Simple Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Recipe Magic

Sink into the heartwarming world of slow cooker cabbage rolls, where culinary magic transforms humble ingredients into a symphony of flavor.

These delectable parcels carry stories of generations, nestled in velvety cabbage leaves that cradle a savory mixture of tender meats and fragrant herbs.

Each roll whispers tales of home-cooked comfort, promising a delightful dance of textures and spices.

Family traditions simmer gently in this timeless dish, blending ingredients with love and care.

The slow cooker works its enchantment, melding flavors into a soul-satisfying experience that transcends ordinary meals.

Personal touches elevate these rolls from simple fare to an extraordinary culinary embrace.

Let these irresistible cabbage rolls become your next kitchen adventure and comfort food revelation.

Tips and Ideas for Cabbage Roll Fillings

• Slow Cooker Savvy: Transform your traditional cabbage rolls by using a slow cooker, which ensures tender meat and deeply infused flavors without constant monitoring.
• Meat Mix Magic: Experiment with different ground meat combinations like turkey and lamb or create a vegetarian version using lentils and quinoa for diverse protein options.
• Sauce Swap Sensation: Replace tomato sauce with creamy mushroom soup or tangy barbecue sauce to introduce unexpected flavor profiles that will surprise your taste buds.
• Make-Ahead Mastery: Prepare cabbage rolls up to two days in advance and store them covered in the refrigerator, allowing flavors to meld and making weeknight dinners effortlessly delicious.

How to Plate and Sauce Your Rolls

• Savor Comfort With Side Companions: Pair these hearty cabbage rolls with creamy mashed potatoes for a classic comfort food experience.
• Garnish With Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top to add a bright, green pop of color and a burst of fresh flavor that complements the rich meat filling.
• Customize Your Plate: Add a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt on the side to provide a cool, tangy contrast to the warm, savory cabbage rolls and balance the dish's robust flavors.
• Enhance With Crusty Bread: Serve alongside warm crusty bread or dinner rolls to soak up the delicious tomato sauce and create a complete, satisfying meal that fills you up and warms your soul.

Planning Meals and Saving Cabbage Rolls

• Preserve Freshness: Store leftover cabbage rolls in airtight containers, keeping them refrigerated for 3-4 days. Cool completely before sealing to prevent moisture buildup.
• Freeze for Later: Wrap individual rolls in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe bags. Frozen cabbage rolls maintain quality for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Reheat with Care: Warm rolls gently in a covered skillet with a splash of sauce, or microwave at 50% power to prevent drying out. Add extra sauce to maintain moisture and prevent toughening.
• Meal Prep Magic: Prepare rolls in advance and refrigerate unbaked for up to 24 hours. This strategy saves time and allows flavors to meld, creating an even more delicious dish when ready to cook.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes

Calories: 350 kcal

Servings: 5

What to Put in Your Cabbage Rolls

• Crushed Tomatoes: Select ripe, deep-red tomatoes for intense, sun-kissed flavor.
• Tomato Sauce: Choose organic, preservative-free sauce for cleaner taste.
• Red Chili Flakes: Opt for fresh, vibrant flakes to add zesty heat.
• Brown Sugar: Pick pure, unrefined sugar for deeper caramel undertones.
• Red Wine Vinegar: Select aged vinegar for complex, tangy notes.
• Garlic: Choose firm, plump cloves with no green sprouts for robust aroma.
• Salt: Use sea salt for mineral-rich seasoning.

• Ground Beef: Pick lean, fresh meat with good marbling.
• Ground Pork: Select high-quality, minimally processed ground pork.
• Onions: Choose sweet, firm onions without soft spots.
• Egg: Use fresh, room-temperature eggs.
• Milk or Cream: Select full-fat dairy for richer texture.
• Breadcrumbs: Pick fine, dry breadcrumbs for smooth binding.
• Cooked Rice: Use day-old, slightly firm rice.
• Fresh Parsley: Select bright green, crisp herbs.
• Black Pepper: Grind whole peppercorns for maximum flavor.

• Green Cabbage: Pick heavy, compact heads with crisp, unblemished leaves.
• Water: Use filtered water for boiling.
• Kitchen Towels: Select clean, absorbent towels for drying leaves.

Gear for Making Easy Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls

• Large Bowl: Perfect for mixing tomato sauce ingredients smoothly.
• Blender or Whisk: Helps create a uniform, well-mixed sauce.
• Large Pot: Essential for boiling and softening cabbage leaves.
• Tongs: Great for safely removing and handling hot cabbage leaves.
• Cutting Board: Provides a clean surface for trimming cabbage edges.
• Mixing Bowl: Ideal for combining meat filling ingredients gently.
• Slow Cooker: Ensures even cooking and tender cabbage rolls.
• Kitchen Towels: Helps drain and dry cabbage leaves completely.
• Sharp Knife: Assists in trimming tough cabbage leaf ribs.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient proportions.

Rolling Up Cabbage Rolls in the Crockpot

• Prepare Tangy Sauce

Whip up a zesty sauce by blending crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, red chili flakes, brown sugar, red wine vinegar, and grated garlic until smooth and vibrant.

• Soften Cabbage Leaves

Boil salted water and gently submerge a whole cabbage, cooking until leaves become soft and pliable. Carefully remove about 14 leaves, rinse in cool water, and pat dry.

• Trim And Prep Leaves

Place each leaf on a cutting board, slicing a V-shape at the bottom to remove the tough center rib, making rolling a breeze.

• Create Savory Filling

Mix ground beef, ground pork, chopped onions, egg, milk, breadcrumbs, cooked rice, fresh parsley, salt, and pepper. Blend gently to keep the mixture light and tender.

• Roll Cabbage Bundles

Lay out a cabbage leaf, spoon filling near the cut rib, fold sides inward, and roll tightly to seal in all the delicious flavors.

• Layer In Slow Cooker

Pour a layer of sauce into the slow cooker, nestling the rolled cabbage bundles seam-side down. Cover completely with remaining sauce.

• Slow Cook To Deliciousness

Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours until the rolls are melt-in-your-mouth tender and the meat is perfectly cooked.

• Serve With Flair

Plate the hot cabbage rolls alongside creamy mashed potatoes, drizzle with extra sauce, and sprinkle fresh parsley for a comforting, mouth-watering meal that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

Hearty Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Polish cabbage rolls showcase hearty comfort from Eastern Europe’s culinary traditions. Tender beef, rice, and savory tomato sauce meld together in this classic homestyle dish you’ll savor with deep satisfaction.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb ground pork
• 1 whole head green cabbage
• 8 oz (227 g) tomato sauce
• 15 oz (425 g) crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup cooked rice
• ½ cup chopped onions
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• ¼ cup breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsps milk or cream
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 clove grated garlic
• 1 egg
• 1 ¾ tsp salt
• ½ tsp ground black pepper
• ¼ tsp red chili flakes (optional)
• Mashed potatoes

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Sauce Creation: Whisk crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, red chili flakes, brown sugar, red wine vinegar, and grated garlic in a large mixing bowl until smoothly integrated.
2. Cabbage Preparation: Boil a salted pot of water, remove cabbage core, submerge entire head for 6-8 minutes, then extract leaves using tongs and cool under cold water, draining thoroughly.
3. Leaf Modification: Trim each leaf by cutting a V-shaped notch at the base to remove the rigid central rib, enabling easier rolling and more uniform wrapping.
4. Filling Composition: Gently combine ground beef, ground pork, diced onions, egg, milk, breadcrumbs, cooked rice, chopped parsley, salt, and black pepper, mixing minimally to maintain meat’s delicate texture.
5. Roll Assembly: Place cabbage leaf flat, add meat mixture near trimmed rib, fold sides inward, and roll from cut edge to create compact bundles, ensuring secure closure.
6. Slow Cooker Setup: Spread sauce on bottom of cooker, arrange rolls seam-side down, then cover completely with remaining tomato sauce to guarantee even cooking and rich flavor penetration.
7. Cooking Process: Set slow cooker to low temperature, allowing rolls to simmer for 4-6 hours until meat is thoroughly cooked and cabbage becomes tender and succulent.
8. Serving Presentation: Transfer cabbage rolls onto plates, accompany with creamy mashed potatoes, ladle cooking sauce over top, and garnish with fresh parsley for an elegant finishing touch.

Notes

• Master Cabbage Leaf Technique: Carefully remove leaves without tearing by boiling whole cabbage head, ensuring leaves stay intact for perfect rolling.
• Minimize Meat Mixing: Handle ground meat mixture gently to prevent dense, tough texture, preserving a light and tender filling consistency.
• Optimize Slow Cooker Setup: Spread sauce on bottom and arrange rolls seam-side down to prevent unraveling and ensure even cooking throughout.
• Sauce Balance Matters: Blend tomato sauce ingredients thoroughly for a rich, balanced flavor that complements the meat and cabbage rolls perfectly.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 6 hours
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: Eastern European

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg