Learn how to make easy unstuffed cabbage rolls recipe on the stove top, Instant Pot, or slow cooker. Cabbage roll bowls are great over rice for a hearty weeknight family dinner, without any of the effort.
I am a huge fan Ina Garten’s Stuffed Cabbage Roll recipe…on special occasions. This classic comfort food meal makes the absolute best cabbage rolls, but they take forever!
Ina’s recipe has tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a ground beef and rice filling. Once assembled, they nestle in a robustly flavored tomato sauce with brown sugar and raisins to add a touch of sweetness.
Then they simmer and bake to perfection in a covered dutch oven. Your home will smell like heaven, and you will want to take a nap. (Go for it. You’ve earned it!)
Yes, cabbage rolls are a tedious and labor intensive recipe. However, there’s a way to enjoy the same rich, comforting flavors without the work!
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Quick and Easy Cabbage Roll Bowls
Unstuffed ground beef and cabbage are made quickly and easily in a skillet, Instant Pot, or slow cooker. The taste is spot on, but are served in about 30 minutes!
The stove top or pressure cooker versions are perfect when you need a quick weeknight meal. Alternatively, use the slow cooker recipe to cook while you are away from home.
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Ingredients Needed
Like unstuffed egg rolls and ground beef bulgogi, this skillet recipe uses a simple and affordable list of ingredients for a family friendly meal.
- Ground Beef – Ground sirloin, ground chuck, ground turkey, or ground beef may be used.
- Onions
- Garlic
- Seasonings – paprika, thyme, brown sugar, salt and pepper
- Tomatoes – diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste
- Raisins
- Beef broth
- Chopped cabbage
- Raisins, optional
- Cooked Rice – long grain, brown rice, or omit for low carb version
How To Make Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
- In a large skillet brown ground beef and onion over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add garlic to skillet and sauté for 30 seconds more.
- Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, paprika, thyme, brown sugar, salt, and pepper to skillet and stir. Gently mix in chopped cabbage. Bring mixture to a boil. Cover skillet, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir, recover, then simmer for 10 minutes longer, or until cabbage is tender.
- Remove lid and add tomato paste. Stir and simmer, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes, or until sauce reduces slightly. If you prefer a thicker sauce, add additional tomato paste and stir. Serve over cooked rice or without for low carb.
Cooks Tips
- Transform leftovers into cabbage roll soup! Add cooked rice, additional beef broth, cup of water, tomato sauce, or a combination of them all.
- Save time by substituting cole slaw mix instead of chopping fresh cabbage.
- I like the raisins to mimic traditional cabbage rolls, but they may be omitted.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, add additional tomato paste. To thin sauce, add additional tomato sauce, broth, or water.
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Did you make this recipe? I love hearing from you! Leave a star rating and comment below the recipe card. It helps others when searching for recipes and I appreciate feedback from our community. You will always hear back from me! -Melissa
Easiest Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 14 ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ head cabbage (6-7 cups), cored and chopped
- 1/4 cup raisins, optional
- 3-4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 cups cooked rice, optional for serving
Instructions
Stove Top Method
- In a large 12-inch skillet cook ground beef and onion over medium heat, for about 5 minutes. When beef is cooked and onion is translucent, drain excess liquid. Add garlic to skillet and sauté for 30 seconds more.1 ½ pounds ground beef, 1 small onion, 3 cloves garlic
- Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, paprika, thyme, brown sugar, salt, and pepper to skillet and stir. Add chopped cabbage, optional raisins, and toss gently. Bring mixture to a boil. Cover skillet, reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir, recover, then simmer for 10 minutes longer, or until cabbage is tender.8 ounce can tomato sauce, 14 ounce can diced tomatoes, ½ cup beef broth, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon thyme, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ½ head cabbage (6-7 cups)
- Remove lid and add 3 tablespoons of tomato paste. Stir and simmer, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes, or until sauce reduces slightly. If you prefer a thicker sauce, add additional tomato paste and stir. Serve over cooked rice.1/4 cup raisins, 3-4 tablespoons tomato paste
Instant Pot Method
- Press SAUTE function on Instant Pot. Add beef and onion and saute until beef is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute longer. Press CANCEL.
- If desired, remove pot from Instant Pot and drain grease. Replace pot and add tomato sauce, drained diced tomatoes, beef broth, paprika, thyme, brown sugar, salt, pepper, and optional raisins. Seal lid and cook on HIGH pressure for 15 minutes. Quick release pressure and carefully remove lid.
- Add chopped cabbage to the pot. Seal and lock lid in place. Cook on HIGH pressure for 3 minutes. Quick release pressure and carefully remove lid.
- Stir in tomato paste until desired consistency. If the sauce needs to thicken more, turn on SAUTE low and simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until sauce reduces and thickens. Serve over cooked rice.
Slow Cooker Method
- Spray crockpot liner with nonstick cooking spray. Crumble raw ground beef on bottom of slow cooker. Layer chopped onions, garlic, chopped cabbage, and (optional) raisins over top.
- In a medium bowl stir together tomato sauce, undrained diced tomatoes, beef broth, paprika, thyme, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Pour over beef / cabbage layers.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. Serve over cooked rice.
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Recipe is great, but my grandmother (I’m 83 yrs old) used to make this when she was not able to make stuffed cabbage rolls for her family. There’s not much that is NEW in the world.
Not sure if I commented before on this recipe, but it is soooo delicious! Family staple. I used Spanish paprika last night and 1 pound ground beef and 1/2 pound ground pork. I also add more salt and pepper. Thank you thank you thank you.
Thank you! This is on our meal plan for the week too! The whole family loves it. Great idea adding ground pork!
Best,
Melissa