Easy Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

Melissa Erdelac
by Melissa Erdelac
6 servings
45 min

Learn how to make easy Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls recipe on the stove top, Instant Pot, or slow cooker. Serve it with rice for a hearty weeknight family dinner, or transform it into a slimmed down low carb meal!

a close up shot of unstuffed cabbage rolls in a small serving bowl

I am a huge fan Ina Garten’s Stuffed Cabbage Roll recipe…on special occasions. This classic comfort food meal makes the absolute best cabbage rolls, but they take forever!

Ina’s recipe has tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a ground beef and rice filling. Once assembled, they nestle in a robustly flavored tomato sauce with brown sugar and raisins to add a touch of sweetness.


Then they simmer and bake to perfection in a covered dutch oven. Your home will smell like heaven, and you will want to take a nap. (Go for it. You’ve earned it!)

Yes, cabbage rolls are a tedious and labor intensive recipe. However, there’s a way to enjoy the same rich, comforting flavors without the work!


Quick and Easy Dinner recipe

Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls with rice are made quickly and easily in a skillet, Instant Pot, or slow cooker. The taste is spot on, but are served in about 30 minutes!

The stove top or pressure cooker versions are perfect when you need a quick weeknight meal. Alternatively, use the slow cooker recipe to cook while you are away from home.

overhead shot of unstuffed cabbage rolls in a skillet with towel and serving spoon laying next to it

Is this recipe low carb?

Our family serves cabbage roll skillet over rice, but this meal easily transforms into a low carb or keto friendly recipe.

For low carb or keto unstuffed cabbage rolls, serve without rice. Omit the brown sugar to reduce the carbs to 13 grams and calories to 346 per serving.



a wooden spoon holding up a serving of unstuffed cabbage rolls

cabbage roll Casserole

Easily transform this skillet meal into a hearty casserole dish!


  1. Prepare dish using stove top or Instant Pot directions. Cook 1 cup rice separately.
  2. Grease a 9X13 baking dish and preheat oven to 350ºF.
  3. Combine unstuffed cabbage rolls mixture with cooked rice.
  4. Pour 1/2 cabbage mixture in casserole dish, sprinkle on 1 cup parmesan, mozzarella, or swiss cheese. Top with remaining cabbage mixture and sprinkle with 1 additional cup of cheese.
  5. Bake, uncovered, for 30-45 minutes or until hot and bubbly.


Cooks Tips

  1. This recipe uses about 1/2 head of cabbage. Save the remaining half to make Easy Roasted Cabbage for a future meal. So good!
  2. Transform leftovers into cabbage roll soup! Add cooked rice, additional beef broth, cup of water, tomato sauce, or a combination of them all.
  3. Save time by substituting cole slaw mix instead of chopping fresh cabbage.
  4. I like the raisins to mimic traditional cabbage rolls, but they may be omitted.
  5. If you prefer a thicker sauce, add additional tomato paste. To thin sauce, add additional tomato sauce, broth, or water.


a serving of unstuffed cabbage rolls in a blue bowl served over rice
Easy Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
Recipe details
  • 6  servings
  • Prep time: 10 Minutes Cook time: 35 Minutes Total time: 45 min
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Ingredients
  • ▢ 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
  • ▢ 1 small onion, chopped
  • ▢ 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ▢ 8 ounce can tomato sauce
  • ▢ 14 ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
  • ▢ 1/2 cup beef broth
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ▢ 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
  • ▢ 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • ▢ 1/2 head cabbage (6-7 cups), cored and chopped
  • ▢ 1/4 cup raisins, optional
  • ▢ 3-4 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ▢ 3 cups cooked rice, optional for serving
Instructions
Stove Top Directions:
In a large 12 inch skillet cook ground beef and onion over medium heat, for about 5 minutes. When beef is cooked and onion is translucent, drain excess liquid. Add garlic to skillet and sauté for 30 seconds more.
Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, paprika, thyme, brown sugar, salt, and pepper to skillet and stir. Add chopped cabbage, optional raisins, and toss gently. Bring mixture to a boil. Cover skillet, reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir, recover, then simmer for 10 minutes longer, or until cabbage is tender.
Remove lid and add 3 tablespoons of tomato paste. Stir and simmer, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes, or until sauce reduces slightly. If you prefer a thicker sauce, add additional tomato paste and stir. Serve over cooked rice.
Pressure Cooker Directions:
Press SAUTE function on Instant Pot. Add beef and onion and saute until beef is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute longer. Press CANCEL.
If desired, remove pot from Instant Pot and drain grease. Replace pot and add tomato sauce, drained diced tomatoes, beef broth, paprika, thyme, brown sugar, salt, pepper, and optional raisins. Seal lid and cook on HIGH pressure for 15 minutes. Quick release pressure and carefully remove lid.
Add chopped cabbage to the pot. Seal and lock lid in place. Cook on HIGH pressure for 3 minutes. Quick release pressure and carefully remove lid.
Stir in tomato paste until desired consistency. If the sauce needs to thicken more, turn on SAUTE low and simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until sauce reduces and thickens. Serve over cooked rice.
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Spray crockpot liner with nonstick cooking spray. Crumble raw ground beef on bottom of slow cooker. Layer chopped onions, garlic, chopped cabbage, and (optional) raisins over top.
In a medium bowl stir together tomato sauce, undrained diced tomatoes, beef broth, paprika, thyme, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Pour over beef / cabbage layers.
Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. Serve over cooked rice.
Tips
  • Cooks Tips
  • This recipe uses about 1/2 head of cabbage. Save the remaining half to make Easy Roasted Cabbage for a future meal. So good!
  • Transform leftovers into cabbage roll soup! Add cooked rice, additional beef broth, cup of water, tomato sauce, or a combination of them all.
  • Save time by substituting cole slaw mix instead of chopping fresh cabbage.
  • I like the raisins to mimic traditional cabbage rolls, but they may be omitted.
  • If you prefer a thicker sauce, add additional tomato paste. To thin sauce, add additional tomato sauce, broth, or water.
Melissa Erdelac
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