Lazy Cabbage Rolls

Name: Lazy Cabbage Rolls (Deconstructed Baked)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 5 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Eastern European
Ingredients: 1 lb ground Italian sausage; 1 lb ground beef; 1 medium onion, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 cup instant white rice, uncooked; 2 cups shredded cabbage; 2 large eggs; 1 tsp dried dill weed; 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1 tbsp all-purpose Greek seasoning; 1 (28 oz) container tomato sauce; 1 (15 oz) can sauerkraut, drained; Fresh parsley, for garnish; Sour cream, for serving

Lazy Cabbage Rolls skip the fussy leaf-rolling step by layering shredded cabbage, seasoned ground beef and Italian sausage, rice, and eggs in a rich tomato-sauerkraut sauce—delivering classic Eastern European flavor in an easy baked casserole.

🌍Eastern European 🏷️Cabbage rolls 🏷️Deconstructed cabbage rolls 🏷️Casserole 🏷️Ground beef Italian sausage

🏷️

🏷️Sauerkraut

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TikTok

Total

1h 20m

Servings

8

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$29–$48

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

-0:00

TikTok

Ingredients

1 lb ground Italian sausage
1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup instant white rice, uncooked
2 cups shredded cabbage
2 large eggs
1 tsp dried dill weed
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp all-purpose Greek seasoning
1 (28 oz) container tomato sauce
1 (15 oz) can sauerkraut, drained
Fresh parsley, for garnishoptional
Sour cream, for servingoptional

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Instructions

1
In a large mixing bowl, combine ground Italian sausage, ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic.
2
Add the uncooked instant rice, shredded cabbage, and eggs to the bowl.
3
Season the mixture with dried dill, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and all-purpose Greek seasoning.
4
Using your hands, mix all ingredients until thoroughly combined.
5
Spread half of the tomato sauce and half of the sauerkraut in the bottom of a large baking dish.
6
Form the meat mixture into 8 large, football-shaped rolls and place them on top of the sauce and sauerkraut.
7
Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the rolls, then top with the remaining sauerkraut.
8
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
9
Bake at 385°F for 1 hour.
10
Remove the foil and place the dish under the broiler for a few minutes until the top is caramelized and browned.
11
Let cool slightly before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with a dollop of sour cream.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Mix the ground meat, eggs, rice, and seasonings thoroughly before layering—this ensures even seasoning and binding throughout.
Don't skip the dill weed; it's a signature Eastern European flavor that distinguishes this from generic ground beef casseroles.
Cover the casserole for the first 30–40 minutes to trap steam and cook the rice; uncover if you prefer a less saucy, drier texture.
Taste the sauce before assembling and adjust salt, as sauerkraut varies in saltiness by brand.

Substitutions

Instant white rice → short-grain brown rice (add 10–15 minutes baking time and ¼ cup extra liquid)
Italian sausage → ground pork (add ½ tsp fennel seed and extra salt to match sausage seasoning)
Fresh dill weed → 1 tsp dried parsley + ½ tsp caraway seed (more subtle but traditional)
Sauerkraut → tomato paste + 2 tbsp vinegar (adjust sauce consistency and salt)