Cabbage rolls take on a new delicious form in Cabbage Roll Casserole! With layers of fresh, crispy cabbage cooked to unique sweetness with a rich, savory meat sauce, it has all the flavors you want in a cabbage roll, but now you can enjoy them by the scoop! The topping is a creamy, smoky cheese sauce cooked to a melty, golden brown that saturates every bite. Cabbage Roll Casserole takes an ordinary vegetable and transforms it into something you can’t stop eating!
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 cups rice, cooked
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- 4 tablespoons water, divided
- 1 large head cabbage, chopped into 1-inch squares
- 2 cups gruyere cheese, grated
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup milk
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2 –In a large skillet on the stove-top over medium heat, add the beef and onion.
Step 3 –Sauté until the beef is browned and no pink remains, for about 5-6 minutes.
Step 4 –Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Step 5 –Stir in the tomato sauce, salt, pepper, paprika, thyme, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes (including the juices).
Step 6 –Simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes.
Step 7 –Remove the skillet from the heat and add the rice.
Step 8 –In a separate skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Step 9 –Once the oil is shimmering, add 2 tablespoons of water and 1/2 of the cabbage. Sauté until just softened, about 5 minutes.
Step 10 –Transfer the cooked cabbage to a plate and repeat the sautéing process with the remaining olive oil, water, and cabbage.
Step 11 –In a 9×13-inch casserole dish, layer 1/2 of the cabbage.
Step 12 –Layer 1/2 of the meat sauce on top of the cabbage in the casserole dish.
Step 13 –Repeat the layers.
Step 14 –Cover the casserole with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
Step 15 –In a small bowl, mix together the gruyere cheese, egg, and milk.
Step 16 –Remove the foil and top the casserole with the cheese mixture.
Step 17 –Bake the casserole uncovered for 20 minutes.
Step 18 –Serve hot!
