Welcome to a beloved family classic redefined! This Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls recipe is the perfect solution for enjoying rich, savory flavors without the traditional work. What you’re in for is an easy, no-roll dish that’s a true make-ahead meal, ideal for busy evenings. Just brown the beef, layer your ingredients, and let the oven or slow cooker do the rest, promising a comforting, hearty dinner that’s been a hit in our family for decades. You can serve it over rice, with roasted potatoes, or just on its own!
Why You’ll Love This Unstuffed Cabbage Roll
- Set It and Forget It: This is the ultimate “dump dinner.” Just layer it in the crock pot and walk away.
- The “Secret” Ingredient: We use sauerkraut alongside fresh cabbage. This adds a tangy, authentic Polish flavor depth that other recipes miss.
- Budget Friendly: Ground beef and cabbage are two of the most affordable ingredients you can buy.
Here’s What You Will Need:
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 1 medium onion
- 2 pounds of ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon of sea salt
- 1 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1-16 oz bag of slaw mix or shredded cabbage
- 2-14.5 oz cans of fire roasted tomatoes
- 1-14 oz can of sauerkraut
- rice-optional
Simple Steps for Your Unstuffed Cabbage Base
The most difficult part of the unstuffed cabbage is dicing up the onion. So that is where we will start! Dice up one medium onion. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt one tablespoon of butter. Once melted, place the onion in the skillet and cook until the onion is soft. Next, add the ground beef and brown. Once browned, spoon off 2-3 tablespoons of liquid. The fire roasted tomatoes are next! I always have a few cans around to add to recipes. Add the two cans of fire roasted tomatoes to the ground beef mixture and cook until warmed.
Layering & Baking Your Unstuffed Cabbage
The first layer of the no-roll stuffed cabbage is the bag of shredded cabbage. Place that in the bottom of your pot that you will be using. Next, spread the can of sauerkraut over the cabbage. Last, add the ground beef mixture. Cover and bake at 375 degrees F for 90 minutes. Do not stir the unstuffed cabbage. Just scoop it out to serve. Serve over rice or on its own!
Serve this hearty meal with a light side like my gluten free Roasted Parmesan Brussels Sprouts.
Another great make ahead meal is my layered salad. It can be made a day ahead or earlier in the day before your get together! Give my Low Carb Turkey Chili a try!
FAQ’s
Yes, this is a fantastic make-ahead dinner recipe! You can assemble it a day in advance and bake it just before serving for a huge time saver.
It’s crucial to brown the ground beef (or turkey) thoroughly and then spoon off any excess liquid before adding the other ingredients. Also, make sure to drain your sauerkraut well.
Absolutely! This dish works wonderfully as an easy crock pot or slow cooker recipe, making it even more convenient for busy days.
While the recipe specifically calls for fire-roasted tomatoes for their added flavor depth, you can use regular diced tomatoes as a substitute if needed.
This dish is incredibly versatile! It’s delicious served over rice or with roasted potatoes, but it’s also hearty enough to enjoy simply on its own.
Yes, you can easily use ground turkey or a combination of ground beef and pork instead of just ground beef, if you prefer.
Easy Slow Cooker Unstuffed Cabbage (No-Roll Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 pounds of ground beef ground turkey, or a combination of both
- 1 teaspoon each of sea salt and cracked black pepper
- 1 16 oz bag of slaw mix or shredded cabbage
- 2 14.5 ounce cans of fire roasted tomatoes or tomato sauce
- 1 14 ounce can of sauerkraut
- Rice optional
Method
- Melt butter in a large skillet over a medium heat.
- Add onion and cook the onion until soft.
- Next, add the ground beef, sea salt, and cracked pepper, and brown the ground beef.
- Once the beef is browned, mix in the fire roasted tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes are warm.
- Drain about 3 tablespoons of the liquid off and discard.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F
- Line the bottom of an oven friendly pot with the cabbage. Next, layer the sauerkraut over the cabbage.
- Next add the beef and tomato mixture. Do not mix.
- Cover and bake for 90 minutes. When the unstuffed cabbage is done do not mix.
- For Slow Cooker: Layer the cabbage, sauerkraut, and beef mixture in a 6-quart slow cooker (do not stir). Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours or High for 3-4 hours until the cabbage is tender.
Nutrition
Private Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Key Takeaways
- The Unstuffed Cabbage recipe is a family favorite, offering rich flavors with minimal effort.
- You need basic ingredients like ground beef, cabbage, and fire-roasted tomatoes to make this dish.
- Start by sautéing onions and browning the meat before layering the ingredients for baking.
- This meal can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before serving, making it convenient for busy nights.
- You can serve unstuffed cabbage over rice, with roasted potatoes, or on its own for a hearty meal.
Decided to make this over cabbage rolls. I will definitely be using this recipe now as it saves so much time and is just as delicious. I added mashed potatoes and sauce and it was perfection!
Thank you!