Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Recipe

Slow cooker cabbage rolls are perfect for making in a slow cooker. The waft of the flavors of the stuffed cabbage rolls marinating all day in a seasoned tomato sauce and sauerkraut calls everyone to the dinner table.

This is my family's easy stuffed cabbage roll recipe and I hope this becomes one of your family's favorites. Be sure to check out the step-by-step photo instructions.

✨ Here is why this recipe is amazing:

My Ukrainian grandmother would stuff steamed cabbage leaves with a mixture of meat, rice, diced green peppers, and onions, they were stewed in tomatoes and topped with sauerkraut. When we walked into the house and caught a whiff of the Halupki cooking in the oven, we knew that we were in for a delicious meal. 

Ingredients needed:

• Ground beef - some people prefer a 50/50 ground beef / ground pork
• mixture
• Cabbage - whole head
• White rice, uncooked
• Eggs
• onion
• Green pepper
• Carrot
• Parsley
• Salt and pepper
• tomato sauce
• tomato soup (undiluted)
• diced tomatoes
• sauerkraut

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.

? SEPARATE CABBAGE LEAVES WITHOUT TEARING

1. Over high heat bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a heavy pinch of salt to the water.
2. Remove any damaged outer leaves from the outside of a head of cabbage and insert a fork into the bottom of the cabbage head.
3. Dunk the whole cabbage in the simmering boiling salted water for 30 seconds to 1 minute. 
4. Remove from the simmering water and place it on a cooling rack placed on a cookie sheet
5. Use a small paring knife to slice the thick rib of the leaf away from the core of the cabbage.
6. Remove the loosened cabbage leaf from the rest of the head.
7. Repeat with each layer of the cabbage.

Making slow cooker cabbage rolls, photo instructions

1. Steam the cabbage leaves and remove them from the core of the cabbage as directed above.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine the ground meat, uncooked rice, eggs, finely diced onions, finely diced green pepper, grated carrot, parsley, salt, and pepper.
   
3. Remove the firm vein of the cabbage leaf. 
4. Place ⅓ to ½ cup rice meat mixture in the center of the leaf. 
   
5. Fold the sides of the leaf over the meat mixture and roll the cabbage leaf, leaving the seam down.
6. In a medium bowl, combine the tomato sauce, tomato soup, and the diced tomatoes. 
7. Spoon some of the tomato mixtures into the bottom of a slow cooker.
8. Place cabbage rolls in the dutch oven, in a single layer and top with ½ of the sauerkraut and ½ the tomato mixture.
   
9. Add a second layer of stuffed rolls and a second layer of sauerkraut and tomato mixture.
   
10. Cover and simmer on the stovetop for 3-4 hours.

How to make stuffed cabbage rolls in the slow cooker, basic instructions

1. Steam the cabbage leaves and remove them from the core of the cabbage as directed above.
2. In a large bowl combine the ground beef, uncooked rice, eggs, finely diced onions, finely diced green pepper, grated carrot, parsley, salt and pepper.
3. Remove the firm vein of the cabbage leaf.
4. Place ⅓ to ½ cup meat mixture in the center of each steamed cabbage leaf.
5. Fold the sides of the leaf over the meat mixture and roll the cabbage leaf, leaving the seam down. 
6. In a medium bowl, combine the tomato sauce, tomato soup and the diced tomatoes. 
7. Spoon some of the tomato mixture into the bottom of the slow cooker. 
8. Place cabbage rolls in the crock pot, in a single layer and top with ½ of the sauerkraut and ½ the tomato mixture. 
9. Add a second layer of stuffed cabbage rolls and a second layer of sauerkraut and tomato mixture.
10. Cover and cook for 4-6 hours on high or 6-8 on low.

I found the best way to freeze cabbage rolls is to spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray and place the filled cabbage rolls on the tray in rows, not touching. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer and allow them to freeze completely.
Once frozen, store the cabbage rolls in a gallon zip-top freezer bag, removing as much air as possible. Label the bag with the contents and the date prepared.

Reheating Instructions

I will microwave the cabbage rolls on 50% until heated through. Be sure they have heated through to the center.

Are stuffed cabbage rolls also called Halupki?

It was probably until I was a teenager that I learned that Halupki was also called stuffed cabbage rolls. Ukrainian cabbage rolls are on in the same as stuffed cabbage. There are many different names for the delicious pockets of meat and rice but no matter what you call them, enjoy them. 

I like to serve Rhodes rolls and sweet compound butter as a side. Also steamed potatoes with sautéed onions also pair well or I also will serve roasted root vegetables if I remember to pop some into the oven in time.What is the best way to freeze cabbage rolls?

Printable Recipe Card

Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls

Sarah Mock

The waft of the flavors of the stuffed cabbage rolls marinating all day in a seasoned tomato sauce and sauerkraut calls everyone to the dinner table.

5 from 1 vote

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Note From Sarah

There is more to a recipe than just the recipe card. Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

Prep Time 35 mins

Cook Time 6 hrs

Total Time 6 hrs 35 mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark, toggle to button to the right to turn GREEN

Course Beef Slow Cooker Recipes

Cuisine American

Servings 18 rolls

Calories 211 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 pounds ground beef
• ▢ 1 head cabbage
• ▢ ½ cup Rice uncooked
• ▢ 2 eggs
• ▢ 1 onion finely diced
• ▢ ½ green pepper finely diced
• ▢ ¼ cup carrots grated
• ▢ 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• ▢ Salt and pepper
• ▢ 14 ounces tomato sauce
• ▢ 14 ounces tomato soup undiluted
• ▢ 28 ounces diced tomatoes
• ▢ 1 lb sauerkraut

Instructions

 

• Steam the cabbage leaves and remove them from the core of the cabbage as directed above.
• In a large mixing bowl combine the ground beef, uncooked rice, eggs, finely diced onions, finely diced green pepper, grated carrot, parsley, salt and pepper.
• Remove the firm vein of the cabbage leaf.
• Place ⅓ to ½ cup of meat mixture in the center of each steamed cabbage leaf.
• Fold the sides of the leaf over the meat mixture and roll the cabbage leaf, leaving the seam down.
• In a medium bowl, combine the tomato sauce, tomato soup and the diced tomatoes.
• Spoon some of the tomato mixture into the bottom of a large crock pot/slow cooker.
• Place the cabbage rolls in the crock pot, in a single layer and top with ½ of the sauerkraut and ½ the tomato mixture.
• Add a second layer of stuffed cabbage rolls and a second layer of sauerkraut and tomato mixture.
• Cover and cook for 4-6 hours on high or 6-8 on low.

Nutrition

Calories: 211kcal

Nutrition Disclosure

Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

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Sarah Mock

She Does It All

Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 13 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.