Skillet Unstuffed Cabbage
Looking for a quicker alternative to stuffed cabbage rolls? Try this skillet version with ground beef, rice, cabbage, and savory seasonings.
If you like stuffed cabbage rolls, you’ll love this easy-prep skillet unstuffed cabbage. There’s no parboiling, rolling, and stuffing—everything is cooked in a large skillet or Dutch oven. The dish combines all the familiar ingredients and flavors of stuffed cabbage in a skillet. It’s a complete meal with ground beef, rice, cabbage, tomatoes sauce, and seasonings. Feel free to customize it using seasonings and additions from your favorite stuffed cabbage recipe.
Skillet Unstuffed Cabbage
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 pound 85% ground beef
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1/2 head cabbage, coarsely chopped, about 3/4 to 1 pound
- 1 cup long-grained rice, uncooked
- 1 15- ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 6- ounce can tomato paste
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet, sauté pan, or Dutch oven. When the oil is shimmering, add the ground beef and cook undisturbed for 5 minutes. Break up the beef and add the onions and bell peppers. Cook, stirring for 3 minutes longer or until the beef is no longer pink.
- Add the cabbage and rice and cook, stirring for 2 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, and seasonings. Bring to a boil; reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until the rice is tender. Stir occasionally and add more water if necessary.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings.
- Remove the bay leaf before serving.