The delightful taste of cabbage rolls, without the fuss!

Cabbage rolls are a beloved classic in so many cultures, but let’s be honest, they can be quite labor-intensive to make. Well, we have a solution for you – an easy cabbage roll casserole that doesn’t require any rolling at all! Now, you can satisfy your craving for this flavorful dish with minimal effort.

How easy is it? Well, you don’t even have to precook or sauté any cabbage. Just slice it up, brown some ground beef and onions, and start layering. First, a layer of cabbage followed by a mixture of ground beef, onions, marinara sauce, bacon, and rice. Repeat until the dish is full. A simple layer of tomato sauce on top adds the perfect finishing touch.

No pre-cooking necessary! The moisture from the tomato sauce and the tightly sealed foil will ensure that the cabbage cooks down to perfection. We definitely don’t want crunchy cabbage here. Once the foil comes off, sprinkle some cheese on top, and let it bake until the cheese is irresistibly melted and bubbly.

In just a few minutes of work and a few simple layers, you’ll have a hearty and reasonably healthy meal with all the amazing flavors of cabbage rolls, without any of the rolling. It’s a win-win for the lazy cooks among us!

Easy Cabbage Roll Casserole Recipe

• Serves: 8
• Prep time: 1 hour

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 white onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 (24 oz) jars marinara sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
• 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 cups cooked white rice
• 4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
• 1 medium head (2 lbs) cabbage, shredded
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
2. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and onion over medium heat until the meat is cooked through. Add garlic and cook for an additional minute.
3. Drain the grease and stir in one jar of marinara sauce, along with the thyme, dill, sage, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in bacon and rice and remove from heat.
4. Line the baking dish with one-third of the shredded cabbage. Evenly distribute half of the meat/rice mixture on top. Add another one-third of the cabbage, followed by the remaining meat mixture, and the final one-third of cabbage.
5. Pour the remaining jar of marinara sauce over the top. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes.
6. Remove the foil, sprinkle the grated cheese on top, and bake until the cheese is bubbly and melted, approximately 10-12 minutes.
7. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!