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Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Easy Recipe – Best Crockpot Dinner for Families

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This easy unstuffed cabbage rolls recipe brings all the classic flavors of traditional cabbage rolls—savory ground beef, sweet cabbage, and tangy tomato—together in a comforting, one-pot crockpot meal. Perfect for busy families, it’s hearty, customizable, and requires minimal prep with no rolling or fussing.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 medium head green cabbage, chopped (about 2 pounds)
  • 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean, or substitute turkey or pork)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice (or brown rice)
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons paprika (smoked or sweet)
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups low-sodium beef broth (or vegetable broth)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt (for serving, optional)
  • Shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese (optional)

Instructions

  1. Remove any wilted outer leaves from the cabbage. Cut into quarters, remove the core, and chop into bite-sized pieces (about 1-inch squares).
  2. Optional: In a skillet over medium heat, add a drizzle of olive oil, diced onion, and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
  3. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and half of the uncooked rice. Mix gently to combine.
  4. Lightly spray the crockpot insert with cooking spray. Layer half the chopped cabbage, half the meat mixture, and half the sautéed onions and garlic. Repeat with remaining cabbage, meat, and onions/garlic.
  5. In a bowl, whisk together tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (with liquid), tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, beef broth, and brown sugar until smooth.
  6. Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the layered ingredients in the crockpot. Gently press down with a spoon to help the sauce seep through. Do not stir.
  7. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3.5-4 hours, until rice is cooked and cabbage is very tender. Check around the 3-hour mark if your slow cooker runs hot.
  8. Gently stir everything together. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Add more broth or tomato sauce if you prefer it saucier.
  9. Serve hot, topped with fresh parsley, sour cream, or shredded cheese if desired.

Notes

For extra flavor, brown the ground meat before adding to the crockpot. Use brown rice for more fiber, but add 1/2 cup extra broth and cook an extra hour. For a vegetarian version, substitute cooked lentils or plant-based ground meat and use vegetable broth. If the rice is still firm at the end of cooking, cover and cook another 30 minutes. Leftovers taste even better the next day and freeze well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: unstuffed cabbage rolls, crockpot cabbage rolls, easy cabbage rolls, slow cooker dinner, family dinner, comfort food, gluten-free, meal prep, beef and cabbage, one pot meal

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