Cabbage rolls are a beloved family classic, but the traditional rolling process takes hours of work. This unstuffed version captures all those rich, savory flavors in a fraction of the time. It is a "no-roll" solution that lets you enjoy a comforting dinner on even the busiest weeknight. This is also a great recipe for meal prepping for the week ahead!
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.
The Ingredients for the Lazy Cabbage Rolls
- Ground Beef or Turkey You can use lean ground beef, ground turkey, or a mix of pork and beef. This provides the hearty protein base. Just be sure to brown it and drain the fat so the final dish isn't greasy.
- Butter and Onion Sautéing the onion in a little butter before adding the meat creates a savory, aromatic foundation that permeates the whole dish.
- Slaw Mix or Shredded Cabbage Using a bag of pre-shredded slaw mix is a massive time-saver and ensures consistent cooking. If you have a head of cabbage, you can chop that up instead.
- Sauerkraut This is the flavor booster. The brine in the sauerkraut cuts through the richness of the meat. Make sure to drain it well so you don't add too much liquid to the pot.
- Fire-Roasted Tomatoes These add moisture and a slight smokiness. If you only have plain diced tomatoes, those work too, but fire-roasted adds a nice extra layer of flavor.
How to Make the Crockpot Cabbage Rolls
- Prepare the Flavor Base Start by dicing your medium onion. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the tablespoon of butter. Add the onion and cook until it is soft and translucent.
- Brown the Meat Add the ground beef (or turkey) to the skillet with the onions. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until the meat is fully browned. Crucial Step: Spoon off or drain about 2-3 tablespoons of the excess liquid/fat. This prevents the final dish from being watery .
- Add Tomatoes Stir the fire-roasted tomatoes into the beef mixture and cook just until they are warmed through. Remove the skillet from the heat.
- Layer the Slow Cooker (Primary Method) In a 6-quart slow cooker, place the bag of slaw mix (or shredded cabbage) at the very bottom. Next, spread the drained sauerkraut over the fresh cabbage. Finally, spoon the beef and tomato mixture over the top. Do not stir.
- Cook Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours or High for 3-4 hours. You want the cabbage to be tender. Serve warm over rice or roasted potatoes.
- Alternative Oven Method Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Follow the layering steps above using a Dutch oven or oven-safe pot. Cover tightly with a lid or foil and bake for 90 minutes.
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
This is a fantastic make-ahead dinner recipe. You can assemble the entire dish a day in advance and keep it in the refrigerator. When you are ready, simply bake it or pop the insert into your slow cooker. It is a huge time saver for busy weeks.
Excess liquid usually comes from the meat or the sauerkraut. It is crucial to brown the ground beef (or turkey) thoroughly and spoon off any grease or water before adding the other ingredients. You should also drain your sauerkraut well before layering it in.
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 smokiness and flavor depth, you can use regular diced tomatoes as a substitute. If you do swap them, you might want to add a pinch of smoked paprika to mimic that roasted flavor.
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.
The combination of fresh shredded cabbage (or slaw mix) and sauerkraut is the key. The sauerkraut adds a brine and tang that mimics the fermentation flavor found in traditional Polish recipes, giving this dish a much richer profile than using fresh cabbage alone.
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Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker Unstuffed Cabbage
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
Notes
- Scaling for Meal Prep This recipe serves about 8 people, making it excellent for meal prep. If you are cooking for a smaller household, you can easily freeze the leftovers in individual airtight containers for quick lunches later in the month.
- Serving Suggestion While delicious on its own, this dish pairs wonderfully with a side of roasted potatoes or crusty bread to soak up the savory juices.
Jordan says
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!
clevelandcooking says
Thank you!