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It’s super easy to make! Just simply dump and bake, and no more loathsome hours of stuffing and rolling each cabbage leaf. Most of all, they taste just like our traditional cabbage rolls, minus the extensive labor!
Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
As a busy mom, this is a big deal. If you can save time in meal prep and make a healthy dinner, that’s a major win-win!
With this recipe, everything goes into the oven raw, including the uncooked rice, chopped cabbage, ground pork, and tomato sauce. It then bakes to perfection every single time and tastes just like Authentic Ukrainian cabbage rolls, but it’s unstuffed!
We often use ground wild hog meat, which is way leaner than domestic pork. But if you want to make it healthier, replace it with ground beef, turkey, or chicken. I think this would be just as delicious without any meat; the cabbage and rice are quite filling on their own. I’ve also made this with brown rice for added fiber; just bake 30 minutes longer.
If you’ve been into Ukrainian Food but don’t know where to start, these unstuffed cabbage rolls are where to begin.
They taste just like my Ukrainian mom’s cabbage rolls.
And they are the easiest unstuffed cabbage rolls to make! I’ve been making these for many years, and when I make them, the house smells amazing, and the casserole tastes so, so good!
It’s packed with frugal and wholesome ingredients, feels good on the stomach, and is so simple to make for a healthy meal! It cooks perfectly in the oven every time and is incredibly delicious. It’s been on rotation, and I often recommend it to people curious about our cuisine because it is the perfect beginner recipe!
These are everything an unstuffed cabbage roll should be. Perfectly soft, cooked rice. Chunky cabbage. Perfect balance of tomato flavor. Healthy and hearty. So aromatic and full of European flavor! We like to dollop it with a generous spoonful of probiotic sour cream, which is a must for a pleasantly rich taste!
It’s the lazy cabbage roll recipe you set and forget in the oven for an ultimate weeknight dinner!
How To Make Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
Let’s walk through how to make unstuffed cabbage rolls (Lenivi Holubsti), which translates to”Lazy Cabbage Rolls,” step-by-step.
Before we begin, I’d like to give you my tips on what equipment can be used to bake it in the oven. I’ve tried it a couple of different ways.
Cabbage Rolls vs. Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
Unstuffed cabbage rolls are all the cabbage roll flavors minus all the stuffed filling and rolling! That’s right, no boiling cabbage leaves or steaming the rice, or even fiddling with the meat! Everything goes into a baking dish uncooked and bakes in the oven to that aromatic cabbage roll you love! It’s like the gluten-free, low-carb version of traditional cabbage rolls but totally filling and like the way mom makes it! Call it Lazy Cabbage Rolls because it’s literally the name for them!
Cabbage Roll Casserole
This is my mother-in-laws lazy cabbage rolls recipe. It’s the easiest lazy version that I’ve come to love. There is no need to pre-cook the rice or sauté anything! Everything is literally tossed in a baking dish (casserole-style) and baked to tenderness, super EASY one-pan dish! Speaking of pan this, steaming mouthwatering cabbage meal is a genius way to feed a crowd easily! And leftovers are just as good!
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love easy cabbage rolls too but it’s not as easy as this unstuffed cabbage roll version. If you’re looking for a minimal prep dinner to satisfy that stuffed cabbage roll craving, then these are a must-try!
Q&A
Can you Make-Ahead?
Prep is very quick for these unstuffed cabbage rolls. And since this one-pan dish comes together with raw ingredients and spices I do not recommend making this dish in advance.
What are Lazy Cabbage Rolls?
Lazy cabbage rolls are the easy way to make stuffed cabbage rolls but with big shortcuts. Unstuffed cabbage rolls involve no rolling or boiling cabbage leaves. The cabbage is rather cooked along with all the ingredients in an informal way but, yet has all the cabbage roll flavors.
How Long Do Cook Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls?
Oven-Baked unstuffed cabbage rolls: toss all ingredients together in a large baking pan. Bake in a pre-heated 350°F for 2 hours.
How to make Stovetop unstuffed cabbage rolls: to make unstuffed cabbage rolls on the stovetop brown the ground pork with onion. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer covered over med-low heat for 60-75 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Can I make this on the Stovetop?
To make a one-pot cabbage roll dish simply brown the ground pork with onion. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer covered over med-low heat for 60-75 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve unstuffed cabbage rolls with a dollop of sour cream and fresh dill.
How To Store Cabbage Rolls:
Refrigerate covered for up to 5 days. Freeze leftovers.
To Freeze:
Place fully cooked and cooled cabbage rolls into a freezer bag and keep frozen for up to 3 months.
To Reheat: thaw overnight and reheat on the skillet until liquid evaporates and is heated thoroughly.
What to serve with Lazy Cabbage rolls?
Cabbage rolls are best with sour cream and a garnish of fresh dill. Since lazy cabbage rolls already have a tomato sauce filling it is best to stick with a dairy-based dip rather than ketchup. Cabbage rolls are the main course meal in itself so it is best to pair this with pickled vegetables or fresh salad, and don’t forget hearty Russian Black Bread.
How Much Does This Recipe Serve?
Our family of 8 has eaten this casserole twice with two 2 servings leftover serving 18 people in total (with leftovers.)
Ingredients for Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls:
- 2 pounds of cabbage, chopped (1 head of cabbage)
- 2 pounds ground pork, beef, chicken, or turkey.
- 1 cup uncooked white rice (Jasmine or Basmati rice, but for healthier variation, brown rice.)
- 2 carrots, julienned
- 1 onion, diced
- 12 oz (which is 1 1/2 cups) of any tomato sauce diluted with 2 cups of water (use canned tomato products or your favorite spaghetti sauce!)
Spices:
- 3 bay leaves
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tbsp garlic salt
How To Make Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls in a Casserole with a Step-by-Step Photos:
1. Place the cabbage, ground meat, raw rice, carrots, and onion into a large disposable baking pan.
2. Add the diluted tomato sauce, olive oil, and spices. Mix everything thoroughly.
Tips for Cabbage Rolls:
- Swap out the meat for ground turkey or beef.
- For healthier cabbage rolls choose leaner meat and whole grains, such as brown rice.
- This recipe is for uncooked rice, for parboiled rice, adjust the liquid and cooking time per package instructions.
- Freeze leftovers and reheat them on the skillet!
- Make on the stovetop in 6-quart pot, if you don’t have a large baking pan!
More Easy Dinner Recipes:
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Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
Equipment
- 1 20×12 large baking pan (or a 6 quart pot)
Ingredients
Easiest Lazy Cabbage Rolls Recipe:
- 2 lbs shredded cabbage, (1 head)
- 2 lbs ground pork
- 1 cup uncooked rice, (Jasmine)
- 2 carrots, (julienned)
- 1 onion, (diced)
- 12 oz (1 1/2 cups tomato sauce) diluted with 2 cups water
- 3 bay leaves
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tbsp garlic salt
Instructions
How to make Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe:
- Place the cabbage, ground meat, raw rice, carrots, and onion into a large disposable baking pan.
- Add the diluted tomato sauce, olive oil, and spices. Mix everything thoroughly.
- Bake covered at 350°F for 2 hours.
Notes
- This is the large baking pan that I use for this casserole. Costco has the same size in disposable foiled pans.
- Calories: this recipe served 8 people for 2 meals in a row with a leftover of 2 servings making it 18 servings in total.
Nutrition (per serving)
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