This easy Cabbage Roll in a Bowl recipe has everything you love about classic stuffed cabbage rolls, but without the extra work. Tender cabbage, seasoned ground beef, rice, and a rich tomato sauce cook together in one skillet for a cozy, filling dinner that is ready in about 35 minutes.
There is no need to boil cabbage leaves, make a separate filling, or spend time rolling anything up. This one-pan skillet meal gives you those old-fashioned cabbage roll flavors in a simple, family-friendly dinner that is perfect for busy weeknights.
If you have been loving easy cabbage dinners, you will also want to make my Southern Fried Cabbage and Bacon and browse my favorite easy ground beef recipes.
More Cabbage Recipes You’ll Love
Why You’ll Love This Cabbage Roll in a Bowl
- All the flavor of traditional cabbage rolls with no rolling required.
- Made in one skillet, including the rice.
- An inexpensive ground beef dinner made with simple pantry ingredients.
- Comforting, hearty, and great for cooler nights.
- Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day.
This is also a great recipe for using up half a head of cabbage. The cabbage cooks down into the savory tomato and beef mixture, becoming tender while still having a little bite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small head green cabbage, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juices
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh parsley, for serving
How to Make Cabbage Roll in a Bowl
Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and onion. Cook, breaking the beef into crumbles, until the meat is browned and the onion is softened. Drain excess grease if needed.
Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
Add the chopped cabbage to the skillet. It will look like a lot at first, but it cooks down quickly. Stir and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until the cabbage begins to soften.
Stir in the uncooked rice, beef broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with their juices, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and simmer for 18 to 22 minutes, or until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
Remove the skillet from the heat and let it rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork, taste for seasoning, and add more salt and pepper if needed.
Spoon into bowls and finish with fresh parsley.
Tips for the Best Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Skillet
Use a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid. The cabbage takes up plenty of room before it cooks down, and the lid helps the rice steam evenly.
Chop your cabbage instead of shredding it too finely. Small, bite-sized pieces give the dish more of that familiar stuffed cabbage texture and keep it from becoming mushy.
Do not skip the brown sugar. It is not enough to make the dish sweet, but it balances the acidity in the tomatoes and gives this skillet meal that cozy, old-fashioned cabbage roll flavor.
If the rice needs a few more minutes but the skillet is looking dry, add a splash of beef broth or water, cover again, and continue cooking until tender.
Easy Recipe Variations
Make it low carb: Leave out the rice and stir in cauliflower rice during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
Use ground turkey: Ground turkey works well in place of beef for a lighter cabbage roll bowl.
Add cheese: Sprinkle mozzarella or sharp cheddar over the finished skillet. Cover for a few minutes until melted and bubbly.
Make it spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes or a little hot sauce with the tomato sauce.
Use pre-shredded cabbage: Bagged coleslaw mix is an easy shortcut when you need dinner on the table fast. Just remember it cooks faster than freshly chopped cabbage.
What to Serve with Cabbage Roll in a Bowl
This one-pan cabbage roll skillet is a complete dinner all on its own, but it is especially good with warm crusty bread or garlic bread for soaking up the tomato sauce.
For a classic comfort-food meal, serve it with Creamed Spinach, Orange Juice Glazed Carrots, or a simple side salad.
If your family loves easy, budget-friendly ground beef meals, make sure to try my Slow Cooker Hamburger Helper next.
Cabbage Roll in a Bowl Recipe | One-Pan Skillet Meal
This easy Cabbage Roll in a Bowl recipe has all the cozy flavor of stuffed cabbage rolls in one simple skillet meal. Made with ground beef, tender cabbage, rice, and a rich tomato sauce, it is a hearty, budget-friendly dinner for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: SKILLET
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small head green cabbage, chopped into bite-sized pieces, about 8 cups
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for serving
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and onion. Cook, breaking the beef into crumbles, until browned and the onion is softened. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Add the chopped cabbage and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring often, until it starts to soften.
- Stir in the uncooked rice, beef broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with their juices, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18 to 22 minutes, until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Remove from the heat and let rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork, taste for seasoning, and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- If the rice is not tender but the skillet looks dry, add a splash of beef broth or water, cover, and cook for a few more minutes.
- For a low-carb version, leave out the rice and stir in cauliflower rice during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover Cabbage Roll in a Bowl in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat individual servings in the microwave, or warm leftovers in a skillet over low heat with a splash of beef broth or water to loosen the sauce.
You can freeze this recipe for up to 2 months, although the cabbage will be softer after thawing. It is best enjoyed fresh or refrigerated for the best texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cabbage Roll in a Bowl the same as unstuffed cabbage rolls?
Yes. Cabbage Roll in a Bowl, unstuffed cabbage rolls, cabbage roll skillet, and lazy cabbage rolls are all names for this easy one-pan version of traditional stuffed cabbage rolls.
Can I make this recipe without rice?
Absolutely. Skip the rice and serve the ground beef and cabbage mixture over cooked rice, mashed potatoes, or cauliflower rice. You can also keep it low carb by leaving the rice out completely.
Can I use brown rice?
You can, but brown rice takes longer to cook and needs more liquid. For the easiest and most reliable one-pan meal, long-grain white rice is best.
Can I use ground sausage instead of beef?
Yes. Mild Italian sausage, hot Italian sausage, ground pork, or ground turkey all work well in this cabbage roll bowl recipe.
Final Thoughts
This Cabbage Roll in a Bowl is exactly the kind of simple, cozy dinner that makes busy weeknights easier. It has all the hearty flavor of homemade stuffed cabbage rolls, but everything comes together in one skillet with almost no fuss.
Make it once, and it will quickly become one of those easy ground beef dinners you reach for anytime you need something warm, filling, and budget-friendly.
