Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Is anyone else absolutely OBSESSED with cabbage lately?

The love first started with this Egg Roll in a Bowl recipe and soon evolved once Sautéed Cabbage and Roasted Cabbage Steaks were discovered.

And now I can’t seem to get enough of it with these Polish-style stuffed cabbage rolls!

With their fresh herb and rice-loaded beef filling…

Homemade sweet and tangy tomato sauce…

Soft and tender cabbage leaves.

Not to mention, they’re actually super fun to make! That is, if you know a few tips and tricks to make sure your cabbage leaves don’t tear and you’ve properly seasoned your filling.

(No need to worry, I’ll cover all of those tips and tricks below!)

One word of caution, though.  While this is an EASY recipe, it does take a bit of time. So make sure you have a little over an hour to prep and bake your dish.

Polish Gołąbki

This particular cabbage roll recipe is more Polish in origin with it’s tomato-based sauce and beef-rice filling.  If you’re from Europe you may also know these as Gołąbki.

These rolls are different from the Jewish version, holishkls, which are also filled with beef and rice but have raisins and are cooked in a brown sugar, lemon, and tomato sauce instead.

Ingredients

The simple ingredients you need to make this stuffed cabbage recipe include:

• Cabbage. A medium-large head of green cabbage is recommended. Larger leaves are easier to fill up and roll without them tearing.
• Ground meat. Ground beef was tested in this recipe but ground turkey, pork, or chicken can be substituted.
• Rice. Cooked white rice is mixed in with the filling ingredients. You can either cook your rice on the stovetop or make Instant Pot White Rice. Brown rice is another choice, or even uncooked cauliflower rice if you are on a low-carb diet.
• Tomatoes. A combination of tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes creates the base of the sauce.
• Garlic. Fresh cloves are called for, but garlic powder may also be used.
• Worcestershire Sauce. This may seem like an optional ingredient, but this is the secret sauce that make it taste so good!
• Sugar. This is optional but it gives the tomato sauce just enough sweetness to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes. You can also try honey or any other type of non-nutritive sweetener.
• Egg. An important ingredient that helps to hold the filling ingredients together. If you’re allergic to eggs, you can swap it out for a flax or chia egg instead.
• Parsley. The fresh herb tastes wonderful, but dried may be used if that’s all you have.
• Seasonings. Paprika adds a hint of a smoky flavor while cayenne pepper gives a nice kick.

How to Make Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

The basic steps for making stuffed cabbage are simple to follow. Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.

Remove Cabbage Leaves

Cut and remove about 1 inch from the bottom of the head of cabbage.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, place the entire head of cabbage into the pot of boiling water and boil for 4-5 minutes or until the leaves peel easily and are pliable.

Remove the boiled head of cabbage from the pot and place on a dish towel to let drain. Once cool to the touch, peel 12 cabbage leaves from the head, being careful not to tear them.

Note: If you opt to peel the leaves straight off without par-boiling the head, you’ll still need to boil them for 1-2 minutes before filling and rolling.

Make the Meat Mixture

Add all filling ingredients to a large bowl. Mash the ingredients together using a potato masher until well combined.

Roll Them Up

Place one cabbage leaf on a cutting board. Cut a V-shaped incision at the base of each leaf to remove the bottom 1-2 inches of the tough rib. This makes it MUCH easier to roll up!

Add in about 3-4 tablespoons of the filling mixture into each leaf.

Fold the right side of the leaf over the filling.

Do the same with the left side.

Starting at the base, begin rolling the cabbage leaf up.

Repeat the above steps with the remaining filling and cabbage leafs until all of them are used.

Bake in Oven

Pour the tomato sauce into the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and spread it out in a single layer.

Place cabbage rolls, seam-side-down, in two rows of six rolls. Cover the casserole dish with a piece of aluminum foil.

Bake cabbage rolls in a preheated 350°F oven for 60 to 75 minutes.

You can either cut through one of the rolls to check for doneness or you can insert a meat thermometer. If the ground beef has reached an internal temperature of 160°F it is cooked through and ready to eat.

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep-Ahead: Assemble the rolls up to 24 hours in advance, make the sauce, and fill the baking dish. Store in the refrigerator until ready to cook and serve.
• To Store: Seal leftover stuffed cabbage rolls in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days.
• To Freeze: Place the cabbage rolls in a freezer-safe airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. However, do note that the texture will change drastically once defrosted.
• To Reheat: Place in a dish with some extra sauce, cover with foil, and bake in a 350°F oven until heated through. Or you can simply pop them in the microwave.

Expert Tips

• Soften it. Boiling an entire head of cabbage ensures you get the most number of leaves that are fully intact with no tears.
• Get the right size. Make sure you choose a medium to large head of cabbage. This makes stuffing them with the filling MUCH easier.
• Cut it out. Removing the rib from the base of each leaf helps the cabbage to become even more pliable and easier to roll.
• Use the right tools. Mix the filling ingredients together first with a potato masher to ensure all of the meat is thoroughly mixed with the other ingredients.
• Check for doneness. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the ground beef is cooked all of the way.
• Shhhhhh! Worcestershire sauce is a secret ingredient that replaces the traditional vinegar found in other recipes. 

More Irish Dinner Recipes

If you don’t feel like spending the time to make this classic dish, try out these Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls or this Cabbage Roll Soup instead.

Have some extra cabbage? Try out this Sauteed Cabbage or these Cabbage Steaks!

Want something a bit more cozy then this Irish Beef Stew, Instant Pot Corned Beef, or this Corned Beef Hash will hit the spot!