Description
Creamy cheesy cabbage casserole brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen, blending hearty vegetables with rich, melted cheese. Warm family memories and simple ingredients combine to create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (453 grams) ground beef or sausage (optional)
Vegetables and Base:
- 1 small head of cabbage, chopped (about 6–7 cups)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Dairy and Binding Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 (10.5 ounces/298 grams) can cream of mushroom soup (or cream of chicken)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
Seasoning:
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Topping:
- 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers (or breadcrumbs)
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted (for topping)
Instructions
- Prepare the cooking environment by heating the oven to 350°F and coating a 9×13-inch baking vessel with a light grease layer to prevent sticking.
- Melt butter in a large skillet, introducing diced onions and sautéing until translucent and fragrant.
- Add chopped cabbage to the skillet, gently cooking until the vegetable softens and becomes slightly tender, stirring intermittently to ensure even heat distribution.
- If incorporating meat, brown ground beef or sausage in a separate pan, carefully draining any accumulated fat to maintain a clean flavor profile.
- Create a creamy binding sauce by whisking together cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, and a blend of seasonings including garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Fold the sautéed cabbage and onions into the creamy mixture, integrating the cooked meat if desired.
- Incorporate the first portion of shredded cheddar cheese, stirring to distribute evenly throughout the mixture.
- Transfer the cabbage blend to the prepared baking dish, spreading it uniformly to ensure consistent cooking.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese across the top, creating a potential golden crust.
- Crush Ritz crackers and combine with melted butter, then generously scatter the crumb mixture over the casserole for a crisp, textured topping.
- Place the casserole in the preheated oven, baking for 30-35 minutes until the surface turns golden and the interior becomes bubbling hot.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes after removing from the oven, enabling the ingredients to set and flavors to meld.
- Serve warm, presenting as a hearty side dish or a satisfying main course accompanied by cornbread.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with plant-based crumbles or extra mushrooms for a vegetarian version that keeps the hearty texture and flavor.
- Use low-fat cream of mushroom soup and Greek yogurt instead of sour cream to reduce calories without sacrificing creaminess.
- Toast the cracker topping separately for extra crunch if you want a more crispy, golden-brown texture on top of the casserole.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like Swiss or Gruyère to add unexpected depth and richness to the traditional cheddar profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 305
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 710 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg