If you’re looking for the kind of meal that warms your heart and fills your kitchen with savory, homey goodness, Cabbage Beef Bake is the answer. This dish layers tender cabbage with seasoned ground beef, hearty rice, and a bubbling, cheesy topping—ideal for feeding a hungry crowd or making sure leftovers are even better the next day. With just a handful of everyday ingredients, the flavors meld together into something truly greater than the sum of its parts. Whether you’re new to cabbage bakes or already a fan, this recipe is about to become your go-to comfort classic!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients You’ll Need

Cabbage Beef Bake is all about simple, fuss-free ingredients that deliver major comfort with every bite. Each one has a special role to play, from the melt-in-your-mouth beef to the vibrant cabbage and luxuriously gooey cheese. Here’s what you’ll need:

Olive oil: Adds a touch of richness and helps the beef and onions cook evenly without sticking to the pan.
Ground beef: The hearty, protein-packed star that forms the base of the bake; choose lean beef for less grease, or go a little richer for more flavor.
Onion (diced): Brings a subtle sweetness and savory depth to the beef mixture.
Garlic (minced): Lifts the whole dish with its aromatic kick—don’t skip it!
Green cabbage (chopped): Gives wonderful texture and a mild, earthy flavor that soaks up the seasonings beautifully.
Diced tomatoes (with juices): Adds a burst of freshness and acidity, balancing out the richness.
Tomato sauce: Blends everything together with its silky, tangy base.
Italian seasoning: Provides a herby, aromatic note that makes each forkful pop.
Smoked paprika: Delivers subtle smokiness and an enticing color; a little goes a long way.
Salt and pepper: Essential for seasoning and bringing out the natural flavors of every ingredient.
Cooked white or brown rice: Turns this bake into a complete, filling meal—use whatever rice you like best!
Shredded mozzarella cheese: Helps create that super-satisfying, gooey melted cheese topping.
Grated Parmesan cheese: Adds a salty, nutty finish for the perfect golden crust.

How to Make Cabbage Beef Bake

Step 1: Prep the Oven and Baking Dish

Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish—this makes it much easier to serve and ensures nothing sticks later. Setting up your baking dish first means everything is ready to go once your filling is hot and delicious.

Step 2: Brown the Beef and Onion

In a large skillet, pour in your olive oil and set it over medium heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion, breaking up the meat with a spoon. You’ll want to cook them together until the beef is fully browned and the onions look soft and slightly translucent—this usually takes about 5 to 6 minutes. At this point, your kitchen will already smell wonderful!

Step 3: Sauté Garlic and Wilt the Cabbage

Stir in your minced garlic and let it cook for about a minute, just until fragrant. Then, toss in the chopped cabbage. Watch it transform as it cooks—after 5 to 7 minutes, it will soften and shrink down, making more room for all the delicious flavors to meld.

Step 4: Add Tomatoes, Seasonings, and Simmer

To the skillet, pour in the diced tomatoes (make sure to include the juices), tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and a generous dose of salt and pepper. Give everything a good stir and let it simmer for five minutes. This step helps marry all the flavors and gives the cabbage a chance to soak up that tasty tomato and spice mix.

Step 5: Stir in Cooked Rice

Add your cooked white or brown rice straight into the skillet. Mix everything thoroughly, ensuring the rice is evenly distributed and every grain gets a bit of that savory sauce. The blend should be perfectly hearty and look almost too good to resist tasting already!

Step 6: Layer in Baking Dish and Top with Cheese

Carefully pour or spoon the mixture into your prepared baking dish, spreading it out to the edges. Sprinkle the top evenly with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. This is what gives Cabbage Beef Bake its irresistible bubbling crust when baked.

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Cover the dish with foil and slide it into your preheated oven. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil for the final 10 minutes. This uncovered time lets the cheese melt gorgeously and pick up a golden, bubbly finish. Let everything rest for at least five minutes before digging in—trust me, it’s worth the wait!

How to Serve Cabbage Beef Bake

Garnishes

A sprinkle of fresh parsley or chopped green onions brightens the plate and brings a fresh pop of color and flavor. Even a dusting of extra Parmesan just before serving can take your Cabbage Beef Bake from cozy casserole to dinner table showstopper. If you love a little spicy kick, a few red pepper flakes over the top work beautifully, too.

Side Dishes

Since Cabbage Beef Bake is gloriously hearty on its own, you don’t need much on the side. That said, a crisp green salad with a tangy vinaigrette or some roasted vegetables can add nice contrast and keep things feeling balanced. A loaf of crusty bread is also wonderful, perfect for sopping up any extra sauce.

Creative Ways to Present

If you feel like having fun, try serving Cabbage Beef Bake in individual ramekins for a personal touch—or let your guests scoop straight from the casserole for a family-style vibe. Leftovers also make an amazing lunch; tuck warm slices into a toasted sandwich roll, or use as a topping over baked potatoes for a twist.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Let any leftover Cabbage Beef Bake cool to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to four days, holding onto all its goodness and making meal planning a breeze.

Freezing

This dish is practically made for the freezer. If you want to plan ahead, assemble the casserole but don’t bake it, then wrap tightly in foil and freeze. Otherwise, freeze individual servings after baking for easy reheating. It will stay tasty in the freezer for up to three months.

Reheating

Reheat leftovers in the microwave for a quick lunch, or cover the casserole dish with foil and warm it in a 350°F (175°C) oven until heated through. If you froze your Cabbage Beef Bake before baking, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then bake as directed.

FAQs

Can I substitute another type Main Course

Absolutely! Cabbage Beef Bake is super flexible. Ground turkey, chicken, pork, or even a flavorful sausage work wonderfully. Just be sure to adjust the seasonings slightly depending on the meat you choose for the tastiest result.

Is there a way to make this dish vegetarian?

Yes! For a vegetarian version, swap the ground beef for cooked lentils, crumbled firm tofu, or a plant-based ground meat substitute. The rest of the ingredients stay the same, and you’ll end up with a delicious, hearty vegetarian Cabbage Beef Bake.

Can I use different kinds of cheese?

Definitely. Mozzarella brings gooey meltiness, but feel free to experiment with cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a smoky Gouda. Mixing different cheeses or using what you have on hand is a great way to make the recipe your own.

How can I make Cabbage Beef Bake gluten-free?

Great news: This recipe is already naturally gluten-free, thanks to the rice base! Just double-check your canned tomatoes and seasonings to ensure there are no added gluten-containing ingredients.

What’s the best way to prepare cabbage for this recipe?

Simply remove any tough outer leaves, then cut the cabbage into quarters and slice out the core. Chop or shred the leaves to your desired size—smaller pieces cook down more quickly and blend seamlessly into the savory bake.

Final Thoughts

There’s something so comforting about a meal that brings family and friends together, and Cabbage Beef Bake fits that bill perfectly. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just craving cozy leftovers, this recipe promises satisfaction with every cheesy, flavorful bite. Give it a try soon—your dinner table will thank you!

Cabbage Beef Bake Recipe

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4.6 from 25 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 55 minutes
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Diet: Non-Vegetarian

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Description

Cabbage Beef Bake is a comforting and hearty baked dish that combines flavorful ground beef, tender cabbage, and cheesy goodness. Perfect for a satisfying family meal.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cabbage Beef Mixture:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small head green cabbage, chopped
1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, with juices
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups cooked white or brown rice

For Topping:

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Cook Beef Mixture: In a skillet, cook ground beef and onion until browned. Add garlic, then cabbage, and cook until slightly wilted. Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, seasonings, and cooked rice.
Assemble and Bake: Transfer mixture to baking dish, top with cheeses, cover with foil, and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Rest before serving.