Description
Unstuffed Cabbage – A cozy, one-pot meal with all the flavors of traditional stuffed cabbage, minus the hassle of rolling. Tender cabbage, savory beef, and a rich tomato sauce come together in a dish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or family gatherings. This recipe is simple, forgiving, and irresistibly comforting.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium green cabbage, chopped
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- ½ cup cooked rice (optional)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp sugar (optional)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Fresh parsley or thyme for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet and brown the ground beef.
- Add onions and garlic, cooking until softened.
- Stir in chopped cabbage, season with salt, pepper, and paprika, and cook until slightly tender.
- Add tomato sauce and diced tomatoes, reduce heat, and simmer for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in rice in the last 5 minutes if using.
- Taste and adjust seasoning, garnish with fresh parsley or thyme, and serve.
Notes
- Use fresh herbs at the end to brighten flavor.
- Simmer gently to avoid overcooking cabbage.
- Optional sugar balances tomato acidity.
- Prep Time: 15–20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30–40 minutes
- Category: Main course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4–6
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 65mg