1. Prepare the cabbage
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Carefully remove the core from the cabbage. Place the whole cabbage into the boiling water and cook for about 2–3 minutes.
As the outer leaves become soft, carefully peel them away with tongs. Continue until you have around 12–16 large leaves.
Set the leaves aside to cool. Trim away the thickest part of the center rib if necessary so the leaves are easier to roll.
2. Make the filling
In a large bowl, combine:
- Ground beef
- Uncooked rice
- Chopped onion
- Garlic
- Egg
- Salt
- Pepper
- Paprika
- Parsley
- Italian seasoning
Mix gently until everything is evenly combined. Don’t overmix, or the filling can become dense.
3. Prepare the tomato sauce
In another bowl, stir together the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and beef broth.
Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired.
4. Fill the cabbage leaves
Place one cabbage leaf on a clean surface.
Put about 2–3 tablespoons of filling near the bottom center of the leaf.
Fold the sides inward, then roll the cabbage tightly upward, like a small burrito.
Repeat with the remaining cabbage leaves and filling.
5. Assemble
Spread a little tomato sauce over the bottom of a large baking dish.
Arrange the cabbage rolls seam-side down in the dish, keeping them snugly together.
Pour the remaining sauce over the top, making sure the rolls are well covered.
6. Bake
Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 1 hour 30 minutes, or until the cabbage is very tender, the meat is fully cooked, and the rice is tender.
For extra flavor, let the rolls rest for 10–15 minutes before serving.
7. Serve
Spoon plenty of the tomato sauce over each cabbage roll and serve warm.
They’re delicious with mashed potatoes, crusty bread, sour cream, or a simple green salad.
❤️ A little reminder
This is one of those recipes that tastes even better the next day. The cabbage, meat, rice, and tomato sauce have time to come together, making the leftovers wonderfully comforting.
Have you ever made stuffed cabbage rolls? What does your family add to the filling? 🥬🍅❤️
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