Layer casserole pan with cabbage, but wait until the secret mixture comes on top

Cooktop Cove: Layer casserole pan with cabbage, but wait until the secret mixture comes on top

By Kate Elliott

Cabbage rolls are a favorite comfort dish in many households. But they take a long time to make, not to mention that boiling cabbage leaves and wrapping them around meat and rice bundles can be pretty labor-intensive. With the recipe below, you get all of the delicious taste and comfort with none of the work.

All that's required for prep here is chopping some cabbage, browning some meat, and then mixing it all together before pouring it into a casserole dish. Rice is also included, but this dish doesn't even require that you cook it first. Cabbage rolls have never been so easy!

Cabbage roll casserole
Servings: 8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hr, 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hr, 30 minutes

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves or 1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
2 pounds ground beef
1 can (29 ounces) tomato sauce
1 head green cabbage, shredded
1 cup uncooked rice
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups beef broth
1 teaspoon coarse ground pepper, divided

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

When hot, add onion and saute for about 3 minutes, until soft.

Add the garlic, Italian seasoning and beef, breaking up the beef as you do.

Fry the beef until it's brown, about 8 minutes, stirring regularly. Drain if needed.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the tomato sauce, rice, salt and half of the coarse ground pepper. Mix well to combine; this is your casserole mixture.

4. In a casserole dish, layer one-third of the cabbage..

...then one-third of the ground beef, ...

...and finally one-third of the casserole mixture.

Repeat layers two more times.

5. Pour beef broth over the entire casserole.

Cover with aluminum foil.

6. Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour, 15 minutes.

7. After removing from oven, sprinkle entire casserole with remaining 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground pepper.

Pro tip: Try adding shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the casserole (you can add it at the same time it goes in the oven) for a cheesy twist on this casserole!

Dig in and serve!