Comfort Cabbage Casserole

A close friend used to make stuffed cabbage for our families and we all loved it. She always said she was going to show me how she did it but she passed away before we ever found the time. I remembered how it tasted but lacked the patience to actually stuff cabbage so I came up with an easier version.

• Ready In: 1 hr 25 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 head cabbage
• 1  lb ground beef
• 1  onion, chopped
• 1  bell pepper, chopped
• 2  stalks celery, chopped
• 1  tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1 (14 1/2ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2  cups cooked white rice
• 3  cups cheese, grated

Directions

1. Chop cabbage and place in bottom of large buttered casserole dish, put aside.
2. Saute onion, pepper, celery & garlic in a little olive oil for a couple of minutes or so add ground beef and continue to cook until beef is browned. Remove from heat and pour off all oil. Fold in tomatoes, cooked rice and 1/2 can tomato sauce.
3. Spoon 1/2 rice mixture over cabbage. Sprinkle 1/2 of cheese on top. Layer remaining 1/2 of rice mixture. Pour remaining tomato sauce over mixture and top with remaining grated cheese. Bake at 350F for 45 minutes to one hour.