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Comforting Cabbage Roll Skillet Recipe

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A quick and easy one-pan meal that captures the flavors of traditional cabbage rolls without the fuss of rolling leaves. This hearty skillet combines ground beef, cabbage, rice, and tomato sauce for a comforting homemade meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred)
  • 1 medium head green cabbage (about 2 lbs), roughly chopped
  • 1 cup cooked white rice
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ cups tomato sauce
  • 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Optional: smoked paprika or red pepper flakes for heat

Instructions

  1. Chop the cabbage into bite-sized pieces, finely dice the onion, and mince the garlic. Cook rice if not using leftover rice.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if desired.
  3. Push beef to one side of the skillet, add remaining olive oil, then add onions. Cook until softened and translucent, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  4. Add chopped cabbage to the skillet with beef and onions. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and let cabbage steam and soften, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
  5. Stir in cooked rice, diced tomatoes with juices, and tomato sauce. Add Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar. Mix well to combine.
  6. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 7-10 minutes to thicken the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and optional smoked paprika or red pepper flakes.
  7. Remove from heat once sauce has thickened and cabbage is tender but still slightly firm. Let sit covered for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

If cabbage cooks too fast and dries out, add a splash of water or broth and cover to keep moist. Breaking meat into small crumbles ensures good meat-to-cabbage ratio. Browning beef well before adding veggies locks in savory flavor. Avoid overcrowding pan to prevent steaming instead of sautéing. Adjust seasoning gradually and taste often. Leftovers taste even better after a day or two.

Nutrition

Keywords: cabbage roll skillet, easy dinner, one-pan meal, comfort food, ground beef recipe, cabbage recipe, quick weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://cooltastes.com/comforting-cabbage-roll-skillet-recipe-easy-homemade-meal-ideas/