Cabbage Casserole

Name: Cabbage Casserole
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 pound ground beef (85% lean ); 1 medium onion (chopped (6 oz)); 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt ((or 1 teaspoon of any other salt)); 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon fresh garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 28 oz diced tomatoes (well drained); 1 medium green cabbage (roughly chopped (1 lb.)); 1 1/2 cup cheddar (shredded, divided (6 oz total))

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This hearty cabbage casserole has all the flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls but requires much less work.

The leftovers are excellent! You can enjoy them reheated or even cold from the fridge.

Cabbage casserole served in a white baking dish with a serving spoon.

Cabbage is so versatile. I use it in several recipes, including roasted cabbage, steamed cabbage, cabbage stir-fry, Asian cabbage salad, cabbage soup, and cabbage pancakes.

This cabbage casserole is one of my favorite cabbage recipes. It's flavorful and filling, and it's so easy to make. The prep time is just 20 minutes, and the casserole is ready in about an hour and can feed six people.

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Ingredients
Variations
Cabbage Casserole Instructions
Expert Tip
Recipe FAQs
Serving Suggestions
Storing Leftovers
More Casserole Recipes
Recipe Card

Ingredients

You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this casserole. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

Olive oil: I love cooking with this flavorful oil. But if you'd rather use an oil with a higher smoke point, you can use avocado oil instead.
Lean ground beef: I use 85% lean and 15% fat.
Onion and garlic: Jarred minced garlic is acceptable, but freshly minced will have the best flavor.
To season: I use kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, thyme, and cayenne pepper.
Diced tomatoes: Make sure to drain them well.
Green cabbage: You want it roughly chopped, so it's best to buy a whole head of cabbage and chop it yourself. Bagged chopped cabbage is usually finely chopped.
Shredded cheddar: I love the flavor of extra-sharp cheddar in this casserole.

Variations

You can cook the beef mixture in ghee or avocado oil instead of olive oil. I often use ghee.
Sometimes I use ground pork instead of ground beef.
Vary your spices. Ground cumin and dried thyme are excellent in this casserole. I like to add ½ teaspoon of each.
Instead of cheddar, you can use other melty cheeses such as provolone. Shredded mozzarella also works, but its flavor profile is milder.

Cabbage Casserole Instructions

One of the best things about this casserole is how easy it is to make. Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

You start by cooking ground beef, onions, garlic, and spices in olive oil. (Photos 1,2).

Next, add the tomatoes and shredded cabbage and cook until the cabbage is tender. (Photo 3).

Turn the heat off and stir in shredded cheddar. (Photo 4).

A photo collage showing steps 1-4 for making a cabbage casserole.

Transfer the mixture to a greased casserole dish. Top with more cheese. (Photo 5).

Bake the casserole until the cheese is browned, 20-30 minutes, in a 400°F oven. (Photos 6,7).

A photo collage showing steps 5-7 for making a cabbage casserole.

Expert Tip

When the casserole is ready, some liquid will be on the bottom. After the casserole has cooled off a little, you can carefully tip the baking dish into the sink and drain some of it off. But it's OK to just leave it in the pan.

Recipe FAQs

Should I add rice to this casserole?

While cabbage rolls are made with rice, I find that there's no need to use it in this casserole. In fact, none of my casseroles contains a starchy ingredient, and we don't miss it in the least.

Should I cook the cabbage before adding it to the casserole?

You could lightly steam it, but it's an unnecessary extra step. It's OK to simply mix it raw into the ground beef and cook it until it's tender.

Can I use red cabbage?

I don't recommend that. It should be fine in terms of flavor and texture, but the color could be off-putting. I prefer using green cabbage.

Serving Suggestions

This tasty casserole is an entire meal, so you don't need to serve it with a side dish.

When I add a vegetable side, I typically add a salad, a steamed vegetable, or a veggie that I can bake in the same 400°F oven as the casserole. Here are a few ideas: