Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

Now you can enjoy all the goodness of stuffed cabbage rolls in this easy, one pan – UNstuffed Cabbage Roll recipe – ready in just 30 minutes!

It’s a deconstructed version of the classic with ground beef, tender cabbage and fluffy rice all made in one pan!

The flavors in this stuffed cabbage roll skillet are what I would describe as cozy and comforting. It’s a tomato-based sauce with hints of garlic, oregano and a little tang from Worcestershire sauce, along with a surprise sweetness from golden raisins.

Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls

Gone are the days of boiling cabbage, making a filling, tediously filling that cabbage, rolling it up and baking it…

Now you can enjoy all that goodness in about 30 minutes!

Ingredients for Skillet Cabbage Rolls

Here’s the basic list of ingredients that you’ll need in order to make these unstuffed cabbage rolls. As always, you can find the full list of ingredients located in the printable recipe card below.

• Ground Beef – use a lean ground beef, but you can also swap for ground pork, chicken or even turkey if desired.
• Aromatics – onion, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper and paprika all give this dish it’s signature cabbage roll flavor.
• Long Grain Rice – we’re cooking the rice directly in the skillet with the ground beef so it’ll absorb that flavor and use less dishes in the process. It’s a win-win.
• Cabbage – the star of the show! Use fresh green cabbage that’s chopped up into bite-size pieces.
• Tomatoes – both petite diced tomatoes and a can of tomato sauce give this dish it’s saucy texture. I prefer the petite diced tomatoes over regular diced tomatoes, but both will work fine here.
• Worcestershire Sauce – gives the dish a nice umami flavor, a little tang and deepens the overall taste of the dish – I highly recommend NOT skipping this.
• Golden Raisins – these add a little bit of sweetness to counter the acidity of the tomatoes, and they’re also a signature ingredient in classic cabbage rolls. You can, however swap this out for a tablespoon of brown sugar if desired.

How To Make Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

All the flavor of cabbage rolls in just one pan? Yes please!

Brown Ground Beef

Start by browning the ground beef and onion in a large skillet – make sure it’s pretty big cause this recipe makes a hefty amount. The pan I’m using is a 12″ cast iron skillet (with lid) and it works perfectly.

Season and Toast Rice

Toss in the seasonings and uncooked rice, giving it all a good stir till it’s nice and fragrant.

Toasting the rice in this method will give it more nutty flavor when it cooked, and give it a nice texture when cooked.

Add Sauce and Cabbage

Stir in the remaining ingredients, carefully folding in that cabbage – this is why that large pan was necessary.

Bring the whole mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and let the rice cook for about 15 minutes.

That’s it! The whole dinner is ready to enjoy and oh-so good.

Make Ahead and Storage

This deconstructed cabbage roll skillet is perfect for meal prepping. You can make this ahead of time, store in these handy freezer cubes and enjoy a hearty and nutritious dinner any time.

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Stuffed Cabbage rolls can last in the freezer for 3 to 6 months.

More Recipes that Use Cabbage

My kids actually REALLY love cabbage. I’m not sure what I did to earn that parenting badge, but I’ll take it. Here are a few more easy recipes that use cabbage, and are also family favorites.

• Cabbage Soup – nutritious and comforting!
• Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage – my kids go BONKERS for this one.
• Simple Coleslaw Recipe – so cool and refreshing with that perfect crunch!
• Teriyaki Shrimp Taco Bites – these are so fun and unique!

I can’t wait for you to give this Ground Beef Cabbage Roll Skillet a try! I know you’re going to love it as much as my family does.