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Cozy Slow Cooker Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

slow cooker unstuffed cabbage rolls - featured image
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All the soul of traditional cabbage rolls without the tedious rolling. This dump-and-go slow cooker meal features tender beef, soft cabbage, and rich tomato broth for the ultimate comfort food.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 works best)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 medium head green cabbage, chopped into 1-inch chunks (about 6–7 cups)
  • ¾ cup uncooked long-grain white rice
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1 cup beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt (optional, for serving)

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef and aromatics: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until no longer pink (5–7 minutes). Add diced onion and minced garlic; cook 2–3 minutes until onion softens. Drain excess fat if needed. Season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
  2. Prep the cabbage: Cut cabbage into 1-inch chunks, discarding core and thick ribs. Rinse and drain well.
  3. Layer everything in the slow cooker: Start with half the chopped cabbage, then half the beef mixture, then half the uncooked rice. Repeat layers with remaining cabbage, beef, and rice.
  4. Make the tomato broth: In a bowl, whisk together diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato sauce, beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, and bay leaf. Pour evenly over the layered ingredients. Do not stir.
  5. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours, until rice is tender and cabbage is soft but holds its shape.
  6. Finish with acid: About 10 minutes before serving, remove bay leaf and stir in apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Rest and serve: Let sit in the slow cooker on warm for 10–15 minutes. Ladle into bowls, top with fresh parsley and a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt if desired.

Notes

For brown rice, increase beef broth to 1½ cups and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours. For a low-carb version, swap rice for cauliflower rice added in the last 30 minutes. Don’t skip browning the beef for best flavor. Resist stirring during cooking to prevent scorching. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: unstuffed cabbage rolls, slow cooker cabbage rolls, easy cabbage rolls, comfort food, ground beef recipe, slow cooker dinner

Find it online: https://emacrave.com/cozy-slow-cooker-unstuffed-cabbage-rolls-easy-recipe/