Cabbage roll meatballs are a delicious and unique twist on the traditional cabbage roll. Tender meatballs simmer in a slightly sweet and chunky tomato sauce teaming with sautéed onions and cabbage. They are versatile and can be served with a side of mashed potatoes or over rice for a comforting and satisfying meal.
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why you'll love this recipe
There's just something about cozy comfort food recipes. Bring on the sweater weather! A big pot of Cabbage Roll Meatballs has that all day, slow cooked taste, but in much less time and work than traditional cabbage rolls. And they are more fun to eat because who doesn't love a delicious meatball.
One of my personal chef clients requested cabbage rolls a few times. From start to finish the in depth recipe took over 3 hours to prepare. Whoa! I don't have to tell you that's a long time.
I tinkered with the traditional recipe and made a meatball version that rivels the original. And it's ready in about 60 minutes. Move over labor intense cabbage rolls. There's a new recipe with all the same deliciousness.
Tender baked meatballs are blanketed in a tangy tomato sauce with slightly sweet sauteed cabbage and onions. This streamlined recipe is the one my client now requests instead of the original version.
ingredients
- olive oil
- green cabbage
- Vidalia onion
- canned fire roasted tomatoes
- tomato sauce
- raisins - You can substitute dried cranberries in the recipe.
- lemon
- honey
- kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- ground beef
- ground turkey
- garlic
- paprika and ground cloves
- large eggs
- seasoned bread crumbs
- parsley
how to make cabbage and meatballs
- Sauté shredded cabbage and onions in olive oil. The cabbage should be wilted and the onions translucent. Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, raisins, lemon juice, honey, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Then reduce heat and cover with a lid. Simmer for 20 minutes.
- While the sauce simmers, make the meatballs. Combine tomato sauce, ground beef, ground turkey, garlic, paprika, ground cloves, eggs, bread crumbs, parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Form the meat mixture into small meatballs. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the oven.
- Remove the meatballs from the oven and add to the cabbage tomato sauce. Stir to combine and season to taste with salt and pepper.
expert tips
- Use a combination of beef and turkey to lighten up the meatballs. You can also use a "meatloaf mix" which is a combination of beef, pork and veal for the meatballs.
- Instead of standing over the stove cooking the meatballs, use an easy oven baking method. Place all the meatballs on a large baking sheet and bake in the oven.
- While the meatballs bake, make a lightly sweetened and chunky tomato sauce teaming with sautéed onions and cabbage simmers on the stove top.
can you freeze cabbage roll meatballs?
This comfort food dish is an ideal freezer meal. After preparing the entrée, cool it completely. Package it in an airtight container and freezer for up to 3 months. Just thaw and heat in a large pot over medium low heat for a delicious dinner on a busy night.
more meatball recipes
- Meatball Stroganoff
- Teriyaki Meatballs
- Baked Italian Meatball Marinara
- Sicilian Meatballs
- Thai Meatball Curry
just one more thing
If you make this delicious cabbage roll meatball recipe, I’d love hearing from you all. Be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating ~ I do my best to reply to all your comments. And snap a photo to post to Instagram. I’ll add the photos to my Insta stories as I love seeing all your creations.
Also check out my Facebook and Pinterest pages for lots of fabulous foodie stories, videos, cooking tips, and recipes.
Recipe
Baked Cabbage Roll Meatballs
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
All the deliciousness of cabbage rolls in a meatball. The combination of beef and turkey meatballs bake in the oven. While the meatballs bake, a lightly sweetened and chunky tomato sauce teaming with sautéed onions and cabbage simmers on the stove top.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small head green cabbage (shredded (about 5 cups))
- 1 medium Vidalia onion (thinly sliced (about 1 cup))
- 1 can (15 ounces) fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce, divided
- ⅓ cup raisins
- Squeeze of lemon juice
- 1 ½ tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 large eggs (lightly beaten)
- ¾ cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (minced)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large saute pan over medium high heat add the olive oil. When the oil begins to shimmer, add the shredded cabbage, sliced onions, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Sauté for 8 to 10 minutes stirring occasionally. The cabbage should be wilted and the onions translucent.
- Add the diced tomatoes, ¾ of the can of tomato sauce, raisins, lemon juice, honey, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and cover with a lid. Simmer the sauce for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the meatballs. In a large bowl, add the remaining tomato sauce, ground beef, ground turkey, garlic, paprika, ground cloves, eggs, bread crumbs, parsley, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Gently combine the ingredients until thoroughly mixed together.
- Form the meat mixture into about 50 small meatballs about 1 ½ inches in diameter. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until just cooked through.
- Remove the meatballs from the oven and add to the cabbage tomato sauce. Stir to combine and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Notes
- Use a combination of beef and turkey to lighten up the meatballs. You can also use a "meatloaf mix" which is a combination of beef, pork and veal for the meatballs.
- Instead of standing over the stove cooking the meatballs, use an easy oven baking method. Place all the meatballs on a large baking sheet and bake in the oven.
- While the meatballs bake, make a lightly sweetened and chunky tomato sauce teaming with sautéed onions and cabbage simmers on the stove top.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: appetizer or entree
- Method: stove top and oven
- Cuisine: Eastern European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ⅙ of recipe
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 13.5 g
- Sodium: 1213 mg
- Fat: 29.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 7.8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33.5 g
- Fiber: 5.1 g
- Protein: 48.3 g
- Cholesterol: 207 mg
Paula
This was really delicious and kind of fun to make . I didn't check my spices before shopping and thought I had plenty of ground cloves and paprika on hand . It turned out I did not, so had to omit the cloves and I subbed smoked paprika. Next time I make this I will be better prepared! Thanks for a great recipe.
Amy Casey
This is one of my favorite meatball recipes. I love cooking with cabbage as it has such great flavor when it's sauteed. You're so welcome for the recipe Paula.
Julie Garner
My family just loved these meatballs and I loved that they are an easy version of cabbage rolls. It made a big batch so I froze some of the meatballs.
Amy Casey
I'm so glad you enjoyed my recipe Julie!