Easy Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole Recipe You Need Now

There’s something about the smell of cabbage simmering with sweet tomato sauce that just feels like home. Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole takes all those cozy flavorstender cabbage, savory beef, fluffy riceand layers them into one gorgeous pan that bakes itself while you catch your breath.

I started shooting this dish back in 2019 when a reader asked for something that looked as good as it tasted but didn’t need fancy plating skills. After testing it six times with different lighting setups, I realized the bubbling cheese and caramelized edges do all the styling work for youit photographs like a dream and tastes even better the next day when everything melds together.

Thomas Baker

Easy Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole Recipe You Need Now

This Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole is a simple and delicious dish that captures the classic flavors of homemade cabbage rolls with much less effort. Perfect for busy weeknights, it combines ground meat, cabbage, and rice into a comforting casserole everyone will love.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 390

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 8 slices bacon, diced
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 pound ground pork
• 1 ½ cups tomato juice
• 1 can condensed tomato soup
• 10 cups cabbage, washed and coarsely chopped
• ½ cup long grain white rice

Method

 

1. Combine diced bacon, ground beef, and ground pork in a large skillet.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the meat is fully browned; drain excess fat.
3. Stir in the tomato juice and condensed tomato soup until well blended.
4. Spread the chopped cabbage evenly in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
5. Sprinkle the rice over the cabbage layer.
6. Pour the meat mixture evenly over the rice.
7. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake at 350°F for 90 minutes, or until the rice is soft and the liquid is absorbed.
8. Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

• For best results, use fresh cabbage and make sure to drain the cooked meat fat thoroughly. Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Why You’ll Love This Cozy Casserole

This Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole delivers all the nostalgic flavor of traditional cabbage rolls without the tedious wrapping and rolling. You just layer everything into a baking dish, slide it into the oven, and let it transform into bubbling, savory comfort while you tackle the rest of your evening.

• Hands-off cooking: After 15 minutes of prep, the oven does all the heavy lifting for 90 minutes
• Budget-friendly: Cabbage, rice, and ground meat are grocery staples that stretch beautifully to feed a crowd
• Next-day magic: Leftovers taste even better when the flavors meld overnight in the fridge
• One-pan wonder: Everything bakes together in a single 9×13 dishless cleanup, more relaxing

Key Ingredients That Make It Work

You’ll need just seven simple ingredients for this dish, and chances are you already have most of them on hand. The bacon adds a smoky depth that makes the whole casserole sing, while the combination of ground beef and ground pork creates a richer, more complex flavor than using beef alone.

The tomato juice and condensed tomato soup work together to create that sweet, tangy sauce reminiscent of traditional cabbage rolls. As everything bakes, the cabbage softens and sweetens, the rice absorbs all those savory juices, and the top develops gorgeous caramelized edges. Pro Tip: Use long grain white riceit holds its texture beautifully and won’t turn mushy during the long bake time.

How to Make It Step by Step

Start by browning the bacon, ground beef, and ground pork together in a large frying pan over medium heat. Once the meat is no longer pink, drain off the excess fatthis keeps your casserole from getting greasy. Whisk in the tomato juice and condensed tomato soup until everything is well combined and saucy.

Now comes the easy layering part. Spread your coarsely chopped cabbage evenly across the bottom of a 9×13 baking pan. Sprinkle the uncooked rice on top of the cabbage, then pour the meat mixture over everything. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake at 350°F for 90 minutes, until the rice is tender and has absorbed all those delicious juices.

Let the casserole rest for a few minutes after you pull it from the oventhis helps everything settle and makes serving much easier. After shooting this recipe multiple times in different kitchens, I learned that the resting time also prevents the layers from sliding apart when you scoop it onto plates.

Simple Swaps and Tweaks

While this recipe is perfect as written, you can easily adapt it based on what’s in your fridge or your family’s preferences. Ground turkey works beautifully in place of the pork if you want a leaner option, and you can skip the bacon entirely if you need tojust add a tablespoon of oil to the pan when browning the meat.

Serving and Storage Tips

This casserole shines brightest on busy weeknights when you need something hearty that practically cooks itself. Serve it straight from the baking dish with crusty bread for sopping up that tangy tomato sauce, or pair it with a simple green salad to round out the meal.

Storage: Leftovers keep beautifully in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or warm the whole dish covered in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes. The flavors actually deepen overnight, making day-two servings even more delicious than the first.

Freezer-friendly: You can freeze portions in freezer-safe containers for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating, and add a splash of tomato juice if it seems dry after defrosting.

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FAQs (Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole)

You’ll love how this Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole turns out after that 90-minute bakethe rice soaks up every bit of that sweet tomato sauce, the cabbage practically melts, and those caramelized edges on top are pure comfort. It’s the kind of dish that fills your kitchen with the warmest, most inviting aroma while you put your feet up.

If you want a little extra richness, stir a handful of shredded cheddar into the meat mixture before layeringit creates these wonderful melty pockets throughout. A drizzle of sour cream over each serving adds a tangy creaminess that balances the sweetness beautifully. I learned from testing this over and over that letting it rest uncovered for five minutes after baking makes scooping so much cleaner and prettier for photos.

I’d love to see how yours turns outtag me if you snap a photo of that bubbly, golden top! Did your mom or grandma make traditional cabbage rolls that inspired you to try this easier version? Save this recipe for a chilly evening when you need something hearty that practically cooks itself, and share it with anyone who deserves a warm, nourishing dinner without the fuss.