Cabbage Roll Casserole Recipe – A Hearty, Comforting One-Dish Meal 🥘🥬

If you love traditional cabbage rolls but want a faster, easier way to enjoy those rich, savory flavors, this Cabbage Roll Casserole is exactly what you need. Made with layers of ground beef, marinara sauce, cooked rice, shredded cabbage, and cheese, it’s a hearty, make-ahead comfort dish the whole family will request again and again.

Whether you’re feeding a crowd or prepping meals for the week, this one-pan casserole brings all the cozy flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls with none of the fuss.

Why You’ll Love This Cabbage Roll Casserole

✅ No rolling required — all the flavor, none of the hassle
✅ Made with easy, everyday ingredients
✅ Hearty, satisfying, and freezer-friendly
✅ A complete meal in one dish
✅ Can be prepared in advance and baked later

Ingredients for Cabbage Roll Casserole

Ingredient	Quantity
Ground beef	2 lbs
White onion, chopped	1
Garlic cloves, minced	2
Marinara sauce	2 jars (24 oz each)
Dried thyme	1 teaspoon
Dried dill	½ teaspoon
Dried sage	½ teaspoon
Salt	1 teaspoon
Black pepper (freshly ground)	½ teaspoon
Cayenne pepper (optional)	¼ teaspoon
Cooked white rice	2 cups
Bacon, cooked and crumbled	4 strips
Cabbage, shredded (about 1 medium head)	2 lbs
Mozzarella cheese, grated	1 ½ cups

🧀 Feel free to add Parmesan or cheddar on top for extra cheesy goodness.

How to Make Cabbage Roll Casserole

🔥 Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or casserole pan.

🍳 Step 2: Brown the Ground Beef

In a large skillet over medium heat:

Add ground beef and chopped onion.
Cook until the beef is browned and cooked through, about 8–10 minutes.
Add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute.

Drain excess fat if necessary.

🍅 Step 3: Add Sauce and Seasonings

To the beef mixture, stir in:

Marinara sauce
Thyme, dill, sage
Salt, black pepper, cayenne

Simmer for 5–7 minutes to let the flavors blend.

🍚 Step 4: Add Cooked Rice and Bacon

Stir in the cooked white rice and crumbled bacon.
Mix until well combined — this forms the rich, savory filling.

🥬 Step 5: Prepare the Cabbage

Shred the cabbage finely using a sharp knife or mandoline.
You can use raw cabbage or lightly sauté it in a large skillet with a bit of oil and salt to soften it slightly before layering.

🥄 If using raw cabbage, make sure it’s thinly sliced to cook through evenly in the oven.

🧱 Step 6: Assemble the Casserole

Layer the ingredients in the prepared baking dish as follows:

Spread half of the shredded cabbage on the bottom.
Top with half of the beef-rice mixture.
Repeat with the remaining cabbage and beef mixture.
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.

💡 Optional: Add an extra sprinkle of dried herbs or Parmesan cheese for added flavor.

⏲️ Step 7: Bake

Cover the dish with foil and bake for 40 minutes.
Uncover and bake an additional 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbly and the cabbage is tender.

Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Serving Suggestions

This casserole is filling enough to be a meal on its own, but you can pair it with:

Crusty bread or dinner rolls
A green salad with vinaigrette
Roasted vegetables
A side of sour cream or Greek yogurt

Make-Ahead & Storage Tips

🧊 To Make Ahead:

Assemble the casserole fully and refrigerate overnight.
Bake as directed when ready, adding 10 minutes to the baking time.

🥶 To Freeze:

Assemble and freeze unbaked (wrap tightly with foil and plastic).
Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking.
Can also be frozen after baking; reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.

🧺 Storage:

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat in the microwave or oven.

Recipe Variations

Want to switch it up? Here are some tasty ideas:

Use ground turkey or pork instead of beef
Add bell peppers or mushrooms to the filling
Use brown rice or cauliflower rice for a low-carb version
Swap marinara with crushed tomatoes + tomato paste + Italian herbs
Make it spicy with chopped jalapeños or red chili flakes

Why This Recipe Works

This Cabbage Roll Casserole brings all the warm, comforting flavors of traditional cabbage rolls in a fraction of the time. It’s:

✅ Easy to prepare
✅ Family-approved
✅ Perfect for freezing and meal prep
✅ Budget-friendly
✅ A satisfying mix of protein, carbs, and veggies

Conclusion: Classic Comfort Without the Work

If you’re craving something hearty, nourishing, and downright delicious, this Cabbage Roll Casserole is a must-try. With savory beef, aromatic spices, sweet cabbage, and melted cheese, it’s everything you love about cabbage rolls, simplified for busy home cooks.

Make it once, and it’ll become a regular rotation favorite in your kitchen — weeknight dinners, potlucks, or lazy Sundays.