This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
These Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls are a simple more approachable version of the classic. Made with lean ground turkey, this is easy and quick enough for a weeknight meal.
Having an Eastern European grandmother meant growing up on cabbage rolls and pierogi. I was spoiled ;) Especially once my mum learned the tricks of the trade and started making them at home. My Dad and I would hit the roof in excitement whenever she’d announce that she’d be spending an upcoming Saturday making cabbage rolls. But! My favorite part was what she did with the scraps. Rather than trash leftover ingredients, she’d throw them into a skillet and make a delicious mess of, basically, unstuffed cabbage rolls.
Table of Contents
What is a cabbage roll?
Cooked cabbage leaves tightly wrapped around a variety of fillings. It’s really that simple. What I’ve learned over the years, however, is that the “cabbage roll” isn’t exclusive to Eastern Europe. It’s a common dish in many areas—from Greece to West Asia—all with their own unique way to stuff’em. But in Europe, the traditional fillings consist of ground meat seasoned with garlic, onions, and spices; grains such as rice or barley; and every once in a while, vegetables. Once stuffed, the cabbage rolls are baked, simmered, or steamed in a covered pot with tomato sauce, and served warm. Preferably with a generous dollop of sour cream!
Why opt for unstuffed?
Cabbage rolls in true form are magical, no doubt. But not everyone has the time or patience to spend an entire afternoon rolling meat and rice into cabbage leaves. By throwing everything into a skillet and letting it simmer for 30 minutes, you get all of those awesome flavors without the fuss, and it’s just as cozy and comforting as the real deal.
Unstuffed cabbage rolls call for very simple ingredients.
When you grow up with a grandmother that makes the best cabbage rolls, you see it as a delicacy—but there’s nothing fancy about it. In our home, we always used savoy cabbage, in all of its wrinkly glory. It has a milder flavor than regular green cabbage, but you can use them interchangeably. Other than that, you’re basically looking at:
- ground meat
- onions
- rice
- garlic
- canned diced tomatoes
- tomato sauce
- vinegar
I used ground turkey in this recipe to keep things on the leaner side. I tend to swap out ground beef for turkey when and where I can, and it worked fabulously here.
Follow me on Instagram and tag @killing__thyme so I can see your KT creations!
Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls with Ground Turkey and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- 1.5-2 lbs ground turkey
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 head of savoy cabbage, roughly chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 2 14.5 oz cans of diced tomatoes
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 TBSP apple cider vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
- 1 tsp kosher salt, more to taste if desired
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper, more to taste if desired
- 1 cup cooked rice, I like using basmati
- Sour cream, to serve
Instructions
- Prepare your rice as per the instructions on the packaging; set aside when done.
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and onion, and cook until the turkey is no longer pink, about 7-10 minutes; the onions will be nicely cooked at this point as well. Add the garlic, and continue to cook for another minute, stirring occasionally.
- Add the chopped cabbage, diced tomatoes and their juice, tomato sauce, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir the ingredients to mix them well. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let the ingredients simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the cabbage is tender. When done, stir in the rice until well incorporated.
- Taste, and season with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve with sour cream, or plain Greek yogurt if you want to keep things light.
Question- does this call for one cup of uncooked rice, cooked per package directions or just a cup of cooked rice?
Hi Lisa! It’s a cup of cooked rice.
Fantastic. We loved it. Will make it again. Dieter friendly…thank you.
What would happen if I used uncooked rice?
(Asking for a friend!)
You’d want to cook it a lot longer, and have extra liquid on hand!
I know food’s good when my hubby wants seconds! I love how I could make this with staple ingredients i already had in my kitchen. This is also a great healthy alternative to spaghetti and meat sauce! I will definitely be making this one again.
So happy to hear this, Seara! The second helping is always a great tell :)
This was yummy – but mad way to much. Can you freeze the leftovers?
Absolutely, Cindy! You can freeze it in an air-tight container for up to 3 months.
Do you know serving size and nutrition values
Hi Carrie, this makes about 6 servings and comes in at around 230 calories per serving, according to MyFitnessPal.com. That’s without the sour cream.
I make this all the time using turkey, and for the diced tomatoes i get the Hunt’s diced tomatoes with basil and oregano or garlic. Hubby absolutely loves it. I also have tried red cabbage, not as good, but regular green cabbage works well.
Hi Susan! I’m so glad you and hubby are enjoying this one. It’s so comforting and this is the perfect time of year for it. Now that it’s in mind, I think I need to make it soon ;)