Slow-Cooker Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Casserole

All the cozy flavors of classic cabbage rolls—savory ground beef, tender cabbage, tomatoes, rice, and herbs—without all the rolling and stuffing! This slow-cooker version is hearty, comforting, budget-friendly, and perfect for a busy weeknight. Just layer everything in the crockpot, let it simmer, and come back to a delicious family dinner. ❤️

🛒 Ingredients

Serves 6–8

• 1½ lbs lean ground beef
• 1 medium head green cabbage, chopped
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp salt, or to taste
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tbsp brown sugar, optional, to balance the tomatoes

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Brown the beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion is softened. Drain excess grease.
2. Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
3. Layer the slow cooker: Place about half of the chopped cabbage in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker.
4. Add half of the browned beef mixture, followed by half of the diced tomatoes. Repeat with the remaining cabbage, beef, and tomatoes.
5. Make the sauce: Whisk together the tomato sauce, tomato paste, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, oregano, parsley, salt, pepper, and optional brown sugar.
6. Add rice: Sprinkle the uncooked rice evenly over the mixture, then pour the sauce over everything. Press the cabbage down gently so as much as possible is coated with the liquid.
7. Slow cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the cabbage is tender, the rice is cooked, and the beef mixture is piping hot.
8. Finish: Remove the bay leaf and gently stir everything together. Let it rest for about 10 minutes before serving.

💡 Pro Tips

• Don’t add extra rice unless you also increase the liquid; rice absorbs quite a bit of broth.
• For extra flavor, brown the beef well before adding it to the crockpot.
• Use lean ground beef to keep the casserole from becoming greasy.
• Add a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like a little heat.
• For a cheesy twist, sprinkle shredded mozzarella or cheddar over the top during the final 15 minutes.

🥔 What to Serve With It

This is a complete meal on its own, but it pairs nicely with crusty bread, steamed green beans, roasted vegetables, or a simple cucumber salad