Beef Recipes | Dairy Free Recipes | Dutch Oven Recipes | Gluten Free Recipes | Main Dish Recipes | Recipes by Course | Recipes by Ingredient | Recipes by Method
Dutch Oven Beef and Cabbage Casserole
Recipe Snapshot
PREP + COOK TIME: 30 minutes
METHOD: Dutch oven
OTHER TOOLS: knife and cutting board
TOTAL INGREDIENTS: 10
Beef and cabbage casserole in the Dutch oven is a nutritious comfort food you can make in under 30 minutes! This recipe combines the heartiness and flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls with much less prep time. Everyone will find something to love in this tasty, home-cooked dish!
What’s To Love About This Recipe
- I love all-in-one meals with veggies and protein together in a dish! This beef and cabbage casserole recipe is cozy and comforting. It’s so easy to prepare in a Dutch oven or another heavy-duty pan.
- If you love stuffed cabbage rolls, this beef and cabbage casserole is a close substitute with much fewer assembly steps!
- With a hearty mix of beef and veggies, you can fill up on this dish as is or offer some sides to feed everyone around the table. Serve over a bowl of rice, mashed potatoes, or some egg noodles on the side.
- Even if cabbage isn’t typically your go-to veggie, this super healthy meal can appeal to anyone. Cabbage is rich in fiber and nutrients, and it absorbs the delicious flavors of the meat and tomato sauce. It will leave you feeling full but not overstuffed like heavy pasta dishes.
- This simple recipe is great for leftovers! Make a large batch at the beginning of the week and portion it out for meal prep. It’s a balanced option that provides protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals!
Ingredients Needed
- Ground beef – Choose lean ground beef (such as 90% or 83% lean) to prevent extra grease in the dish. Alternatively, you could use 80% lean and just remove the extra grease from the pot if desired.
- Cabbage – Green cabbage is the preferred choice for this recipe. It’s tender and has a neutral flavor that absorbs beef and tomato sauce flavors. Look for a firm (not wilted) head of green cabbage, or buy a bag of pre-shredded cabbage to save time.
- Carrots – I love using whole carrots rather than baby carrots for this recipe. Fresh whole carrots just have a richer, more earthy flavor – so they’re a must for me! Peel and slice them into rounds about ¼ inch thick.
- Seasonings – You only need a simple combination of spices from your pantry to add lots of flavor to the beef and cabbage. Use garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano with a bit of salt and pepper.
- Tomato sauce – Tomato sauce will add a rich base to the beef and veggies. It’s best to use a high-quality brand of canned or jarred tomato sauce so that you can really taste the difference!
- Sugar – You might wonder why sugar is necessary in this super nutritious recipe. It is certainly an optional addition, but a small amount will help balance the acidity of the tomato sauce and create a smoother taste.
How To Make Beef & Cabbage Casserole
- Wash, dry, and remove the core from the cabbage. Then, shred it by slicing it into thin strips.
- Peel and slice the carrots into 1/4-inch thick rounds.
- Brown the ground beef in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add cabbage and carrots to the pot and sauté for 5-10 minutes until the cabbage begins to wilt.
- Add seasonings, tomato sauce, and sugar, and let everything simmer for 10 minutes until the veggies are fully tender.
Pro Tips
- You can use shredded packaged cabbage if you prefer; however, I prefer chopping it myself to get slightly larger pieces.
- Carrots should be sliced thin enough to cook quickly. They should be tender but not mushy and falling apart.
- Lean beef is preferred in order to minimize extra grease in the dish.
- Use a Dutch oven or a similar large and heavy-bottomed pan.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Try a lighter version of this recipe by swapping ground turkey for ground beef.
- Add a cup of cooked rice into the Dutch oven after the beef and veggies are done to bulk up the dish. Mix well to combine before serving.
- Check out another variation of this recipe: Slow Cooker Beef and Cabbage provides the same ingredients in a more hands-free cooking option.
How To Serve Beef & Cabbage Casserole
Serve a nice helping of beef and cabbage casserole as the main dish with a dinner roll or a side of garlic bread.
For a heartier meal, you can also serve a bowl with Mashed Potatoes or Brown Rice to soak up all of the tomato sauce.
Add a side salad if you like, and enjoy this simple, nutritious meal!
Storing and Reheating
Store leftover casserole in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. (With tomato-based dishes, it’s usually a good idea to store leftovers in glass containers to prevent the absorption of color into plastics.) Reheat in a skillet or the microwave.
Leftover cabbage won’t freeze very well, so I suggest only making the portion you will use up in a few days.
Dutch Oven Beef and Cabbage Casserole
Beef and cabbage casserole in the Dutch oven is a nutritious comfort food you can make in under 30 minutes! This recipe combines the heartiness and flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls with much less prep time. Everyone will find something to love in this tasty, home-cooked dish!
Equipment
- Dutch oven
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 head cabbage
- 8 oz carrots
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 24 oz tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Wash, dry, and remove core from cabbage. Then, shred by slicing it into thin strips.
- Peel and slice carrots into 1/4-inch thick rounds.
- Brown ground beef in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add cabbage and carrots to pot and sauté for 5-10 minutes until cabbage begins to wilt.
- Add seasonings, tomato sauce, and sugar, and let everything simmer for 10 minutes until the veggies are fully tender.
Notes
- Store leftover casserole for up to 3 days in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave or a skillet.
- Use a Dutch oven or any large heavy-bottomed pan.
- Use lean ground beef to prevent extra grease.
- For convenience, substitute shredded packaged cabbage for regular cabbage if desired.
Dutch Oven Beef & Cabbage Casserole FAQs
- Should the cabbage be cooked before mixing it in the casserole? No, you do not need to precook the cabbage. Simply add it to the Dutch oven with the carrots and sauté them together.
- Can you freeze cabbage? You can freeze uncooked cabbage by itself, but it is recommended to blanch it first. I don’t recommend freezing cabbage casserole since it is already cooked and won’t defrost well.
- What is the best way to cut cabbage? Cut the cabbage in half or quarters, remove the core, and then slice it into thin strips.
I love this recipe!
So does this cook on the stove the oven? How many grams per serving? If it’s dove or over what’s the temp?
Yes, this cooks over medium high heat on the stovetop. I’m sorry I don’t have the exact weights on the finished dish servings.
Would you recommend using fresh garlic and onion? My husband is allergic to the powder forms.
Yes I think you could sub those out. I’d cook the onion with the beef and add the garlic a bit later.
What size dutch oven do you find to be the best for everyday family cooking?
5 stars. Amazing
Wow, thank you for taking time to leave that great review!