
This economical and flavorful dinner is a great way to feed your family. A pound of ground beef is stretched with rice and plenty of healthy cabbage making it possible to feed the whole family for under ten dollars. Plus you can get the flavor of grandma's stuffed cabbage rolls without the effort and only 1 dirty pan!
I was first introduced to cabbage rolls when I asked family members for favorite recipes. My husband's uncle Greg sent over a guide for how he make golumpki (or gotabki depending on who you ask.)
I gave them a go and they were delicious, but to be honest they were also a fair amount of work. So despite enjoying them and really needing to update the pictures, I haven't made them again since.

However I have made versions of this casserole version several times. It is a lot quicker to make and every bit as flavorful.
Tips and tricks
Make sure to use a large enough pan. The cabbage cooks down quite a bit but will take up a lot of space to start with.
Use a pan with a lid. That will help the rice and cabbage to cook evenly. I've used both an enameled cast iron braiser and covered saute pan with great success.

Do yourself a favor and core the cabbage and cut it into nice bite sized pieces while it's raw. It will make serving and eating it much easier.
Possible Substitutions
Not into white rice? Use brown rice or quinoa instead. Just be sure to adjust the amount of beef broth and cook time accordingly.

Could you use a different kind of greens? Sure, but cabbage's mild flavor and sturdy leaf really is ideal.
A cabbage cousin like bok choy or napa would do well. Kale would alter the flavor, but would likely be delicious if you are a kale lover.
Uncle Greg sent a list of spices he like to use. He said he generally picks 2 or 3 of them and mixes and matches.

I generally stick with marjoram or oregano and some garlic because those are flavors my family loves. Greg also suggests celery seed, thyme, nutmeg, ground mustard, ground cumin, garam masala, or cloves.
He gravitates toward cloves plus one other spice. You can do whatever your mood and imagination dream up.
He also likes to add mushrooms, green beans and other vegetables to the mix in his cabbage rolls. You could easily do the same in this skillet meal.
The cheese topping is not at all traditional, but makes it super delicious. Plus a layer of melted cheese helps me sell almost any meal to my family. Feel free to leave it off if that's your preference.

More great cabbage recipes:
- Bacon wrapped beer braised cabbage
- Cheesy Cabbage Casserole
- Carlee's Cabbage {Cabbage with potatoes and Parmesan cheese}
Now get this perfect one pan un-stuffed cabbage skillet dinner on your menu and let me know what you think!
Yield: 8 servings

Un-Stuffed Cabbage Roll Skillet Meal
Get the flavor of cabbage rolls without the work! Un-stuffed cabbage casserole is a quick and easy one pan dinner that makes cabbage roll goodness possible on a weeknight!
prep time: 15 Mcook time: 30 Mtotal time: 45 M
ingredients:
- 1 Tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 head cabbage (small to medium)
- 2 14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes
- 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 cup white rice (uncooked)
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon marjoram or oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup shredded mozarella
instructions:
How to cook Un-Stuffed Cabbage Roll Skillet Meal
- Heat the oil in a deep saute pan, dutch oven or braiser over medium heat. Add the ground beef, salt and pepper. Brown the beef and drain any extra grease.
- Add the diced onion and cook until translucent.
- Add the rice and toast for a minute or two then stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, soy sauce, beef broth and seasonings. Cut the cabbage into bite sized pieces and add to pan.
- Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes. If it starts to look dry, add a bit more broth or water. If after 20 minutes it looks a little loose, simmer for a few minutes with the lid off. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella and either put the lid on to melt or place under the broiler for a minute or two to brown.
Calories
267.71
267.71
Fat (grams)
11.20
11.20
Sat. Fat (grams)
4.11
4.11
Carbs (grams)
20.58
20.58
Fiber (grams)
4.98
4.98
Net carbs
15.60
15.60
Sugar (grams)
7.82
7.82
Protein (grams)
22.80
22.80
Sodium (milligrams)
833.99
833.99
Cholesterol (grams)
57.45
57.45
Copyright: Cooking With Carlee 2019

Hi Carlee, I do like stuffed cabbage leaves or vine leaves, but they are such a hassle to make. I like this cheats technique.
ReplyDeletexx
It's the same flavor without all the effort!
DeleteYou had me at "without the work". We love cabbage and this sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteIt's so good and so much easier than making the rolls
DeleteYour un-stuffed cabbage skillet meal will be a big hit here at the cottage, it looks delicious! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday,444 and hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteMiz Helen
I hope it is, Miz Helen!
DeleteThis is a staple in our house during the winter when I don't have the time to make cabbage rolls. Delicious and easy. Great recipe.
ReplyDeleteI need to get it on a more regular rotation here too. It's so good and a great way to get a well rounded meal on the table.
DeleteFantastic way to get the same flavors without all of the work!
ReplyDeleteI think so too!
DeleteI'm going to have to try this. I love my mom's golumpki but haven't wanted to mess with the time-consuming process of making it (plus I don't have a pressure cooker). This looks like a great variation!
ReplyDeleteYou can definitely use the flavors you love in her golumpki but make it so much easier!
DeleteMakes quick work of a laborious meal!
ReplyDeleteIt really does
DeleteI hated stuffed cabbage as a kid but maybe I would like this!
ReplyDeleteTastes evolve and you can change the seasoning to your taste. We make ours taste almost like lasagna ;-)
DeleteI love cabbage rolls and making them in a skillet is a great shortcut!
ReplyDeleteIt cuts out the boiling and rolling part which saves so much time!
DeleteI love this idea! Stuffed cabbage takes so long to make and I'm sure it tastes just as good!
ReplyDeleteThis is soooooo much faster!
DeleteWe had this for dinner tonight. Two thumbs up from us! Yum!
ReplyDeleteYAY! I am so glad you liked it!
Delete