Unstuffed Cabbage | Cookies and Cups

Unstuffed cabbage is a quicker way to enjoy the savory flavor of traditional cabbage rolls! This deconstructed version is made with juicy ground beef and pork combined with fire-roasted tomatoes, onions, and seasonings in a flavorful and easy one-pot meal.

Why You’ll Love This Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Recipe

Cabbage rolls are a traditional European meal, and this deconstructed version is fast becoming one of our favorite weeknight dinners! Here’s why you’ll want this recipe for rich and savory unstuffed cabbage on rotation, just in time for the cooler weather:

• Time-saving. Short on time during the week? Make hearty unstuffed cabbage in 45 minutes or less from start to finish. The ingredients are budget-friendly, available pretty much everywhere, and easily customizable.
• Amazing flavor. This recipe is quick to make and full of delicious flavor thanks to juicy ground meat, tangy tomatoes, caramelized onions, and a mouthwatering combination of herbs and spices. 
• One-pot. Making traditional cabbage rolls casserole-style is the easiest way to enjoy all those awesome flavors with a fraction of the effort. Bring all the ingredients together in one pot on the stovetop instead!
• Great leftovers. Make a big batch of unstuffed cabbage and save the leftovers for satisfying meals, all week long. This recipe stores and freezes well, and there are so many ways that you can serve it. 

We love turning inexpensive, easy ingredients into delicious one-skillet dinners. If you’re looking for another weeknight one-pot wonder, try this cheesy skillet chicken parmesan or this creamy beef pasta!

Ingredients in Unstuffed Cabbage

You might be thinking, “That looks like a lot of ingredients!” But don’t worry. Everything you see here is easy to find in just about any grocery store. Below, I include some quick ingredient notes to get you started. Don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post with the complete ingredients list, amounts, and recipe instructions. 

• Olive Oil, Onion, and Garlic – Diced onion and garlic sautéd in oil form the aromatic flavor base of the soup.
• Ground Meat – I like to use a combination of ground pork sausage and lean ground beef for the utmost flavor. You can easily make this recipe with any ground meat you have on hand, though. See the section further on for variation ideas.
• Tomatoes  – Canned tomatoes work great, and fire-roasted tomatoes bring another layer of flavor. You’ll also need a can of tomato paste.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – Red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or even balsamic also works.
• Worcestershire Sauce – To give this unstuffed cabbage a hit of umami richness.
• Seasonings – I use thyme, paprika (sweet or smoked), brown sugar, chili powder, salt, pepper, and beef bouillon. I’m partial to the Better Than Bouillon brand.
• Cabbage – You’ll need chopped or shredded green cabbage. You can use two small cabbages or one medium to large-sized cabbage, enough to fill 10 cups.

What Kind of Cabbage Should I Use?

In short: Any kind that you’d like! Savoy cabbage (also called winter cabbage) and napa cabbage are the first choices when making cabbage rolls, and they’ll also work well here. But the beauty of unstuffed cabbage is that you can make this recipe with pretty much any type of cabbage you can find. White cabbage and green cabbage are good options. Even red cabbage will work, though keep in mind that it will bleed color into the dish.

How to Make Unstuffed Cabbage

Why spend hours prepping and rolling cabbage rolls when packing all that goodness into one pot is this easy? Let’s get started!

• Sauté. First, sauté the onions in a large pot with oil. Once the onions are softened, add the ground beef and pork sausage, and cook until thoroughly browned. Finally, stir in the garlic.
• Combine. Drain any excess grease from the pan before adding the tomatoes and tomato paste, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, seasonings, and bouillon. Bring the contents to a boil.

• Add the cabbage. Next, stir in the shredded cabbage and then place the lid on the pot. Lower the heat and simmer the cabbage for 25-30 minutes, until tender.
• Serve and enjoy! Dish up this unstuffed cabbage warm over fluffy rice with your favorite sides. See below for ideas.

Recipe Tips and Variation Ideas

Here are some last-minute tips for the best unstuffed cabbage, along with some recipe variations that you can try:

• Don’t overcook. Unless you’re going for mushy cabbage, be careful that you don’t overcook it. My favorite texture for cabbage is softened but still a little crisp. On the other hand, if your cooked cabbage is on the tougher side, it’s a sign that it may need to cook for longer.
• Change up the meat. In place of pork sausage, feel free to make this recipe with only ground beef. You can use other leaner meat, too, like ground chicken or ground turkey. Spicy Italian sausage would also give this dish a nice kick.
• More veggies. You can definitely fill this unstuffed cabbage recipe with any vegetables your heart desires (or any veggies that you have in the fridge). Try dicing up zucchini, mushrooms, celery, and carrots, or add in frozen peas, spinach, or kale.
• Add raisins. In place of brown sugar, add raisins! Golden raisins or Sultanas add a delicious sweet balance to the tangy tomato sauce.
• Different seasonings. If you don’t have chili powder, use cayenne pepper and cumin, or you can play around with different spices according to your preference. In place of thyme, try rosemary, basil, or Italian seasoning.

Serving Suggestions

We love unstuffed cabbage served over fluffy white rice (or Instant Pot butter rice) or homemade egg noodles, topped with sour cream. For an easy vegetable side dish, try tender-crisp air fryer asparagus, steamed or roasted broccoli, a cool cucumber salad, or a flavorful Mediterranean couscous salad. To really round out your meal, serve your unstuffed cabbage with a basket of sour cream cornbread or homemade baguette for mopping up extra tomato broth.

Looking for an easy meal prep idea? Make unstuffed cabbage bowls over a bed of rice or grains. And don’t forget homemade Polish kolaczki for dessert!

Storing and Reheating Unstuffed Cabbage

• Fridge. This recipe makes great leftovers. Allow your unstuffed cabbage to cool to room temperature, and then store it airtight. It keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days. Enjoy tasty meals for the rest of the week!
• To Reheat. Warm leftovers in the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop until they’re hot throughout.
• Freezer. Cool the unstuffed cabbage completely, and then transfer it to an airtight container to freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw it in the fridge before reheating.

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