is more difficult to find.
- Apple cider vinegar: You can substitute white wine or rice wine vinegar.
- Dill: I like the flavor that fresh dill adds, but you can substitute fresh thyme or parsley.
- Ground meat: I use a mixture of ground pork and ground beef, but you can use all of one or the other. My husband loves them made with mildly seasoned pork sausage.
- Long grain rice: Basmati or jasmine rice are my go-to long grain rices. Their consistency and texture work well in this recipe.
- Paprika: Use sweet Hungarian paprika NOT smoked paprika.
How to Make Crockpot Cabbage Rolls
This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
- Boil the cabbage, carefully removing the leaves as they soften.
- Sauté the onions and garlic in a little olive oil. Remove half the onion mixture.
- Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, and fresh dill. Simmer while you make the meat mixture.
- Combine half the onion mixture, ground pork, ground beef, egg, rice, paprika, salt, pepper, and parsley. Working with the cabbage rolls on a flat surface, add about 1/3 cup of the meat mixture to the center of each cabbage leaf. Fold in the sides and roll up the cabbage. Place cabbage rolls seam-side down in a single layer in the crockpot.
- Pour half the sauce over the first layer of cabbage rolls. Stack the rest of the cabbage rolls on top and add the rest of the sauce.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Preparation Tips
- The ground meat does not need to be precooked.
- After boiling the cabbage and cooling enough to safely handle, 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.
- Cabbage rolls are best cooked on low so the rice cooks through properly and the cabbage leaves soften.
How to Soften and Remove Leaves From the Cabbage
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Submerge the cabbage in the boiling water for 5-10 minutes, rolling it over halfway through. Remove it and drain it in a colander. You may need to return the cabbage to the boiling water to soften more inner leaves further. A large head of cabbage will give you about 12-20 leaves for rolling.
You can also freeze the head of cabbage, but it takes some advance preparation. Cut out the core of the cabbage and place it in a freezer bag. Freeze overnight up to a few days. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
More Cabbage Recipes
Crockpot Cabbage Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 large head green cabbage
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- 1 lb ground pork
- ½ lb ground beef
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup long grain rice
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ treaspoon freshly ground black peppper
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Submerge the cabbage for 5-10 minutes in the boiling water, rolling it over halfway through the boiling. Remove it and drain it in a colander. Remove 12-14 leaves. You may need to return the cabbage to the boiling water to soften more inner leaves.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onions until soft. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute while stirring. Remove half the onion mixture.
- Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, and fresh dill. Simmer it while you make the meat mixture.
- Combine half the onion mixture, ground pork, ground beef, egg, rice, paprika, salt, pepper, and parsley. Working with the cabbage rolls on a flat surface, add about ⅓ cup of the meat mixture to the center of each cabbage leaf. Fold in the sides and roll up the cabbage. Place cabbage rolls seam-side down in a single layer in the crockpot.
- Pour half the sauce over the first layer of cabbage rolls. Stack the rest of the cabbage rolls on top and add the rest of the sauce.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the oven at 350 for about 10 minutes or until warm.
Ebony
I made these for dinner today and they were a hit! Thank you so much for this amazing recipe!
Barbie R
I love cabbage rolls, and making them in a crockpot sounds like such a quicker and easier way to do it. It actually makes the whole process sound a lot more fun too!
Beth Pierce
Yes indeed, Barbie! Enjoy!
Catalina
I made these in the slow cooker today and they held together perfectly. The meat and rice filling was juicy and the sauce had nice flavor. Leftovers reheated well.
Beth Pierce
So happy that you liked it, Catalina!
Melanie E
That’s amazing timing, my daughters and I have been wanting to try these. They sound so tasty and I love that it’s a healthy recipe too x
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Melanie! Enjoy!
Vidhya
I love cabbage rolls. Such an interesting recipe to keep handy if you have a crockpot!!
Beth Pierce
Yes indeed!
Mimi
I never knew you could make these in a crockpot. Thank you for sharing all the tips!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Mimi!
Amy
These came out so tender and flavorful! Loved the mix of pork and beef—perfect comfort food.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Amy! I am so glad that you enjoyed them!
Terri
This is such a cozy recipe for the fall. I love the flavors, and the crock pot makes it so easy!
Kristin
This was a major hit. Everyone loved the flavor, even the kids. I loved how easy it was!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Kristin! Enjoy!
Maria
Being able to set this and forget it was such a nice bonus for a tasty meal. We loved it.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Maria! I am glad that you enjoyed it.