Effortless Instant Pot Stuffed Cabbage Rolls: A Quick & Flavorful Classic

Experience the ultimate comfort food reimagined for modern convenience with our Instant Pot stuffed cabbage rolls. This beloved classic, traditionally known for its rich flavors and hearty filling of ground beef, rice, and a delectable tomato sauce, can now be on your dinner table faster than ever. Forget the lengthy simmering; your pressure cooker transforms this old-fashioned favorite into a quick, family-friendly meal without compromising on taste. If you’ve enjoyed our Instant Pot stuffed cabbage casserole but crave the authentic roll experience your grandmother perfected, this recipe delivers that nostalgic goodness with remarkable speed.

This Instant Pot stuffed cabbage recipe has quickly become a household favorite due to its incredible ease and speed. It’s another fantastic addition to our extensive collection of easy Instant Pot recipes, proving that delicious, home-cooked meals don’t have to be time-consuming. Get ready to impress your family with a hearty dish that tastes like it took hours, but was actually prepared in a fraction of the time.

Mastering Stuffed Cabbage in Your Pressure Cooker

For many years, cabbage recipes weren’t exactly at the top of my culinary list. My grandmother often prepared them, but as a child, I was less than enthusiastic. Fast forward to adulthood, and my palate has thankfully evolved! After preparing a traditional version of stuffed cabbage for my husband when we first married, I was inspired to adapt the recipe for my new pressure cooker. The results were astonishingly good, turning a once intimidating dish into a simple pleasure.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability across various electric pressure cooker brands. Whether you own an Instant Pot, Mealthy, Crockpot Express, or a Ninja Foodi, the core pressure cooking method remains consistent. If you have a Ninja Foodi with its convenient air fryer function, you even have the option to add a final flourish of melted Parmesan cheese on top for an extra layer of flavor and texture, taking your stuffed cabbage rolls to the next level.

Essential Tips for Instant Pot Cooking Success

If you’re new to the world of pressure cooking, welcome! We offer a wealth of easy one-pot meal recipes, and to ensure your culinary journey is smooth and successful, here are a few fundamental tips:

**Stay Updated:** Make sure to bookmark our Instant Pot recipes page. We regularly add fresh, exciting recipes each week, so you’ll never run out of ideas for quick and delicious meals.
**Know Your Times:** Print this essential Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet. It’s an invaluable tool that will help you understand the precise cooking durations for various ingredients like meats, vegetables, and beans in your pressure cooker, eliminating guesswork.
**Consider a Non-Stick Pot:** For the best experience, especially when sautéing, I highly recommend investing in a good non-stick inner pot. While it’s always wise to understand how to deglaze your pressure cooker after sautéing, a quality non-stick liner significantly reduces sticking issues and makes cleanup a breeze.

For context, the Instant Pot model I consistently use for all my recipe creations is a versatile 6-quart unit, perfect for a wide range of dishes, including these delightful stuffed cabbage rolls.

A white Instant Pot with a Star Wars theme sits on the kitchen counter, ready to tackle your favorite beef arm roast recipe. The digital display glows "On." Next to it lie a patterned cloth and some green onions, all against the backdrop of blue kitchen cabinets and a stovetop.

Crafting the Perfect Pressure Cooker Cabbage Rolls

While I’ve previously enjoyed making an unstuffed cabbage casserole on the stovetop, there’s a unique satisfaction and undeniable appeal to the traditional, perfectly rolled variety. The texture and presentation of individual cabbage rolls are simply unmatched! For this recipe, I utilize my trusty 6-quart Instant Pot, along with a few select accessories. A 7-inch oven-safe bowl, for instance, fits perfectly inside and is ideal for cooking these easy cabbage rolls.

When preparing stuffed cabbage, you’ll primarily use the large, outer leaves of a fresh cabbage head. Regardless of whether you bake them in the oven or cook them in a pressure cooker, a crucial first step is to quickly blanch these leaves. This brief boil softens them just enough to make them pliable, allowing you to easily wrap the savory filling like a neat burrito without tearing.

And don’t worry about wasting the rest of the cabbage! I share your dislike for food waste. There are numerous delicious ways to utilize the remaining cabbage. A quick search for “cabbage” on my site will yield a wealth of ideas. Among our favorites is making Instant Pot fried cabbage – it’s always a huge hit and a fantastic way to enjoy this versatile vegetable.

Heads of fresh green cabbage are neatly stacked in a grocery store display, accompanied by price tags for Bok Choy and Napa Cabbage.

The Irresistible Flavor of Instant Pot Stuffed Cabbage with Tomato Sauce

Crafting these delicious Instant Pot stuffed cabbage rolls begins with preparing your rice. You can quickly make Instant Pot white rice in just a few minutes, setting it aside once cooked. The next step involves browning your chosen ground meat, ensuring all the rich flavors of the filling are perfectly cooked. The convenience of the Instant Pot truly shines here, as you can perform all the initial cooking steps, including sautéing the meat and onions, right inside the same pot using its convenient sauté function. This means less cleanup and more time to enjoy your meal!

For the luscious sauce that permeates every bite, you have several excellent options. Tomato soup provides a creamy, comforting base, while a robust tomato sauce or even your favorite spaghetti sauce can offer a deeper, more savory profile. The key is to generously coat the rolls, allowing the flavors to seep in and tenderize the cabbage. If you crave a bit of a kick, don’t hesitate to add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce; otherwise, keep it mild for a classic taste that appeals to everyone.

Ingredients for Your Savory Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Gathering your ingredients is the first step towards creating these incredible Instant Pot stuffed cabbage rolls. Here’s what you’ll need for a truly satisfying and flavorful meal:

Cabbage: One medium head, specifically for its outer, larger leaves that will form the wraps.
Water: Approximately 1 cup for steaming the cabbage leaves, plus 1 ½ cups for pressure cooking.
Diced Tomatoes: One 14-ounce can, petite diced versions are preferred for a finer texture, and those with chiles can add a pleasant warmth.
Cooked Rice: 2 cups of white or brown rice, prepared beforehand. (See our guide for Instant Pot white rice).
Ground Meat:
- 1/2 lb Italian sausage (spicy is highly recommended for an extra flavor boost).
- 1/2 lb ground beef. If you forgot to thaw it, check out our guide on how to defrost Instant Pot frozen ground beef quickly.
Onion: 1/2 a medium onion, finely diced.
Seasoning Salt: 1 teaspoon, optional. Lawry’s is a great choice if you decide to include it.
Tomato Sauce: 3/4 cup, or your favorite spaghetti sauce for a richer, bolder flavor.
Olive Oil: A tablespoon for sautéing.
Salt and Pepper: To taste, along with any other seasonings that are a must-have in your kitchen.

Below, you’ll see how beautifully these stuffed cabbage rolls arrange in the dish and on the trivet inside your pressure cooker, ready to transform into a tender, flavorful meal.

A cabbage leaf simmers gently in a stainless steel pot on the stove

Using Your Own Dishes in the Instant Pot

Absolutely! You can use most regular oven-safe dishes in your Instant Pot, provided they fit comfortably inside the inner pot and can be placed on a trivet. For this particular recipe, using a 6-quart Instant Pot, we found that a 7-inch casserole dish worked perfectly to hold the stuffed cabbage rolls. Larger ramekins or any other oven-safe bakeware that fits within your pressure cooker’s dimensions are also excellent choices for cooking various dishes using the pot-in-pot method.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Stuffed Cabbage in an Instant Pot

Follow these detailed steps to create delicious and tender Instant Pot Stuffed Cabbage Rolls:

Prepare the Rice: Begin by cooking 2 cups of white or brown rice using your preferred method. An Instant Pot makes this quick and easy. Once cooked, set it aside.
Blanch Cabbage Leaves: Carefully remove the largest outer leaves from your head of cabbage. In a pot on the stovetop, bring water to a boil. Add the cabbage leaves and blanch them for about 3 minutes, just until they are softened and pliable enough to roll without tearing. They should not be mushy.
Cool and Dry Cabbage: Once blanched, remove the cabbage leaves from the hot water and place them on a clean paper towel to drain excess moisture and cool slightly. This makes them easier to handle.
Sauté the Filling Base: Set your Instant Pot to the “Sauté” mode. Add a tablespoon of olive oil, then introduce the Italian sausage, ground beef, and diced onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is no longer pink and the onions are softened. If using seasoning salt, add it now. Turn off the Instant Pot when done.
Create the Filling: Transfer the cooked meat and onion mixture to a large bowl. Stir in the cooked rice and 3/4 cup of tomato sauce (or spaghetti sauce) until well combined. This is your flavorful filling.
Prepare for Rolling: Rinse out the Instant Pot’s inner pot to remove any lingering food bits. Pour 1 ½ cups of water into the clean inner pot and place your trivet inside.
Stuff and Roll Cabbage: Lay a softened cabbage leaf flat on a cutting board. Spoon a generous amount of the meat and rice mixture onto the center of the leaf. Fold the sides of the cabbage leaf inwards, then roll it up tightly, like a small present or burrito.
Arrange Rolls in Dish: Place the rolled cabbage with the folded seam facing down into a 6-7 inch oven-safe dish or springform pan. Continue until all the filling and leaves are used, arranging them neatly in the dish.
Add Toppings and Seasonings: Pour the can of petite diced tomatoes evenly over the top of the assembled cabbage rolls in the dish. Now is a great time to add any additional seasonings to taste, at least salt and pepper are essential.
Pressure Cook: Carefully place the dish containing the cabbage rolls onto the trivet inside the Instant Pot. Close the lid and turn the sealing valve to the “Sealing” position. Select “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” (High Pressure) and set the timer for 15 minutes.
Release Pressure and Serve: Once the cooking cycle is complete, you can allow a natural pressure release for 5-10 minutes for more tender results, or perform a quick release. Once the pressure pin drops, carefully open the lid.

Spoon the delectable stuffed cabbage rolls onto plates and, if desired, sprinkle with fresh parsley, more seasoning, and a generous amount of grated Parmesan cheese. If you opted for spicy Italian sausage in your filling, you might find that little additional seasoning is needed. For an intensely flavorful and spicy dish, consider using only spicy Italian sausage and omitting the ground beef entirely. At times, I also like to incorporate some extra diced onion directly into the filling for an added layer of flavor and texture.

More Irresistible Cabbage Recipes to Explore

If you’ve fallen in love with cabbage after trying these rolls, you’re in luck! There’s a whole world of simple yet delicious cabbage recipes waiting to be discovered:

Our Instant Pot butter cabbage is an incredibly simple yet profoundly flavorful side dish that complements almost any main course. It’s a testament to how humble ingredients can create something truly special.
For a complete meal that cooks together, our Instant Pot corned beef and cabbage duo offers a hearty and satisfying dinner solution, perfect for holidays or a cozy weekend.

Beyond these, we share comprehensive guides on how to cook cabbage using a variety of types and techniques. From stovetop preparations to oven-roasted delights and everything in between, you’ll find all the inspiration you need right here to make cabbage a star in your kitchen.

An Instant Pot stuffed cabbage roll, covered in tomato sauce, is lifted by a white spoon from a dish of similar rolls.

Instant Pot Stuffed Cabbage Recipe

By
Justine

This Instant Pot stuffed cabbage is a great dinner filled with ground beef, rice, and tons of flavor. Enjoy this classic comfort food with just a few minutes in your pressure cooker!

Prep:

15

Cook:

15

Total:

40

Servings:
4

Comment
Print Recipe

Equipment

1 pressure cooker (e.g., Instant Pot)
1 6-inch springform pan or 7-inch oven-safe dish

Ingredients

1 head cabbage
1/2 lb Italian sausage, spicy is best
1/2 lb ground beef
2 c cooked rice, white or brown
1 can diced tomatoes, petite, 14 oz., with chiles is good
1/2 onion , diced
1 tsp seasoning salt, optional
3/4 c tomato sauce, or spaghetti sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Cook 2 cups of rice according to your preferred method (Instant Pot recommended). Set aside. Gently remove the largest outer leaves from the cabbage head. Boil them in water for about 3 minutes until softened. Drain and pat dry.
Set your Instant Pot to “Sauté” mode. Add 1 tbsp olive oil, then the Italian sausage, ground beef, and diced onion. Cook until the meat is browned and no longer pink. Add seasoning salt if desired. Turn off the Instant Pot.
Transfer the cooked meat and onion mixture to a bowl. Mix in the cooked rice and 3/4 cup of tomato or spaghetti sauce. Stir until well combined.
Lay a softened cabbage leaf on a large surface. Spoon a portion of the meat and rice mixture onto the center. Fold the ends of the cabbage leaf over the filling, then roll it up tightly.
Place the rolled cabbage, seam-side down, into a 6-7 inch oven-safe dish or springform pan that fits inside your Instant Pot. Repeat with remaining filling and leaves.
Rinse out the Instant Pot’s inner pot. Add 1 ½ cups of water to the inner pot, then place the trivet inside. Pour the diced tomatoes over the cabbage rolls in the dish, then carefully place the dish on the trivet in the Instant Pot.
Close the Instant Pot lid and turn the sealing valve to the “Sealing” position. Set for “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” (High Pressure) for 15 minutes.
Once cooking is finished, allow for a natural pressure release for 5-10 minutes, then perform a quick release. Serve hot, with additional rice or fresh herbs if desired.

Nutrition Information (Approximate)

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course:
Entree, Main Course

Cuisine:
American