Slow Cooker Stuffed Cabbage

This slow cooker stuffed cabbage recipe with rice and ground beef is now part of our favorite crockpot recipes. Perfect addition around St. Patricks Day but so good we make them year round for our family too!

We are a typical family, hence the name Zopago. We cook the same dishes week after week. But sometimes it is time to add a new meal! I love easy crockpot meals and so naturally my mind goes there.

How Long to Cook Stuffed Cabbage in Slow Cooker

Most of our favorite dishes are “dump meals” but every once and a while it’s nice to take some time and make something different. This is one of those but it is so worth it when it is done that takes 8 hours on low . A family secret recipe that has been passed down for generations, but shared here with you today. 😉

Ingredient Notes

Onions should be diced fine to add flavor and texture but really are an optional. item that could be eliminated. Or you could use minced onions, onion or garlic powder as alternatives.

A large Egg will help to bind everything together so it becomes firmer in the center when cooked.

1/4 cup Milk needed or you could use a dairy free alternative, I prefer cashew milk because it is a bit thicker.

Ketchup or tomato sauce works for this to add flavor to the overall dish. I mean even bbq sauce with a dash of worcestershire sauce is an option.

And Honey adds a bit of sweetness, or agave nectar could be used.

You will want the large Cabbage leaves, you will want to use just the outside few that are large enough to fill and wrap around sealed on all sides. For the rest you can make Slow Cooker Cabbage with it. 😉

What is the best type of cabbage for Crockpot stuffed cabbage?

The best type for making stuffed cabbage in a Crockpot is green cabbage. Green is the most commonly used variety for stuffing due to its mild flavor, sturdy leaves, and ability to hold up well during slow cooking. Red is stiffer with a more intense flavor.

What type of meat is best for stuffed cabbage?

I usually use Ground beef or for heat we like spicy ground sausage the best. Either meat would need to be precooked and drained of grease before combining all other ingredients for the filling.

Can you make stuffed cabbage with spaghetti sauce?

Yes, I have done that many times if I don’t have tomato sauce on hand. I have even used tomato soup or even diced tomatoes, spaghetti sauce or Instant Pot spaghetti sauce to keep it moist and give it lots of flavor.

Do you have to add rice?

No, you can make it without but the texture will be different and you will need a bit more of it to make up the difference to fill each leaf. I will make cooked rice made as Ninja Foodi rice with 1/2 cup grain add 1 cup water minimum to cook to fluffy. Measure this once it is done, not before.

We make stuffed green peppers pretty regularly. This crock pot recipe reminds me of that. It is inexpensive, pretty healthy, and once you take the time to make the cabbage rolls (less than an hr.), it cooks by itself.

What is the best way to soften cabbage leaves for cabbage rolls?

You just need a large pot half full of water with a bit of salt if you like. You’ll want to boil your largest leaves from each head of cabbage in a boiling pot of water. There are really only 4-5 per head so I would buy 2 if you’re making enough for a family of 4 or more.

It’s a bit like when you blanch bell peppers, you just want to soften them. When I take the leaves out of the water I put them on a plate with a paper towel to absorb some of the water. Fill the softened leaf with about this much meat mixture in center. Then roll like a burrito with the sides folded in first. Fold the leaf and roll it all the way up securing the side with the seam side up with 2 toothpicks so it doesn’t unravel.

Step by step pictures

Since then we’ve made this into Instant Pot stuffed cabbage too and it’s a winner. The only difference between the 2 stuffed cabbage rolls is the cook time really.