Lazy Cabbage Roll Casserole

This is going to be your go to winter meal! If you dont want to spend hours in the kitchen and you like frugal ingredients. Look no further! I present to you the Homemade Cabbage Casserole, also known as lazy cabbage rolls. This dish embodies the beauty of simplicity. With just a handful of humble ingredients, you can whip up a family-sized meal. Picture tender layers of cabbage, seasoned ground beef, and rice, in a rich, savory tomato sauce. This casserole is a delicious twist on a classic recipe, and it's incredibly easy to make. But what truly makes this dish a game-changer is it reheats beautifully, and you can even freeze portions for later. If you like uncomplicated, wholesome cooking this meal is for you!

Ingredients

1 lb of grass fed-ground beef

1 large onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, crushed

1 28 oz can of diced tomatoes, including juice

1 cup of tomato sauce

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon thyme

½ teaspoon salt & pepper each

2 cups cooked rice (white or brown)

1 large head cabbage 12-14 cups

1 tablespoon olive oil

¼ teaspoon dill optional

Serve with a dollop of Greek Yogurt (optional)

Topping (optional)

1 egg

¼ cup milk

2 cups shredded cheese

Cooking Instructions:

1. Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F.

2. Start a pot of 2/3 dry cups of rice while the oven is preheating to give you 2 cups of cooked rice for the recipe.

3. In a large skillet, brown the beef along with the onion and garlic over medium heat until there is no pink left. Stir in the diced tomatoes, including their juice, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and the various seasonings. Let it simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes, allowing the mixture to thicken.

4. Remove the skillet from heat and gently fold in the cooked rice.

5. While the meat sauce is simmering, prepare the cabbage by chopping it into 1-inch squares. Rinse and shake it dry. In a separate skillet, heat some oil and add half of the cabbage along with a few tablespoons of water. Cook it until it softens, which should take around 10 minutes. Repeat this process with the remaining half of the cabbage.

6. Assemble the casserole by placing half of the cabbage in a 9x13 casserole dish. Top it with half of the meat sauce. Repeat these layers. Cover the casserole with foil and bake it for 45 minutes.

Optional Topping:

(if you choose not to use the topping you will still need to bake for the remaining 20 minutes, uncovered)

1. In a small bowl, combine the cheese, egg, and milk.

2. After the initial baking, remove the foil, and spread the cheese mixture over the casserole. Bake it uncovered for an additional 20 minutes.

ENJOY!