Slow Cooker Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Slow Cooker Stuffed Cabbage with Rice

We are a typical family, hence the name The Typical Mom. We cook the same dishes week after week. But sometimes it is time to add a new meal! I love easy crockpot meals and so naturally my mind goes there.

Most of our favorite dishes are “dump meals” but every once and a while it’s nice to take some time and make something different. This is one of those but it is so worth it when it is done. A family secret recipe that has been passed down for generations, but shared here with you today. 😉

Let’s talk a little bit about slow cooking shall we?? First off I have a few different varieties and I love them all. Each one has an occasion to be used like….

1. This is my favorite 6 quart programmable one with a locking lid so it’s great for bringing to a potluck too.
2. I prefer not to use liners, but rather just spray olive oil inside before adding my food for easier cleanups.

Let me give you a peek of my pretty thang I bought recently. It goes with my kitchen so I can just leave it out on the countertop all the time. 😉

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Rice Ingredients

• Cabbage leaves
• Ground beef – we like spicy ground sausage the best
• Onion
• Egg
• 1 cup cooked rice – make 1/2 cup grain add 1 cup water minimum to cook to fluffy
• Tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce or tomato soup could be substituted
• 1/4 cup Milk
• Ketchup
• Honey
• Spices

Everyone has their own method with these, especially if your family has made them for years. Maybe you have your own stuffing but need to understand how to cook it this way. By all means use your own creation and our timing. Ours requires white rice, precooked beforehand. Others leave that out, up to you.

We make stuffed green peppers pretty regularly. This recipe reminds me of that. It is inexpensive, pretty healthy, and once you take the time to make the cabbage rolls (less than an hr.), it cooks by itself. It’s one of those down home meals that you may have had as a child, and a great “present” dinner to get your children to try!

How to Make Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls

1. First thing first you need to cook the ground beef or turkey. I have also used spicy ground sausage and I will admit, the later was our favorite. Your choice though, either works.
2. Include some diced onions, garlic, any other spices you enjoy. We have used either diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, or pressure cooker spaghetti sauce. This will later be poured over your slow cooker cabbage rolls.
3. At this time make some rice. I use my pressure cookers for this step so it goes quickly. You can follow our Instant Pot white rice or Ninja Foodi rice instructions for that.
4. Once your meat/onion mixture is cooked put it in a large bowl combined with your cooked rice. Mix together your other ingredients so it will be like an assembly line once you have everything.

What is the best way to soften cabbage leaves for cabbage rolls?

You just need a large pot half full of water with a bit of salt if you like. You’ll want to boil your largest leaves from each head of cabbage in a boiling pot of water. There are really only 4-5 per head so I would buy 2 if you’re making enough for a family of 4 or more. It’s a bit like when you blanch bell peppers, you just want to soften them. When I take the leaves out of the water I put them on a plate with a paper towel to absorb some of the water.

• Fill the softened leaf with about this much meat mixture in center. Then roll like a burrito with the sides folded in first.
• Fold the leaf and roll it all the way up securing the side with the seam side up with 2 toothpicks so it doesn’t unravel.

I use a larger portable crock pot for this meal. Let them cook and have a fabulous meal. Even my kids love this slow cooker stuffed cabbage recipe!! Garlic salt/powder is a must, I use Worcestershire sauce too. I suggest that you use regular toothpicks and not colored. I did that once and it seeped out and turned my leaves pink!

pressure cooker directions

Since then we’ve made this into Instant Pot stuffed cabbage too and it’s a winner. The only difference between the 2 stuffed cabbage rolls is the cook time really.

How to make cabbage rolls pictures

The steps are rather simple and explained below. You can print out them at the bottom as well if you have a recipe book you add your favorite meals to.

How to Cook Stuffed Cabbage Rolls in Slow Cooker

• Cook the ground beef, turkey, or sausage with your onion and garlic. 
• Combine that with your cooked rice, egg, and milk in one bowl.
• Add ingredients for the sauce together and add 1/4 of it into your meat mixture. 
• Boil cabbage leaves for 2 minutes.
• Roll meat mixture into cabbage pieces like a burrito folding sides in and securing with 2 toothpicks each. 
• Put some of your tomato sauce on bottom of crockpot.
• Lay cabbage rolls down trying not to overlap them, and pour remaining sauce on top. 
• Cook in your crockpot on high for 4-5 hrs. or low for 8-9 hrs.

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