Savory Home-Style Hearty Cabbage Beef Bake Recipe

Comfort takes center stage with this hearty cabbage beef bake that promises a delicious twist on classic comfort food.

Layers of tender ground beef intermingle with soft cabbage leaves in a mouthwatering casserole.

Rich, savory flavors bloom with each carefully crafted bite.

Wholesome ingredients come together to create a satisfying meal that warms you from the inside out.

Packed with protein and vegetables, this dish offers a balanced and nutritious dinner option.

The simple preparation makes this recipe perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.

Dive into a comforting meal that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 310 kcal

Servings: 6

Cabbage Beef Bake Ingredient Rundown

• Ground Beef: Provides hearty, rich flavor and substantial protein base for the casserole.
• Cabbage: Offers crisp texture, subtle sweetness, and low-calorie vegetable foundation.

• Onion, Garlic: Create aromatic depth and savory undertones to boost overall dish complexity.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds tangy, umami-rich dimension with subtle fermented complexity.
• Smoked Paprika, Oregano: Introduce warm, earthy spice notes and Mediterranean herbal essence.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasoning agents to balance and elevate natural ingredient flavors.

• Diced Tomatoes: Contribute juicy brightness and natural acidity to sauce.
• Tomato Sauce: Provides smooth, rich base for combining ingredients.
• Beef Broth: Ensures moisture retention and deepens meaty flavor profile.
• Shredded Cheese: Creates creamy, melted topping that binds ingredients together and adds luxurious finish.

Tools That Help Make Cabbage Beef Bake Comforting

• Large skillet: Perfect for browning beef and sautéing vegetables with even heat distribution.
• 9×13-inch baking dish: Essential for assembling and baking the casserole, creating a delicious one-pan meal.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring ingredients and ensuring everything mixes well.
• Cutting board: Needed for chopping onions and cabbage with ease.
• Chef's knife: Sharp knife for precise vegetable preparation.
• Cheese grater: Useful for shredding cheese if not pre-shredded.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Helpful for accurate ingredient portioning.

How to Bake a Cabbage Beef Casserole

• Fire Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 375°F, getting ready for a mouthwatering meal.

• Brown the Beef

Sizzle ground beef in a skillet, breaking it into tasty crumbles until it’s perfectly cooked. Drain away any extra grease.

• Awaken the Flavors

Toss in chopped onions and garlic, letting them dance and soften in the pan, releasing their aromatic.

• Welcome the Cabbage

Slide chopped cabbage into the skillet, stirring until it wilts and becomes tender and inviting.

• Create the Sauce Symphony

Pour in tomatoes, sauce, beef broth, and splash of Worcestershire. Sprinkle in paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Let everything simmer and get cozy, blending flavors together.

• Build the Casserole

Transfer the hearty mixture into a greased baking dish. Blanket the top with a generous layer of shredded cheese.

• Bake to Perfection

Slide the dish into the oven, letting the cheese transform into a golden, bubbling masterpiece in about 20-25 minutes.

• Serve and Savor

Let the casserole rest for a few minutes, then dive into this comforting, flavor-packed dish.

Tips for Keeping the Bake Moist and Well-Seasoned

• Toast your spices in the skillet before adding them to enhance their depth and richness, releasing more intense aromatics that elevate the entire dish.
• Experiment with different cheese varieties like sharp cheddar, pepper jack, or gruyere to create unique flavor profiles that match your taste preferences.
• Skip traditional sides and serve this bake over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles for a keto-friendly and lower-carbohydrate meal option that doesn't sacrifice taste.
• This recipe freezes beautifully – prepare the entire casserole, cool completely, then store in an airtight container for up to 3 months, making weeknight dinners a breeze with minimal preparation.
• Add extra vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach to increase nutritional value and create more texture within the casserole, making it even more satisfying and wholesome.

Serve This Casserole as a Weeknight Dinner Staple

• Comfort Food Companion: Pair this hearty Cabbage Beef Bake with a slice of crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
• Bright Side Boost: Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley or green onions on top for a pop of color and fresh herb flavor that cuts through the richness.
• Protein Power Plate: Serve alongside a simple green salad with a light vinaigrette to balance the robust flavors of the casserole and add some extra nutrition.
• Creamy Cool Down: Add a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt on top to bring a cool, tangy element that complements the warm, savory dish.

Store It Covered for a Second Serving

• Wrap leftovers in airtight containers and refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking to maintain freshness.
• Your delicious Cabbage Beef Bake stays tasty for 3-4 days when stored properly in the refrigerator.
• Portion the casserole into individual servings and freeze for up to 2 months. Wrap tightly in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn.
• Thaw frozen portions overnight in the refrigerator. Warm in the oven at 350F for 15-20 minutes, covering with foil to prevent drying. For quicker results, microwave individual servings for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even heating.

FAQs

• Is this recipe low-carb friendly?

Yes, this Cabbage Beef Bake is naturally low-carb and keto-friendly. Cabbage is a low-carbohydrate vegetable that replaces high-carb ingredients like pasta or rice, making it an excellent option for those following low-carb diets.

• Can I use a different type of meat?

Absolutely! While ground beef works perfectly, you can easily substitute with ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork. Just ensure the meat is fully cooked before mixing with other ingredients.

• What if I don't have smoked paprika?

No worries. You can replace smoked paprika with regular paprika or skip it entirely. The dish will still have great flavor from the other seasonings like Worcestershire sauce, oregano, salt, and pepper.

• How can I make this dish spicier?

To add heat, you can include red pepper flakes, a dash of hot sauce, or chopped jalapeños when sautéing the onions. These additions will give the Cabbage Beef Bake a nice spicy kick without changing the core recipe.

Hearty Cabbage Beef Bake Recipe

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4.6 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Polish cabbage beef bake delivers hearty comfort straight from grandmother’s kitchen. Layers of tender meat, cabbage, and rich sauce promise a satisfying meal that connects you to traditional European culinary roots.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
• 1 small head cabbage, chopped (about 6 cups)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 can (14.5 oz / 411 g) diced tomatoes, with juices
• 1 can (8 oz / 226 g) tomato sauce
• ½ cup beef broth
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• ¼ tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Preheat Preparation: Ignite the oven to a steady 375F (190C), establishing the perfect thermal landscape for culinary transformation.
2. Meat Mastery: Sear ground beef in a hot skillet, browning thoroughly and draining excess lipids, creating a clean protein foundation.
3. Aromatic Integration: Sauté onions and garlic until translucent, releasing their nuanced fragrance and developing a flavor-rich base.
4. Vegetable Harmonization: Introduce shredded cabbage, gently coaxing it to tenderness while maintaining a subtle textural resistance through careful stirring.
5. Flavor Composition: Merge diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper into a cohesive sauce. Simmer until flavors intertwine and intensify.
6. Baking Assembly: Transfer the robust mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, creating an even landscape and crowning with a generous layer of shredded cheese.
7. Culinary Finale: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, allowing cheese to metamorphose into a golden, bubbling crust while ingredients meld together in gastronomic harmony.

Notes

Drain Beef Thoroughly: Eliminate excess fat completely to prevent a greasy, heavy dish and ensure a lighter, cleaner flavor profile.

Cabbage Cooking Precision: Watch cabbage carefully during sautéing – overcooking leads to mushy texture, while undercooking results in tough, chewy strands.

Cheese Melting Technique: Choose high-moisture cheeses like cheddar or mozzarella for optimal melting and golden, bubbly top that adds creamy richness.

Low-Carb Adaptation: Substitute cabbage with cauliflower or zucchini for a keto-friendly version, maintaining the dish’s hearty essence while reducing carbohydrate content.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 12 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg