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Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Dinner

ByJill Machovsky Hours Hours Updated on

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Okay, if you love the flavor of stuffed cabbage rolls but have zero interest in spending your night rolling and baking them, you’ll love this Cabbage Roll Skillet Recipe. It comes together in just over 30 minutes and only uses one pan.

It’s one of those meals I keep in my back pocket for the nights when I want comfort food but don’t want to work too hard for it.

A close-up of a cooked dish featuring melted cheese, ground beef, rice, and chopped vegetables. A white spatula rests in the mixture, suggesting serving or mixing.

If you’re after an easy dinner that the whole family will actually eat, this skillet recipe is for you! Back when I was running my meal prep business, I loved creating family-style recipes that were quick, flavorful, and stress-free—and I still do. This one checks all the boxes.

Serve it with a nice loaf of cheesy bread and a side salad and you’ll be all set! And if you’re a cabbage fan (like me!), don’t miss my Roasted Cabbage and Pulled Pork Bowls—they’re seriously good.

Why You’ll Love This Cabbage Skillet Dinner

  • Hearty: This casserole is loaded with beef, veggies, and cheese. It is hearty and nourishing and makes a delicious weeknight meal. 
  • One pot meal: Don’t you love skillet meals that only use one pot? Fewer pots to clean up is always a bonus.
  • Family-friendly: The whole family will love this cheese-topped casserole.
  • Easy recipe: This skillet version comes together easily, unlike traditional cabbage rolls, which are a little more labor-intensive.

Simple Ingredients

A cooking prep scene with ground meat, cheddar, butter, broth, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, spices, garlic, rice, coleslaw mix, red bell pepper, onion, parsley, and garlic on a marble surface. A grater and measuring cups are included.

Recipe Notes

  • Ground Beef: I’ve substituted ground turkey and chicken in this recipe. Ground beef is my favorite, though.
  • Hot Sauce: For a touch of heat, add as much or as little as you like. You can also sprinkle the cabbage skillet with red pepper flakes. 
  • Coleslaw Mix: You can pick up a package of coleslaw mix at the grocery store or add shredded cabbage leaves and carrots that you prepare yourself.
  • Add More Veggies: Stir in a cup of frozen peas and carrots.
  • Change Up the Rice: Try using quinoa, bulgur, or your favorite grain instead of rice. Note that the cooking time may differ, and you may need to adjust the amount of liquid.

A complete list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card below.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Brown ground beef in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain excess fat if necessary.

A white skillet contains ground beef, chopped onions, minced garlic, and diced red bell peppers. Surrounding the skillet are bowls of white rice, spices, sauce, and parsley, along with a bowl of shredded cabbage on a marble countertop.

Step 2: Add vegetables and spices.

A pan filled with ground meat, diced tomatoes, raw rice, and shredded cabbage. A wooden spoon rests in the pan. A measuring cup filled with broth is being poured into the mixture from above.

Step 3: Stir in the rest of the ingredients except the cheese.

A white skillet filled with a mixture of rice, vegetables, and ground meat, topped with shredded cheddar and white cheese. Nearby are a red bell pepper, garlic, chopped parsley in a bowl, and a wooden board with more cheese.

Step 6: Once the rice is cooked, sprinkle the cheddar and mozzarella cheese (if using) over the top.

A skillet filled with a cheesy beef and rice casserole sits on a marble countertop. Nearby, a wooden board holds a red bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Two empty white plates with forks rest nearby. A green patterned cloth is in the corner.

Step 7: Once the cheese is melted and bubbly, garnish with fresh parsley, if desired, and serve warm. Enjoy!

A white plate with a serving of stuffed pepper casserole, featuring ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and melted cheese.

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A skillet filled with cooked rice, ground meat, and tomatoes. A white spatula is partially visible, mixing the ingredients. The dish appears savory and is seasoned with various herbs and spices.

One Pan Cabbage Roll Skillet

Jill Machovsky
This Cabbage Roll Skillet Dinner is super simple and super tasty combining all the flavors of traditional stuffed cabbage in one easy and delicious one pan meal.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 342 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound Ground Beef
  • 1 Small Onion finely diced
  • ½ cup Bell Pepper finely diced
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoon Paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
  • ½ teaspoon Dill
  • ¾ teaspoon Salt
  • ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1 14.5-ounce can Diced Tomatoes Undrained
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
  • 2 teaspoon Hot Sauce Optional
  • ½ teaspoon Sugar
  • ½ cup Rice uncooked
  • 2 ½ cup Beef Broth
  • 1 teaspoon Beef Base optional for extra beef flavor
  • 4 cups Coleslaw Mix
  • ½ cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • ½ cup Mozzarella Cheese shredded (optional, for topping)
  • Fresh Parsley chopped (for garnish)

Instructions
 

  • In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain excess fat if necessary.
    1 pound Ground Beef
  • Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 5 minutes, until the vegetables are softened.
    1 Small Onion, ½ cup Bell Pepper, 3 cloves Garlic
  • Sprinkle in the paprika, oregano, thyme, dill, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine, allowing the spices to cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
    2 teaspoon Paprika, 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano, 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme, ½ teaspoon Dill, ¾ teaspoon Salt, ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • Add the uncooked rice, beef broth, beef base, diced tomatoes (with their juice), hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sugar and coleslaw mix to the skillet. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
    1 14.5-ounce can Diced Tomatoes, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce, 2 teaspoon Hot Sauce, ½ teaspoon Sugar, ½ cup Rice, 2 ½ cup Beef Broth, 1 teaspoon Beef Base, 4 cups Coleslaw Mix
  • Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cover the skillet and reduce heat to medium-low. Let it cook for about 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
  • Once the rice is cooked, sprinkle the cheddar and mozzarella cheese (if using) over the top. Cover the skillet again and let the cheese melt for about 3-5 minutes.
    ½ cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese, ½ cup Mozzarella Cheese
  • Once the cheese is melted and bubbly, garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve warm. Enjoy!
    Fresh Parsley

Notes

  • Keep your eyes on the pot: Make sure to give the skillet a stir so everything cooks evenly and doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
  • Turn on the broiler for a few minutes: If the cheese isn’t melty and gooey, place the skillet under the broiler for a minute or two.
Storage
  • Fridge: This cheesy cabbage casserole is perfect to make ahead. The flavors will continue to develop as it sits. Stored in an airtight container it will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge. Reheat over the stove or in the microwave in a microwave safe container.
  • Freezer: Place uneaten leftovers in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

Nutrition

Calories: 342kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 21gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 1287mgPotassium: 591mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 934IUVitamin C: 41mgCalcium: 188mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @Cookingupmemoriesinsta or tag #CookingUpMemories!

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Creative Director at Cooking Up Memories

Hi, my name is Jill, and I cook family-friendly recipes. After selling my small business, I decided I would continue with my passion through a small space on the web. It was my goal in my former business to help people make memories through food, and I didn’t want to let that part of my life go! Cooking Up Memories came from the idea that all the big and small events of my life often revolve around food.

4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This dish tasted fantastic and would be so easy to customize with whatever you needed to use up in your fridge or pantry. The flavors brought back memories of my grandmother’s cabbage rolls!

    Reply

  2. 5 stars
    Fantastic flavor and such a great idea to use slaw mix instead of breaking down a head of cabbage. This one is headed to our regular rotation! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

    1. Hi Christina! I’m right there with you, if a shortcut saves time and the flavor is still fantastic, I’m all in. I’m so glad you enjoyed it and that it’s earning a spot in your regular rotation. That makes my day! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

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