Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Skillet

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This unstuffed cabbage recipe is ideal for hectic weeknights when time is limited. This savory, meaty dish is prepared in a skillet and baked, capturing the essence of the classic dish while simplifying the process. To expedite prep, we recommend using precooked microwaveable brown rice. However, if you have leftover brown rice that you’d like to use up, that’s a great option too.

a recipe photo of the Unstuffed Cabbage Roll
Photo:

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Active Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
40 mins
Servings:
6

Nutrition Notes

Is Cabbage Healthy?

Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable and is loaded with nutrition. It’s high in vitamin C and also delivers fiber and vitamin K. There is evidence that suggests eating cabbage may help fight cancer, as well.

Is Ground Beef Good for You?

While ground beef can be high in saturated fat, 93%-lean ground beef has about the same amount of fat as ground turkey. Lean ground beef is a great source of protein and vitamin B12 and a good source of choline. Choline helps the brain, heart, liver and metabolism run smoothly, and is a nutrient that many of us fall short on.

Tips from the Test Kitchen

Can I Use a Different Type of Cabbage?

Yes, you can replace the green cabbage in this recipe with Savoy or napa cabbage. We chose green cabbage for this recipe because it’s easy to find at most grocery stores.

What Should I Serve with Cabbage Rolls?

You can serve this cabbage roll skillet with mashed or roasted potatoes, egg noodles, a refreshing green salad or roasted root veggies. And you can’t go wrong serving it with some good bread, like garlic bread or dinner rolls.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Difference Between Tomato Sauce and Tomato Puree?

Tomato sauce is a thin mixture, often unflavored. It's typically sold in cans and can be found in the pasta aisle. Be sure not to get it confused with pasta sauce, which can be flavored with herbs, garlic or cheese. While tomato sauce is considered a puree, actual tomato puree is a much thicker mixture with a smooth and uniform flavor.

What Can I Do with Leftover Fresh Parsley?

You can do a lot with a bounty of fresh parsley. Make herbed butter to spread on a slab of toasted bread, or blend parsley with olive oil and drizzle it over a bowl of your favorite soup or pasta. Parsley oil is easy enough to freeze in ice cube trays, so it’s ready when you are. Fresh parsley is an excellent addition to green salads, and you can add it to dressings too, like this Parsley-Lemon Vinaigrette.

Additional reporting by Carrie Myers, M.S. and Linda Frahm

the ingredients to make the Unstuffed Cabbage Roll

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 pound lean ground beef

  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped

  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided

  • 3 medium cloves garlic, chopped

  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

  • 6 cups chopped green cabbage

  • 1 (15 ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes

  • 1 (15-ounce) can  no-salt-added tomato sauce

  • 1 (8.8-ounce) package microwaveable brown rice

  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds

  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, divided

  • 1 cup shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat oil in a large, high-sided ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring often to break up the meat, until browned and cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes.

  2. Add garlic and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add cabbage; cook, stirring often, until mostly tender, 5 to 8 minutes.

    a photo of the pan with the ground beef and cabbage cooking

    Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

  3. Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, rice, vinegar, caraway seeds, paprika, 1 tablespoon parsley and the remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt; spread into an even layer. Remove from heat; sprinkle evenly with mozzarella.

    a photo of all the ingredients cooking together in the pan

    Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

  4. Bake until the cheese is melted and slightly browned, about 15 minutes. Garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon chopped parsley.

Nutrition Information

Calories 338, Fat 14g, Saturated Fat 5g, Cholesterol 60mg, Carbohydrates 29g, Total sugars 9g, Added sugars 0g, Protein 25g, Fiber 5g, Sodium 694mg, Potassium 895mg

EatingWell.com, February 2024

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