Easy and delicious unstuffed cabbage rolls.
This deconstructed cabbage roll recipe actually doesn't roll any cabbage. But, it has that delicious flavor with just a fraction of the work! This is such an inexpensive recipe especially when cabbage is on sale (in the fall and around St. Patrick's day). This is such an easy way to get the healthy taste of cabbage rolls without the work! Call them deconstructed, unstuffed, or whatever you like. This is basically an easy and delicious cabbage roll casserole, but the cabbage rolls are deconstructed!

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What is a deconstructed cabbage roll recipe vs a cabbage roll casserole?
This is THE recipe I make when we have a need to have a healthy, vegetable-based meal. You know, when you are looking for a dish with lower calories. And, there is a HUGE amount of cabbage in this (can we say high fiber!). And, it's super easy. The deconstructed part comes in because there is no rolling of the cabbage rolls. So much easier to just chop and layer. No need to make the cabbage rolls.
I make this in either a casserole dish OR a dutch oven. Often, I prepare this meal the night before, and then I can just pop it in the oven and cook it. I have this casserole dish and a similar to this Dutch oven.
Ingredients
1 large cabbage (estimate how much you can get in your casserole dish).
1 chopped sauteed onion
3 lightly sauteed garlic
1 ½ lb cooked ground beef (can use ground pork or ground turkey)
2 cans of Campbells Tomato soup
1 can beef broth or chicken broth
1 ½ cups pasta (uncooked) OPTIONAL
salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees
Prior to assembling ingredients, prep. hamburger by browning in a skillet on medium heat ...................and set aside. Drain any fat from the hamburger.
In the same skillet, saute onions and garlic. Be careful not to burn the garlic! Set aside.
Chop cabbage in long thin strips. You are aiming for ½ inch strips about 3 inches long (ish).
Spray casserole dish with cooking spray.
Fill casserole dish about ⅔ full of cabbage.
Spread cooked hamburger crumbles evenly over cabbage
Sprinkle uncooked noodles as the next layer. Use lots if you like noodles, none if you are avoiding carbs. Your choice 🙂
Add some salt and pepper, to taste. Easy on the salt though since the soup is already quite salty.
Layer on the rest of the cabbage. Keep adding. It often is heaped.
Add the two cans of tomato soup with the ½ can of water mixed in. Spread it evenly over the top.
Put the lid on. If the cabbage is layered too high, it'll cook down and the lid will eventually fit.
Bake at 325 for about 2 ½ to 3 hours.
Enjoy!
I love this recipe! Hope you do too.

Does this deconstructed cabbage recipe freeze well?
Yes, I regularly portion this into airtight containers and place it in the freezer. I thaw it in the fridge for a day and then either heat it in a small saucepan or microwave it in an appropriate microwaveable container.
Printable recipe.

Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls (unstuffed cabbage rolls)
Ingredients
- Large casserole dish with lid or Dutch Oven
- 1 large cabbage
- 1 ½ lb cooked hamburger meat
- 1 chopped sauteed onion
- 3 minced and lightly sauteed garlic
- 2 cans Campbells Tomato soup
- 1 can about 8 oz of beef broth or chicken
- 1 ½ cups pasta uncooked OPTIONAL
- salt & pepper to taste remember the soup is already salty.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees
- Prior to assembling ingredients, prep. hamburger by browning in a medium heat skillet and set aside. Drain any fat from the hamburger.In the same skillet, saute onions and garlic. Be careful not to burn the garlic! Set aside.
- Chop cabbage in long thin strips. You are aiming for ½ inch strips about 3 inches long (ish).
- Spray casserole dish with cooking spray
- Fill casserole dish about ⅔ full of cabbage.
- Spread cooked hamburger crumbles evenly over cabbage.
- Sprinkle uncooked noodles as the next layer. Use lots if you like noodles, none if you are avoiding carbs. Your choice : ).
- Add some salt and pepper, to taste. Easy on the salt though 'cause the soup is already quite salty.
- Layer on the rest of the cabbage. Keep adding. It often is heaped.
- Mix the can of broth into the tomato soup in a small bowl. Spread it evenly over the top.
- Put the lid on. If the cabbage is layered too high, it'll cook down and the lid will eventually fit.
- Bake at 325 for about 2 ½ to 3 hours. It will start to simmer and cook within the casserole dish or dutch oven.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Enjoy the recipe!
Becky
I've been doing this for years now, In a pot on top the stove, I also use our favorite spaghetti sauce, no pasta. Garlic bread, and salad. My family and friends love it!!!!!
Susan
Can this be cooked in a crock pot
Debra Miles
Real good love cabbage
maria
great recipe I love cabbage,
Sara
I haven't made cabbage rolls in ages because it's so work intensive so I'm happy to find your version. Cabbage is going back on the list 🙂
Susan
That looks delicious, no wonder it is so popular!
Barbara Chapman
This recipe looks wonderful, Susan! Pinned for you. <3
Happy almost spring,
Barb:)
momcrieff
Thanks Barb! Yes, I am so looking forward to spring!!
Kay Shannon
We love cabbage rolls and I really like the idea of making a casserole rather than rolling each roll! Pinned!
momcrieff
Kay, you will find these so much easier to make! But they taste soooo good.
Patti
This looks really good. I love stuffed can she rolls but they are always so much work. Pinning!
imarancher
I am really enjoying this column. It tastes so good!
momcrieff
So glad you enjoy what I am sharing. Thanks for letting me know!