Easy Lentil and Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
Easy Lentil and Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls – Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with flavor. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping them from falling apart is to parboil the cabbage leaves first. This recipe is perfect for a cozy fall dinner or a make-ahead meal. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Homemade Sugar Free Blueberry Syrup for Refreshing Drinks and Crispy Spicy Oven Baked Chicken Wings Recipe.
Why This Easy Lentil and Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- Easy to make with simple ingredients
- Healthier than traditional cabbage rolls
- Perfect for meal prepping or a cozy dinner
What You'll Need for Easy Lentil and Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Cabbage
- Lentils
- Rice
- Ground beef
- Onion
- Garlic
- Tomato sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- Salt
- Pepper
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Basil
- Oregano
- Optional: Sour cream
- Optional: Fresh parsley
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Ground beef: You can substitute with ground turkey or leave it out for a vegetarian version.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Pot — Cooks lentils and rice perfectly in minutes → See on Amazon
- Food processor — Makes quick work of chopping vegetables → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Lentil and Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
- Step 1: Parboil cabbage leaves and cook lentils and rice according to package instructions.
- Step 2: Mix ground beef, cooked lentils and rice, diced onion, minced garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, basil, and oregano.
- Step 3: Stuff each cabbage leaf with the beef and lentil mixture, roll tightly, and secure with a toothpick.
- Step 4: Place the stuffed cabbage rolls in a baking dish, pour tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce over them, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30-35 minutes.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Lentil and Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
- Common mistake and fix: If your cabbage rolls are falling apart, try parboiling the leaves first to soften them.
- : For a vegetarian version, you can substitute the ground beef with mushrooms or leave it out entirely.
- : To make ahead, assemble the cabbage rolls, but don't bake them. Store in the fridge for up to 24 hours, then bake as directed.
Storing & Reheating Easy Lentil and Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: You can assemble the cabbage rolls up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
Freezing Easy Lentil and Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
Freeze cooked cabbage rolls for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add some red pepper flakes to the beef and lentil mixture.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or leave it out for a vegetarian version.
- Make-ahead: You can assemble the cabbage rolls up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved depending on how many servings you need.
- Troubleshooting: If your cabbage rolls are falling apart, try parboiling the leaves first to soften them.
Want to level up this recipe?
Slow cooker — Convenient for cooking cabbage rolls while you're away → Check price on Amazon
Easy Lentil and Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Cabbage
- Lentils
- Rice
- Ground beef
- Onion
- Garlic
- Tomato sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Basil
- Oregano
Optional Toppings
- Sour cream
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Step 1: Parboil cabbage leaves and cook lentils and rice according to package instructions.
- Step 2: Mix ground beef, cooked lentils and rice, diced onion, minced garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, basil, and oregano.
- Step 3: Stuff each cabbage leaf with the beef and lentil mixture, roll tightly, and secure with a toothpick.
- Step 4: Place the stuffed cabbage rolls in a baking dish, pour tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce over them, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30-35 minutes.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add some red pepper flakes to the beef and lentil mixture.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or leave it out for a vegetarian version.
- Make-ahead: You can assemble the cabbage rolls up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved depending on how many servings you need.
- Troubleshooting: If your cabbage rolls are falling apart, try parboiling the leaves first to soften them.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked cabbage rolls for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
- Make ahead: You can assemble the cabbage rolls up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 20g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 35g
- Fiber: 7g
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Cholesterol: 50mg
- Sat. Fat: 5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Lentil and Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can assemble the cabbage rolls up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to bake.
If your cabbage rolls are falling apart, try parboiling the leaves first to soften them.
Yes, you can freeze cooked cabbage rolls for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Yes, you can cook these cabbage rolls in the slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours.
You can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or leave it out for a vegetarian version.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Lentil and Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
