Cabbage Rolls With Ground Beef and Cheese Filling

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 09/25/19
cabbage rolls with bacon
Diana Rattray
Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 50 mins
Total: 75 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
679 Calories
38g Fat
29g Carbs
55g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 679
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 38g 49%
Saturated Fat 19g 96%
Cholesterol 176mg 59%
Sodium 1488mg 65%
Total Carbohydrate 29g 11%
Dietary Fiber 6g 22%
Protein 55g
Calcium 674mg 52%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Ground beef, cheese, and breadcrumbs make up the filling for these tasty stuffed cabbage rolls. If you prefer rice in the beef mixture, replace the bread crumbs with about 3/4 cup of cooked rice and omit the milk. For a low carb diet, omit the breadcrumbs and milk add some lightly steamed cauliflower "rice" to the meat mixture. The cabbage rolls are topped with strips of bacon and baked to perfection.

Ingredients

  • 12 large cabbage leaves
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (lean)
  • 1/4 cup​ minced onion
  • 1 teaspoon ground​ sage
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 2/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 cup tomato juice
  • 6 strips​ bacon

Steps to Make It

  1. Cook cabbage leaves in boiling, salted water until tender and flexible, about 5 minutes. Alternatively, microwave the whole head of cabbage for 12 to 15 minutes. When the cabbage is cool enough to handle, peel off the leaves.

  2. Combine ground beef, onion, sage, cheese, bread crumbs, milk, and salt. Place a large spoonful of meat mixture on each cabbage leaf; roll up, tucking ends inside to seal meat in. Secure with toothpicks.

  3. Place in baking dish and add 1 cup water, broth or tomato juice. Cover the cabbage rolls with the bacon strips and bake at 350 F for 45 to 55 minutes.

Recipe Variations

  • Instead of tomato juice, combine a 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes and an 8-ounce can of tomato sauce and pour over the cabbage rolls before baking.
  • Replace the breadcrumbs and milk with cauliflower "rice" for a low carb dish.