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A white plate with several cabbage rolls from a classic stuffed cabbage rolls recipe, covered in tomato sauce, set on a marble surface next to utensils and a baking dish.

Classic Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe

Melissa Griffiths
This Stuffed Cabbage Rolls recipe features tender cabbage leaves filled with seasoned ground pork, rice, and tomato sauce for a comforting, hearty meal the whole family will love!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 526 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large head of green cabbage
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1 can diced tomatoes, drained ((14 ounce))
  • 2 cups cooked white rice
  • 3 cups tomato sauce (divided)

Instructions
 

  • Boil a large pot of water. Once the water, add the cabbage for 8 minutes. After 8 minutes, remove the lettuce leaves and place them on a plate to cook.
  • Combine the ground pork, dill, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the pork until no longer pink in the middle (about 7 minutes). While the pork is cooking, preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Once the pork is cooked, drain the excess fat and add the diced tomatoes, rice, and 1 cup of tomato sauce. Stir to combine the ingredients.
  • Place about ⅓ cup of the pork/ rice mixture in the middle of each cabbage leaf and roll the leaves up like burritos.
  • Place your cabbage rolls in a 9x13 inch baking dish with the seam-side facing down. Cover the dish with the remaining tomato sauce.
  • Cover the baking dish with tin foil and cook for 50 minutes.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

Why Cover with Foil: The aluminum foil covering traps steam during baking, which tenderizes the cabbage rolls beautifully. They'll be so soft that a fork cuts through them effortlessly straight from the oven.
Rice Flexibility: Any type of rice works well in this recipe, whether quick-cooking minute rice, traditional long-grain white rice, or even brown rice for added nutrition and fiber.
Meat Alternatives: Ground beef makes an excellent alternative if ground pork isn't available. Regardless of which meat is chosen, draining excess fat after cooking is essential for the best texture.
Softening the Leaves: Boiling the cabbage head is crucial for making the leaves pliable and easy to work with. This step prevents tearing when peeling and rolling the individual leaves.
Even Sauce Distribution: A spatula helps spread the tomato sauce uniformly across all the cabbage rolls, ensuring every bite has balanced flavor and preventing dry spots.
Serving Size: Plan on serving 2 cabbage rolls per person for a satisfying portion that makes this a complete and filling meal.

Nutrition

Calories: 526kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 28gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 1000mgPotassium: 1515mgFiber: 10gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 1383IUVitamin C: 107mgCalcium: 182mgIron: 5mg
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