Description

This easy and budget-friendly lazy cabbage roll casserole has layers of ground beef, making it cheesy and satisfying. It has all the flavors of cabbage rolls without the fuss of rolling them up in the kitchen.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 ½ teaspoons fresh garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon cajun spice
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (15 oz) chopped tomatoes in liquid
1 ½ cup cooked brown rice
3 tablespoon olive oil, divided
6 cups green cabbage, cut into 1 or 1 ½ inch cubes
¼ cup water
1 cup carrot, grated
1 cup mozzarella, grated
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
dill or parsley for serving

Instructions

Step: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium-sized skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook the onion until softened (about a minute) and add the carrot. Allow the mixture to cook for an additional minute.
Step: Add the beef to the veggie mixture. Brown the beef, using a spatula to break it apart as it cooks until no longer pink. Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for another minute. Drain excess liquid if necessary.
Step: Add black pepper, sugar, salt, sweet paprika, and Cajun seasoning to the skillet. Then, add the tomato sauce and chopped tomatoes. Stir to combine.
Step: Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes.
Step: While simmering, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease an 8×11-inch casserole dish with oil.
Step: Remove the skillet from the heat and mix in the cooked rice. Adjust seasoning to taste.
Step: Clean the skillet or pot and heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the cabbage with ¼ cup of water and simmer until the cabbage softens and the water evaporates. Transfer half of the cabbage to the baking dish.
Step: Layer the cabbage with the beef and rice mixture, repeating the process for a second layer. Ensure the top layer is even, then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
Step: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Step: Garnish with dill or parsley before serving.

Notes

The longer the casserole sits, the more liquid the rice will absorb. If you prefer, tilt the dish to drain excess liquid before serving. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Ukrainian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 319 kcal
Sugar: 7 g
Sodium: 200 mg
Fat: 14 g
Saturated Fat: 5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
Trans Fat: 0.3 g
Carbohydrates: 24 g
Fiber: 4 g
Protein: 23 g
Cholesterol: 62 mg

Keywords: cabbage casserole, lazy cabbage rolls, ground beef casserole, easy dinner