Easy Cabbage Casserole - Tastes Like Cabbage Rolls

Submitted by Mamas Kitchen Hope

"This is a great recession meal. Very inexpensive yet HEALTHY and filling! You just do not find that very often. So many recipes that are quick and easy... one pan wonders... etc.. are high in fat and calories and lack much nutrition. I like to hide more veggies in here too! Think carrots, celery, etc,, grated, diced, chopped whatever. If you like spicy foods try Hot & Spicy V8 here and you can even add some cayenne if you like. There is just something we like about spicy mixed with sweet- so the hint of sweetness in the sauce is fantastic. At my house, whoever finds the bay leaf is the lucky one! Just do not eat it Hope you enjoy this comforting casserole!"

 

• Ready In: 50mins
• Ingredients: 16
• Yields: 6 very ample portions
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 1 medium cabbage (shredded and bagged cabbage or coleslaw mix works great and saves this step)
• 16 ounces ground turkey or 16 ounces lean ground beef
• 1 cup yellow onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (more if you like)
• 1 eggs, beaten or 1 egg substitute
• 1⁄2 cup milk
• 1 cup cooked rice

• SAUCE

• 1 (14 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 8 ounces tomato sauce
• 10 ounces condensed tomato soup
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne (more if you like) (optional)
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg, fresh ground is best
• 1 bay leaf
• salt and pepper, to taste

directions

1. Saute onion and garlic in a large skillet for about a minute. Add meat and cook, stirring often, until meat is no longer pink. Drain well and let cool to room temperature. When meat has cooled add egg, milk and rice.
2. Meanwhile, remove tough outer leaves from cabbage & remove core. Shred cabbage if not using a bag of shredded cabbage. Saute the cabbage in the same skillet used before.
3. In a large bowl mix all the sauce ingredients together. Place some of this mixture in the bottom of a sprayed 10x13 casserole dish so you have a nice layer of sauce. Try not to use more than half though.
4. Layer half the cabbage on top of the sauce. Layer all the meat on top of the cabbage. Top with remaining cabbage and then finish by pouring all the remaining sauce on top.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until everything is hot and bubbly.
6. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream if desired. Remember- whoever finds the bay leaf is the lucky one! Just do not eat it!

Reviews

[myjjboys]

I loved it! It's inexpensive and can be made with the ingredients I have in my pantry. I forgot to add milk, though. Also, I didn't use the oven. Instead, I cooked in a deep non-stick pan for a shorter time. It turned out great!

 

[Crafty Lady 13]

After reading mersaydees review I decided to make a few changes to this recipe. I used 1 cup of rice, replaced the chicken broth with an 8 oz. can of tomato sauce and replaced the 12 oz. of vegetable juice with one can of tomato soup. I also lightly sauteed the cabbage to make up for the decrease in liquids. I followed the rest of the recipe as written and topped it off with some mozzarella cheese during the last 5 minutes of cooking. It turned out GREAT! The flavors were better than the cabbage rolls that I have had before without all the trouble of rolling up individual rolls. I really loved the taste the freshly ground nutmeg and cayenne pepper added to this dish. I will be making this dish often whenever I am in the mood for cabbage rolls. Made for February, 2008 Bevy Tag.

 

[Carol P.]

I don't fry anything... I put 1 can of tomato soup on bottom of roaster... then layer cabbage and then meat and then cabbage. I then add a can of tomato juice and lastly another can of tomato soup on top.... Foil the top and bake in oven for 2 or 3 hours at 375... I use the same spices as you do... My meat mixture has one egg and 1/2 cup instant rice in it ...

 

[Nwest71185]

This was easy and delicious!! I made a few changes, i added half a chopped green pepper to the sautéed onions and garlic, dashes of italian seasoning, 1 14.5oz can of diced tomatoes and 1 15oz can of tomato sauce. I will definitely be making this dish again.

 

[Ricearoni161]

I'm not sure how the original recipe turned out but the changes made after Crafty Lady's suggestions were amazing! I made the recipe exactly given those changes and lovd it. I let it cook a little longer just to ensure it wasn't soupy and it came out perfect, not watery at all like I feared. Awesome, easier way to make cabbage rolls! Thanks!