Description
Enjoy all the classic flavors of Slow Cooker Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls without the fuss of rolling! This hearty and comforting dish, featuring ground beef, rice, and a tangy tomato sauce, cooks to perfection in your slow cooker.
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20 lean)
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1/2 cup beef broth
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp brown sugar (packed)
1 tsp salt
1/2 head green cabbage, cored and chopped into 1-inch pieces
1 cup cooked white rice
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and onion; cook 8–10 minutes until beef is browned and onion is softened. Drain excess fat.
2. Stir in garlic, smoked paprika, black pepper, and cayenne (if using); cook 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Transfer beef mixture to a 6-quart (or larger) slow cooker. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and salt; stir to combine.
4. Add chopped cabbage and cooked rice; gently stir to distribute.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours, until cabbage is tender and flavors meld.
6. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.
Notes
For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey for the beef.
For added texture, lightly brown the cabbage in the skillet before adding to the slow cooker.
Freezer-friendly: cool completely, then freeze in airtight containers up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 6 hrs
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American, Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg