This simple, hearty dish gives you all the flavor of classic cabbage rolls—without the extra steps.
This budget-friendly recipe uses simple pantry ingredients and affordable cabbage to make a hearty, low-cost dinner.
Servings: 2 generous servings
Can be stretched to 3–4 servings, or up to 6 if rice or riced cauliflower is added
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20–30 minutes
Total Time: About 35–40 minutes
Ingredients
- ½ to ¾ pound ground beef
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small to medium onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ small head of cabbage, chopped or ½ bag coleslaw mix
- 1 (14.5-oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (8-oz) can tomato sauce
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce (optional)
- Salt, pepper, and seasoned salt, to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add ground beef and chopped onion; cook until beef is browned and onions are tender. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Stir in garlic powder, cabbage (or slaw mix), diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, soy sauce (if using), and seasonings.
- Bring mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is tender.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
Tips, Substitutions & Add-Ins
- To stretch servings: Add ⅔ cup cooked rice or riced cauliflower. Rice adds carbs; cauliflower keeps it low-carb. Adding rice or riced cauliflower stretches the meal and makes it even more budget-friendly.
- Cabbage options: A whole cabbage is more budget-friendly, while coleslaw mix saves prep time.
- Smoother texture: If you don’t like tomato chunks, use two cans of tomato sauce or blend the diced tomatoes using an immersion blender or a food processor before adding.
- Season freely: Adjust spices to your taste—this dish is very forgiving.
- Using slaw mix: Reduce simmer time slightly since shredded cabbage cooks faster.
- Budget-friendly tip: Using a whole head of cabbage instead of slaw mix keeps this recipe very affordable.
Equipment
- Dutch oven or large skillet great for one-pot meals
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