Crock-Pot Cabbage Rolls Recipe (2024)

Written by: Crock-Pot Ladies 29 Comments

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Tender cabbage leaves are stuffed with a delicious ground beef and rice mixture and then allowed to simmer away in the slow cooker in a tomato based sauce in this delicious recipe for Crock-Pot Cabbage Rolls! You can also prepare the rolls ahead of time and freeze them for a dinner the whole family will love!

Crock-Pot Cabbage Rolls Recipe (1)

Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls

It is a bit of a mystery where the stuffed cabbage roll comes from. Poland, Russia, or somewhere else? I am not really sure despite a lot of Google research. There have been versions of stuffed cabbage leaves for thousands of years so it is a little hard to tell.

This version however is a old family recipe that I have adapted to a slow cooker recipe. With a ground beef and rice filling and a tomato sauce that is based on canned tomato soup and vegetable juice the finished cabbage rolls are super tasty and to be honest one of my favorites!

I know what your’e saying…canned tomato soup and vegetable juice? WHAT? That is not traditional! And you would be right. But don’t knock it until you try it. The tomato soup adds a yummy texture with a little creaminess (even though you don’t add milk to the soup) and the tomato juice adds some nice zing. A touch of Worcestershire sauce added to the sauce brings forth a pop of umami flavor and the whole thing is just wonderful.

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Crock-Pot Cabbage Rolls Recipe (2)

Special Diets

Gluten Free | High Fiber | Low Fat | Low Sugar

This recipe for Crock-Pot Cabbage Rolls is Weight Watchers Friendly on the new Personal Points plan. You can see the WW personal points for this recipe here on the Weight Watchers website. Click here for MORE of our Weight Watchers Recipes

Crock-Pot Cabbage Rolls Recipe (3)

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Crock-Pot Cabbage Rolls Recipe (4)

Crock-Pot Cabbage Rolls Recipe

Heidi Kennedy

Homemade cabbage rolls are a comfort food for with their delicious ground beef and rice filling stuffed inside cabbage leaves and then simmered in the slow cooker in a yummy tomato based sauce. You can even make these cabbage rolls ahead of time as a freezer meal that you can cook later for dinner any time you are craving this Eastern European dish.

3.53 from 59 votes

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Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 45 minutes mins

Course Entrée, Freezer Meals

Cuisine Polish, Russian

Servings 6 Servings

Calories 424 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Core the head of cabbage and carefully remove each individual leaf off of the head and wash to remove dirt.

  • Place clean cabbage leaves inside a steamer (or use a large pot with a steamer basket and tight fitting lid) and steam of 60 seconds. Remove steamed leaves and cool leaves by placing them in a bowl of ice water. Set aside.

  • In a large skillet on the stove-top cook the diced onions until translucent; about 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside.

  • In a large mixing bowl, add the raw ground beef, eggs, salt, pepper, cooked onions and rice and mix well with your hands to combine thoroughly.

  • Taking one steamed cabbage leaf at a time, add two to three tablespoons of the meat mixture on a cabbage leaf.

  • Using your hands, gather the meat on one end of the lead and neatly roll the cabbage leaf around the meat mixture.

  • Layer the rolled cabbage rolls into the bottom of a 3.5 quart casserole slow cooker or a 6 quart or larger oval slow cooker. Layering the rolls as you add them to the slow cooker until you have used all of the meat mixture.

  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the canned tomato soup, vegetable juice and Worcestershire sauce.

  • Pour the tomato sauce evenly over the top of the cabbage rolls.

  • Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or until the meat filling inside the cabbage rolls is cooked through and no longer pink inside.

  • Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired before serving and ENJOY!

Nutrition

Calories: 424kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 177mg | Sodium: 707mg | Potassium: 666mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 900IU | Vitamin C: 122.1mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 6.5mg

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Crock-Pot Cabbage Rolls Recipe (5)
Crock-Pot Cabbage Rolls Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my stuffed cabbage rolls tough? ›

If your cooked cabbage is tough, it's likely because the cabbage is not cooked through yet. Continue to cook the rolls until they're tender. It's also important to make sure you let the rolls rest after they're finished baking.

Why do you freeze cabbage before making cabbage rolls? ›

Freezing breaks down the structure of the leaves, making them pliable and unlikely to crack or break when you pull them from the head or roll them for stuffing.

What is cabbage roll sauce made of? ›

Mix tomato sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce together in a small bowl until combined. Pour over cabbage rolls.

How long does cabbage take to soften? ›

Put the cabbage leaves or shredded cabbage in a large pan and cover halfway with water. Bring to the boil and cook for 3-5 mins or until tender.

What happens if you don't blanch cabbage before freezing? ›

Once it's washed and cut up, cabbage can be frozen, but for longer-term storage, it's best to blanch it first. Blanched cabbage can be frozen for up to nine months, while unblanched cabbage will only keep for one to two months.

Is it better to freeze or boil cabbage for cabbage rolls? ›

Rather than boil the vegetable, do the exact opposite and try freezing an entire head of cabbage instead. Despite the fact that it might take a bit of extra time, this method proves to be safer and significantly less stinky — after all, no one wants their house to smell like gas.

Is it better to freeze cabbage rolls cooked or uncooked? ›

Can you freeze Make-Ahead Cabbage Rolls? Cover and freeze unbaked cabbage rolls. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.

What do you serve with cabbage rolls? ›

  • Fresh salad with a zingy lime vinaigrette. ...
  • Bread- Soft dinner rolls go well with cabbage rolls. ...
  • Mashed potato and sauerkraut. ...
  • Gravy.
  • Roasted carrots or other sautéed veges also go well with cabbage rolls.
  • You can also serve it with flavored rice dishes.
Jun 9, 2016

Why is my cabbage tough on my cabbage rolls? ›

If your cabbage rolls are too tough, it means that you have not cooked them long enough. My method to start with, letting the cabbage sit overnight, starts to get the cabbage nice and soft. But if they are still not soft enough after cooking, it means that you need to return them to the oven and cook for longer.

What are Ukrainian cabbage rolls made of? ›

Description. Ukrainian meat stuffed cabbage rolls. Made with sweet green cabbage, beef, pork, carrots, onions, tomatoes, rice, fresh dill/ parsley, spices.

Can you use the outer leaves of cabbage for cabbage rolls? ›

So at first, eating the outer leaves didn't sound too appetizing. But that's the thing about growing your own food; you put so much effort into your plants so it just kills you to let anything go to waste. So I decided to make cabbage rolls with the outer leaves. My goodness they were fabulous.

Can dogs have cabbage? ›

Along with other cruciferous veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, cabbage is fine to snack on with your dog. Just be sure to start slow and limit their intake, since the high fiber and water content can cause an upset stomach if your pup has too much.

Why did my rolls turn out tough? ›

Too much flour, or not the right kind, could be to blame. Dough made only from flour with a high or even average amount of protein (like bread flour or all-purpose flour) can become tough from overmixing. Protein gives bread structure in the form of gluten—the more you mix and move the dough, the more gluten you get.

What happens if you overcook cabbage? ›

Unappetizing texture and flavor: Overcooking can cause cabbage to become mushy, slimy, and unappetizing. It can also cause the cabbage to lose its natural sweetness and become bitter.

Why is my cabbage head not firm? ›

Inconsistent Watering:

Winter staples like cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower need a steady water supply to thrive and form a plump, compact head. Inconsistent watering can disrupt the development process and lead to loose or underwhelming heads. Cabbage, in particular, is sensitive to water fluctuations.

Can cabbage be tough? ›

Cabbage's unfortunate reputation stems from two things: a longstanding tendency by many people to overcook it, and the fact that it's undeniably tough when raw.

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