Easy Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Recipe That Wows

Slow cooker cabbage rolls represent a comforting culinary journey through hearty traditions and rich flavors.

Generations of home cooks have perfected these delectable parcels wrapped in tender cabbage leaves.

Each roll promises a delightful blend of savory meats, aromatic herbs, and satisfying textures that warm the soul.

The magic happens when carefully seasoned ingredients meld together during slow, gentle cooking.

Traditional recipes evolve with personal touches, making these rolls a versatile dish for family gatherings.

Secrets passed down through kitchens transform simple ingredients into something extraordinarily memorable.

You’ll find these rolls irresistible, offering a perfect balance of protein, vegetables, and comforting spices: prepare to be amazed.

Key Ingredients for Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls

• Ground Beef, Ground Pork: Rich meats that provide hearty flavor and protein for the filling, choose fresh ground meats with moderate fat content for best texture.

• Green Cabbage: Tender wrapper that holds the filling, select a fresh head with crisp, unblemished leaves and no signs of wilting.

• Egg, Milk or Cream, Breadcrumbs: Ingredients that help bind the meat mixture together, ensuring the filling stays compact and moist during cooking.

• Onions, Fresh Parsley, Salt, Black Pepper: Aromatic ingredients that enhance the overall flavor profile of the meat mixture, choose fresh herbs for best taste.

• Crushed Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce: Primary sauce components that create a rich, tangy liquid for cooking and serving.

• Brown Sugar, Red Wine Vinegar, Garlic, Red Chili Flakes: Ingredients that add depth, sweetness, and slight heat to the tomato sauce, balancing the overall flavor.

• Cooked Rice: Adds texture and bulk to the meat filling, helps create a more substantial and satisfying cabbage roll.

How to Make Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls

Step 1: Craft The Tangy Tomato Sauce

• Crushed tomatoes
• Tomato sauce
• Salt
• Red chili flakes (optional)
• Brown sugar
• Red wine vinegar
• 1 grated garlic clove

Blend everything until smooth and set aside.

Step 2: Soften Cabbage Leaves

Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a boil. Remove the core from a green cabbage head. Submerge the cabbage core-side down, cooking for 6-8 minutes until leaves become pliable.

Step 3: Prepare Cabbage Leaves

Using tongs, carefully remove about 14 leaves. Rinse under cold water, drain completely, and pat dry with kitchen towels.

Step 4: Trim Cabbage Leaf Edges

Place each leaf on a cutting board. Slice a V-shape at the bottom to remove the tough center rib, making rolling easier.

Step 5: Mix Flavorful Meat Filling

• Ground beef
• Ground pork
• Finely chopped onions
• 1 egg
• Milk or cream
• Breadcrumbs
• Cooked rice
• Chopped fresh parsley
• Salt
• Ground black pepper

Mix carefully to avoid overworking the meat.

Step 6: Create Cabbage Roll Bundles

Lay a cabbage leaf flat. Spoon meat filling near the cut rib. Fold sides inward and roll tightly, ensuring filling stays secure.

Step 7: Prepare Slow Cooker Base

Pour of prepared sauce into the slow cooker bottom.

Step 8: Arrange Cabbage Rolls

Place rolls seam-side down in the slow cooker, creating a snug layer.

Step 9: Cover With Remaining Sauce

Pour the rest of the tomato sauce over the rolls, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 10: Slow Cook To Perfection

Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours until rolls are tender and meat is fully cooked.

Step 11: Serve And Enjoy

Plate hot cabbage rolls with mashed potatoes. Spoon extra sauce over the top and garnish with fresh parsley for a delicious meal.

Pro Tips for Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls

• Secure Tightly: Fasten each cabbage roll with a toothpick to prevent unwrapping during slow cooking, removing them gently before serving for a perfect presentation.
• Boost Taste Depth: Sprinkle smoked paprika into the meat mixture, creating a subtle smoky undertone that elevates the traditional cabbage roll flavor profile.
• Prevent Cooking Mishaps: Apply a light olive oil coating inside the slow cooker to stop rolls from sticking and burning during the lengthy cooking process.
• Leaf Selection Strategy: Pick a robust, large green cabbage head with flexible leaves wide enough to wrap fillings smoothly and effortlessly.
• Temperature Control Trick: Maintain low and steady heat settings to ensure tender meat and perfectly cooked cabbage without drying out the delicate rolls.

How to Store Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls

• Individual Wrapping: Protect each cabbage roll separately with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn and maintain moisture. Carefully seal the rolls to block air exposure, which helps preserve their delicate texture and flavor for maximum storage longevity.
• Freezer Organization: Stack the individually wrapped rolls in a flat, sturdy freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Arrange them neatly to maximize space and ensure easy retrieval when you're ready to enjoy your meal later.
• Temperature Control: Store cabbage rolls at a consistent freezer temperature of 0°F or below. Label the container with the date of freezing to track freshness, and consume within 3 months for the best taste and quality. Thaw slowly in the refrigerator overnight before reheating to maintain their original tenderness and prevent texture degradation.

Creative Twists on Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls

• Vegetarian Cabbage Rolls: Replace ground beef and pork with a hearty mixture of lentils, quinoa, and finely chopped mushrooms for a protein-packed plant-based version.
• Mediterranean Cabbage Rolls: Incorporate feta cheese, oregano, and olives into the filling, then top with a tangy tzatziki sauce for a Greek-inspired twist.
• Spicy Korean-Style Rolls: Add gochujang paste to the filling, mix in kimchi, and serve with a spicy gochujang-based dipping sauce for a bold and fiery flavor profile.
• Breakfast Cabbage Rolls: Stuff with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon bits, and cheddar cheese, then serve with a light hollandaise sauce for a morning-friendly adaptation.

Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls: A Hearty, Savory Favorite

Cabbage rolls emerge as culinary magic, blending hearty meats and delicate cabbage leaves into perfect comfort cuisine.

Polish and Ukrainian heritage shines through each carefully crafted roll, connecting generations of home cooks.

Slow cooker techniques guarantee tender, flavor-packed parcels that melt in your mouth with rich, tangy tomato sauce.

Classic comfort meets modern convenience in this timeless recipe that transforms simple ingredients into extraordinary meals.

Home kitchens will buzz with excitement as these rolls simmer and fill spaces with irresistible aromas.

Because soul-warming dishes create memories, you’ll want to share this recipe, snap a photo, and spread deliciousness across social media – tag friends, comment with your twist, and let culinary love spread!

What Makes Pioneer Woman’s Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls a Comforting Classic

• Savor Slow-Cooked Comfort: These cabbage rolls deliver a hearty, home-style meal that wraps tender meat and rice inside soft cabbage leaves, creating a warm, satisfying dining experience that feels like a comforting hug on a plate.
• Master Effortless Gourmet Cooking: The slow cooker method transforms complex traditional recipe into an incredibly easy preparation, allowing home cooks to create restaurant-quality dishes with minimal hands-on time and maximum flavor development.
• Enjoy Multi-Layered Flavor Explosion: Each bite combines rich tomato sauce, perfectly seasoned meat mixture, and delicate cabbage, offering a complex taste profile that balances sweetness from brown sugar, tanginess from red wine vinegar, and subtle spiciness from optional chili flakes.
• Celebrate Nutritious One-Pot Meal: Packed with protein from ground beef and pork, balanced with rice and vegetables, these cabbage rolls provide a complete, balanced meal that's both delicious and wholesome, making dinner preparation simple and nutritious.

Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls Recipe

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4.5 from 25 reviews

• Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Polish comfort meets hearty slow-cooking magic in these cabbage rolls. Savory ground beef, rice, and tender cabbage leaves nestle together, simmering in a rich tomato sauce that promises deliciousness with minimal kitchen effort.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Meats:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb ground pork

Vegetables and Herbs:

• 1 whole head of green cabbage
• ½ cup onions, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 15 ounces (425 grams) crushed tomatoes
• 8 ounces (227 grams) tomato sauce

Binding and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons milk or cream
• ¼ cup breadcrumbs
• 1 cup rice, cooked
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
• Mashed potatoes

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Instructions

1. Craft the sauce by whisking together 15 ounces (425 grams) of crushed tomatoes and 8 ounces (225 grams) of tomato sauce in a spacious mixing bowl, incorporating 3/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of red chili flakes, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar, and a single grated garlic clove until thoroughly blended; reserve the mixture for later use.
2. Initiate the cabbage preparation by bringing a generously salted large pot of water to a rolling boil, methodically removing the core from a whole green cabbage, and submerging the entire head into the bubbling water, positioning the core downward for 6-8 minutes.
3. Extract the cabbage leaves using tongs, carefully peeling approximately 14 leaves from the boiled head, then rapidly cool them under cold running water, drain completely, and meticulously pat dry with clean kitchen towels.
4. Modify each leaf by placing it on a cutting board and delicately cutting a V-shaped notch at the base to eliminate the rigid central rib, which will facilitate smoother rolling during the filling process.
5. Compose the filling by gently combining 1 pound (454 grams) of ground beef and 1 pound (454 grams) of ground pork with 1/2 cup of finely diced onions, one whole egg, 2 tablespoons of milk, 1/4 cup of breadcrumbs, 1 cup of cooked rice, 1/4 cup of freshly chopped parsley, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper, ensuring minimal handling to preserve meat texture.
6. Construct the rolls by positioning a prepared cabbage leaf flat, depositing roughly 1/3 cup of meat mixture near the trimmed rib, folding the leaf’s sides inward, and rolling from the cut edge to create a compact bundle.
7. Prepare the slow cooker by spreading 1 cup of prepared sauce across the bottom, then nestling the rolled cabbage packages seam-side down within the cooking vessel.
8. Distribute the remaining tomato sauce evenly over the rolls, ensuring complete coverage to promote uniform cooking and flavor infusion.
9. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low temperature for 4-6 hours, allowing the rolls to become tender and the meat to reach perfect doneness.
10. Plate the cabbage rolls immediately, accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes, spooning the rich cooking sauce overtop as a complementary gravy, and optionally garnishing with additional chopped parsley for visual appeal and fresh herbaceous notes.

Notes

• Preserve leftovers easily by freezing cabbage rolls in airtight containers for up to 3 months, ensuring a convenient make-ahead meal option.
• Dial up the heat with optional red chili flakes, allowing personal spice preferences to transform the dish’s flavor profile.
• Elevate the meat mixture’s complexity by combining ground beef and pork, creating a more succulent and richly flavored filling.
• Sprinkle fresh parsley into the mixture to introduce a bright, herbaceous note that cuts through the robust meat’s richness.
• Carefully trim cabbage leaf ribs to guarantee smooth, elegant rolling and a uniform presentation that impresses dinner guests.
• Leverage slow cooking techniques to ensure tender meat and cabbage, letting the tomato sauce deeply penetrate each delectable roll.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 6 hours
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: Eastern European

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 370 kcal
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 400 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 25 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg