Cabbage Roll In A Bowl Recipe

If you enjoy the taste of traditional cabbage rolls, but dread the time and effort it takes to make them, then you are going to love this Cabbage Roll In A Bowl recipe.

It provides you with all the flavor of traditional cabbage rolls, but in a deconstructed form. Instead of wilted cabbage leaves wrapping around a flavored ground beef mixture, the ingredients are all mixed together in a skillet.

It is an easy way to get all of the wonderful flavors of traditional rolls without spending hours upon hours in the kitchen.

Once cooked, you can serve it as a thick stew like mixture. Or if you want something a little thicker, let the liquid reduce down to serve it more like a casserole.

Although you could make Instant Pot Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls, I find it just as easy to make it on the stove. In fact, if you already have your ground beef cooked, this delicious meal can be on the dinner table in 30 minutes!

Cabbage Roll In A Bowl

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 lb. lean ground beef (*see note)
• 1 garlic cloves minced
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 1 1/2 cups green cabbage, chopped
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup beef broth
• 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Optional Ingredient

• 1/2 cup white rice, cooked (**see note)
• shredded Mozzarella cheese

Ground Beef and Rice Options:

*Lean Ground Beef – It is best to use a lean ground beef for this recipe. Not only is it healthier, but you won’t have the worry of residual grease releasing from the beef as it cooks. I recommend using at least 90% lean ground beef.

However, if you want to make this recipe even healthier, you can use ground turkey, ground chicken or even plant based crumbles if you prefer. Although, be sure to add a little extra virgin olive oil to the skillet before browning so that the meat does not stick to the bottom of the pan.

**Cooked White Rice – If you ask 10 people how they make their cabbage rolls, about half of them will tell you that they add cooked rice to the beef and tomato mixture.

However, the other half would never think about adding cooked rice to their recipe. The difference is largely due to culture and recipes that have been passed down for decades.

Therefore, I have included adding cooked rice as an optional ingredient. And I have to admit, at the beginning of a new year, I typically omit it to decrease the amount of carbohydrates that I consume.

But when I make this Cabbage Roll In A Bowl recipe in early Autumn when the first cold snap hits, I almost always add rice. The choice really is up to you.

INSTRUCTIONS

The first step in making Cabbage Roll In A Bowl is to brown the meat. In a large non-stick skillet add the ground beef and diced onions.

Continue to cook and break the meat into small crumbles until the beef is no longer pink.

*If you are using ground turkey, ground chicken or plant based crumbles as a substitute for the ground beef, be sure to add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan before adding the meat. This will help prevent the meat from sticking to the bottom of the skillet.

Once the meat is cooked through, add the minced garlic and cook just for 1 minute. You don’t want the garlic to overcook because it will turn brown and become bitter.

Once the garlic is nice and fragrant, drain the meat, onion & garlic mixture and return it to the skillet.

Then quickly add the chopped green cabbage, tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir the contents together and then bring the mixture to a boil.

Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cover the skillet with a lid. Continue to simmer for 15 minutes and then add the cooked rice, if using.

Continue to cook at a simmer, stirring frequently, until the cabbage is wilted and tender. This process will take approximately 30 minutes.

Remove the lid and stir. Continue to cook until desired consistency is reached.

Serve the cabbage roll in a bowl warm.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use brown rice in this recipe instead of the cooked white rice?

Because you are adding cooked rice to this recipe, you can use whatever type of cooked rice that you have on hand. I have added brown rice, Basmati rice and even Jasmine rice to my Cabbage Roll In A Bowl. All have turned out delicious with barely a notice of difference in texture.

2. Can I use uncooked rice instead of cooked rice?

Although this recipe calls for cooked rice, you can add uncooked long grain white rice instead. However, you will need to decrease the amount of dried rice to 1/4 cup and add an additional 3/4-1 cup of broth.

Add the uncooked rice and additional broth when you add the cabbage and tomato products. Just be sure to watch the pan carefully and stir frequently so that the starches in the rice don’t make the liquid bubble up under the lid or stick to the bottom of the pan.

However, I would not recommend using uncooked brown rice as it takes longer to cook and requires more liquid.

3. How do I reheat leftovers?

If you have any leftovers, reheat them by adding 1 tablespoon of water or broth and reheating in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through the reheating process. *All microwaves vary so adjust reheating time accordingly.

4. Can I make this recipe Vegetarian or Vegan?

It is easy to convert this cabbage roll in a bowl recipe to accommodate those who are vegetarian or vegan. Simply replace the ground beef with plant based crumbles and use vegetable broth in place of the beef broth. And for those who are vegan, be sure to use coconut aminos instead of Worcestershire sauce.

Enjoy! Mary

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