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

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 do you freeze cabbage before making cabbage rolls? ›

Freezing breaks down the structure of the leaves, making them pliable and unlikely to crack or break when you pull them from the head or roll them for stuffing.

Why are my 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.

What culture makes cabbage rolls? ›

Romanian cabbage rolls have one of the most interesting and rich histories among all dishes. In fact, this is a multicultural recipe, to which tens of countries from around the world have contributed. Initially, cabbage rolls were created by the Turkish, who claim to be the original cookers of the dish.

What does baking soda do to cabbage? ›

Adding baking soda to your boiling cabbage can help reduce the objectionable smell and maintain the green color long after when it typically turns grayish from cooking for too long. However, this may rid the cabbage of its nutritional value.

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.

How long can you leave uncooked cabbage rolls in the fridge? ›

Yes, you can make cabbage rolls ahead of time. You can roll cabbage rolls, assemble in a single layer in a baking dish, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 48 hours. Or just use the Dutch oven if you have enough space in your refrigerator. Then bake with tomato sauce mixture as per recipe.

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.

Do you have to core cabbage for cabbage rolls? ›

Method #1: Cut the core out before halving the cabbage. This is how to core cabbage for cabbage rolls, because the whole leave is used for rolling. If the cabbage is halved before coring, then the whole leaf won't be there for stuffing.

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.

What is the difference between Polish and Ukrainian cabbage rolls? ›

Although the direct heritage of cabbage rolls cannot be certain, it's lineage can be traced back to Jewish cooking some 2,000 years ago. Recipes vary among Jewish communities depending on region; Romanians and northern Poles prefer a savory sauce, while Jews from Galicia and Ukraine favor sweet-and-sour.

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.

What are German cabbage rolls made of? ›

In a large bowl combine beef, pork and bacon along with the rice, onions, half the garlic and spices as desired. Gently mix vegetable and spices with meat. To make rolls take one leaf, Place a dollop of the meat mixture on leaf. Fold bottom of leaf up over meat then fold sides in and roll.

What softens cabbage? ›

Freezing the cabbage, like most other vegetables, changes the texture so it becomes softer. This technique is perfectly fine if you don't want to mess with a big pot of boiling water.

How long to boil cabbage until soft? ›

Step 1Cut cabbage into wedges or slice it thin. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add cabbage. (It's OK to crowd the pot because the cabbage will shrink!) Step 2Boil until tender, about 5 minutes for shredded cabbage and 10 minutes for wedges.

Why do you soak cabbage in water? ›

We wanted to find a method that would keep the cabbage from watering down the dressing and also a way to make the salad piquant without tasting too sharp. The solution: Some recipes call for soaking cabbage in ice water to make it crisp and plump.

Can you microwave cabbage to soften leaves? ›

Microwaving makes the cabbage leaves soft and pliable, not soggy and overcooked. To prepare the cabbage, cut out the core, place the head in a large, microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic, and cook on high power until the leaves become pliable and can be easily removed.

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