Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Recipe Pioneering Today (2024)

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This slow cooker cabbage rolls recipe is one of my very favorites. I've tried the unstuffed version and the oven version, but this is best cooked on low in the slow cooker of Instant Pot. Is there any busy woman out there who doesn't love her slow cooker or Instant Pot? It's like having a kitchen robot, I tell it when I want dinner, toss in the ingredients, and at supper time, an amazing meal is ready. Now if we could do this for the rest of the house…

Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Recipe Pioneering Today (1)

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I don't know about you, but I hate running from store to store to find the ingredients I want. Trying to find organic non-GMO ingredients can make me go to two different stores and makes me crazy. I love that I can order straight from Amazon, get free shipping, and have it on my door step in two days or less, that's kind of like having a personal shopper. That is my kind of shopping!

Resources for Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Recipe

This is a gluten-free and Non-GMO verified soy sauce alternative and we like it better than soy sauce. Once you try it you'll never go back–> Bragg Liquid Amino Soy Sauce Alternative

Apple cider vinegar is a must in our house, but many brands use “caramel coloring”. This is an organic and raw apple cider vinegar with all the health benefits –> Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

Quinoa is a wonderful gluten free seed that is high in protein and one of our favorite foods. –> Organic Quinoa

No baby sitter needed slow cooker–> Programmable slow cooker

Or better yet, put these in your Instant Pot using the slow cooker function, seriously, the Instant Pot has been one of the best investments I've made on our homestead and I”ll never go without one.

Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Recipe Pioneering Today (2)

Depending upon how long you're gone for the day and how hot your slow cooker cooks, you might find it over cooks. Because my sweet mother lives up the road, I've often dropped off my slow cooker so she could turn it off for me, but now that I've discovered my beloved Instant Pot(isn't it the coolest thing ever), I won't have to try and fit putting my slow cooker in day care while I'm gone.

My picky seven-year-old will eat these slow cooker cabbage rolls with gusto and it's even better the second day.

Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Recipe Pioneering Today (3)

Boil a pot of water and add head of cabbage, cook for 2 minutes and drain. (You can freeze cabbage then thaw and skip the boiling part. We just need the leaves soft enough to roll)

Combine rice, egg, liquid, onion, garlic, beef, salt, and seasonings in large bowl. Tip: If you want more veggies, try grated carrots or cauliflower in place of the rice or quinoa. Place 1/4 cup meat mixture in center of leaf and roll, tucking ends. Place cabbage rolls seam side down in slow cooker.

Mix all sauce ingredients together and pour over rolls. Depending upon the size of the cabbage, I sometimes double the sauce if I have more than 10 rolls, or if I want extra sauce to sop up my bread.

Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Recipe Pioneering Today (4)

Cook cabbage rolls on low 8 hours in slow cooker, or on high for 4 hours if you didn't get it started in time. Now ooh and ahhwith your family. It's the perfect mix of sweetand sour. The texture of the cabbage reminds me of pot stickers, another favorite.
I made quite a few changes to this recipe but the first cabbage roll recipe I ever used was this one, and the one this is heavily adapted from. I adapted it for a healthier gluten-free and traditional foods version.

Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Recipe Pioneering Today (5)

Pioneering Today Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Recipe

MelissaKNorris

3.96 from 22 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings 10

Ingredients

  • 10 cabbage leaves
  • 1/2 cup uncooked wild rice quinoa, grated carrots and/or cauliflower)
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1/4 cup water or broth
  • 1/4 cup minced onion
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • 1 lb. lean ground beef
  • Sauce If you like lots of sauce, feel free to double this, I’ve done it both ways
  • 1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 2 Tbs. honey
  • 2 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  • Boil a pot of water and add head of cabbage, cook for 2 minutes and drain. (You can freeze cabbage then thaw and skip the boiling part. We just need the leaves soft enough to roll)

  • Combine rice, egg, liquid, onion, garlic, beef, salt, and seasonings in large bowl. Place 1/4 cup meat mixture in center of leaf and roll up like a burrito. Place seam side down in slow cooker.

  • Mix all sauce ingredients together and pour over rolls. Cook on low 8 hours in slow cooker.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Recipe Pioneering Today (6)

InPioneering Today-Faith and Home the Old Fashioned Way, Iexplain practical and easy methods to cook from scratch, garden, preserve your own food, and see God’s fingerprint in your everyday busy life. Read the first chapter for FREE and bring simple back to your home.

The sauce is especially good when made with homemade tomato sauce and sopped up with some homemade bread made in less than 5 minutes a day.

What's your favorite slow cooker dish?

This recipe is featured on Kelly The Kitchen Hop's Bog, This Chick Cooks Whole Foods Recipe Swap, and Miz Helen's Country Cottage Recipe Swap, and The Prairie Homesteadand Traditional Tuesdays.

Looking for more healthy slow cooker recipes?

Try our gluten free frugal Ham and Bean soup at only $.54 cents a serving!

Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Recipe Pioneering Today (2024)

FAQs

Why are my stuffed cabbage rolls tough? ›

If your cooked cabbage is tough, it's likely because the cabbage is not cooked through yet. Continue to cook the rolls until they're tender. It's also important to make sure you let the rolls rest after they're finished baking.

Why do you freeze cabbage before making cabbage rolls? ›

I saw a tip given by Jacques Pepin: Core the cabbage and then freeze it overnight. Let it thaw out and the leaves will be wilted and easy to peel off. The whole point of blanching the leaves is to make them pliable for rolling, and freezing it does the same trick.

What culture makes cabbage rolls? ›

A cabbage roll is a dish consisting of cooked cabbage leaves wrapped around a variety of fillings. It is common to the cuisines of Central, Northern, Eastern and Southeastern Europe and much of Western Asia, Northern China, as well as parts of North Africa.

Can you overcook cabbage? ›

The key to cooking cabbage: Don't overcook it.

Cabbage is sweet and aromatic when cooked correctly. But the same sulfuric compounds that provide many of its health benefits can turn saboteur when overcooked, creating a pungent, unpleasant smell.

How long does cabbage take to soften? ›

How to boil cabbage. Put the cabbage leaves or shredded cabbage in a large pan and cover halfway with water. Bring to the boil and cook for 3-5 mins or until tender.

Is it better to freeze or boil cabbage for cabbage rolls? ›

If you want to make stuffed cabbage leaves, you don't have to cook the leaves to make them pliable. It's a lot easier just to freeze the cabbage—an added benefit is it doesn't stink up your house.

What happens if you don't blanch cabbage before freezing? ›

Once it's washed and cut up, cabbage can be frozen, but for longer-term storage, it's best to blanch it first. Blanched cabbage can be frozen for up to nine months, while unblanched cabbage will only keep for one to two months.

Is it better to freeze cabbage rolls cooked or uncooked? ›

Can you freeze Make-Ahead Cabbage Rolls? Cover and freeze unbaked cabbage rolls. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.

Why is my cabbage tough on my cabbage rolls? ›

If your cabbage rolls are too tough, it means that you have not cooked them long enough. My method to start with, letting the cabbage sit overnight, starts to get the cabbage nice and soft. But if they are still not soft enough after cooking, it means that you need to return them to the oven and cook for longer.

What are Ukrainian cabbage rolls made of? ›

Description. Ukrainian meat stuffed cabbage rolls. Made with sweet green cabbage, beef, pork, carrots, onions, tomatoes, rice, fresh dill/ parsley, spices.

What country likes cabbage the most? ›

China produces nearly half of the world's cabbage while Russia consumes the most per person. The average Russian eats about 44 pounds of cabbage a year. That compares to the 8.6 pounds eaten by Americans. Raw cabbage is rich in vitamin C.

Why do you soak shredded cabbage in water? ›

Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water.

Can you use the outer leaves of cabbage for cabbage rolls? ›

So at first, eating the outer leaves didn't sound too appetizing. But that's the thing about growing your own food; you put so much effort into your plants so it just kills you to let anything go to waste. So I decided to make cabbage rolls with the outer leaves. My goodness they were fabulous.

Is cabbage good for your gut? ›

Packed with phytosterols (plant sterols) and insoluble fiber, cabbage can help keep your digestive system healthy and bowel movements regular. It fuels the good bacteria in your gut that protects your immune system and produces essential nutrients.

Why is my cabbage still tough after cooking? ›

You're not cooking the right kind of cabbage

If you do want to cook it, add a touch of acid like lemon juice or vinegar to lessen the effect. The Savoy cabbage can be used as a substitute for green cabbage, just keep in mind that its leaves are a bit more tender than that of other cabbages.

Why did my homemade rolls get hard? ›

Too much flour, or not the right kind, could be to blame. Dough made only from flour with a high or even average amount of protein (like bread flour or all-purpose flour) can become tough from overmixing. Protein gives bread structure in the form of gluten—the more you mix and move the dough, the more gluten you get.

Why is my cabbage head not firm? ›

Inconsistent Watering:

Winter staples like cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower need a steady water supply to thrive and form a plump, compact head. Inconsistent watering can disrupt the development process and lead to loose or underwhelming heads. Cabbage, in particular, is sensitive to water fluctuations.

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