Cabbage Roll Casserole

 

Cabbage Roll Casserole

Made with simple ingredients, this cabbage casserole is easy to toss together and can be made ahead of time. Both the family and the cook will love this comforting dish!

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 white onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 (24 oz) jars marinara sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
• 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 cups cooked white rice
• 4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
• 1 medium head (2 lbs) cabbage, shredded
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
2. In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium heat until the meat is cooked through. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
3. Drain the grease and stir in 1 jar of marinara sauce, along with thyme, dill, sage, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in bacon and rice, then remove from heat.
4. Line the baking dish with a third of the shredded cabbage. Evenly top with half of the meat and rice mixture. Add another third of the cabbage, then the remaining meat mixture, and top with the final third of the cabbage.
5. Pour the remaining jar of marinara sauce over the top. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes.
6. Remove the foil, top with mozzarella cheese, and bake for another 10-12 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and melted.
7. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!