Description
Hearty “savory cabbage beef bake” brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen, blending rustic European flavors with home-style warmth. Layers of tender cabbage and seasoned ground beef promise a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Vegetables:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef (80/20 blend for juiciness)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small head green cabbage, thinly sliced (about 6 cups)
Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 can (15 ounces/425 grams) diced tomatoes (undrained)
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) beef broth
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Cheese and Topping Ingredients:
- 1 cup (100 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup (60 grams) panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking vessel with a light layer of cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Sauté ground beef in a skillet, crumbling the meat while cooking. Incorporate diced onions and crushed garlic, allowing them to soften and release their aromatic flavors. Eliminate any excess fat from the meat.
- Create a foundational layer of cabbage slices within the prepared baking dish, spreading the seasoned beef mixture uniformly across the vegetable base. Top this with remaining cabbage slices to create a hearty, multilayered composition.
- Whisk together diced tomatoes, beef broth, smoked paprika, dried thyme, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Carefully pour this flavorful liquid mixture over the cabbage and beef layers, ensuring even distribution.
- Generously shower shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses across the surface. Combine panko breadcrumbs with melted butter, then scatter this golden topping evenly to create a crisp, textured crown.
- Transfer the assembled dish to the preheated oven, allowing it to bake for 35-40 minutes. Look for tender cabbage, bubbling sauce, and a richly bronzed breadcrumb layer as indicators of perfect doneness.
- Allow the bake to rest and settle for several minutes before serving. Enhance the final presentation with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or a bright squeeze of lemon juice to elevate the dish’s complexity.
Notes
- Boost the flavor profile by using smoked or spicy ground beef for an extra kick of taste.
- Swap regular cabbage with savoy or napa cabbage to create a more delicate texture and slightly different flavor dimension.
- For a low-carb version, eliminate breadcrumbs and replace with crushed pork rinds or almond flour for a crispy topping that maintains the dish’s essence.
- Create a vegetarian alternative by substituting ground beef with lentils, mushrooms, or plant-based meat crumbles while keeping all other ingredients consistent.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg