This slow cooker unstuffed cabbage rolls recipe is perfect if you love the taste of classic cabbage rolls but dread the time-consuming process of making them. Simply combine all the ingredients: ground meat, cabbage, cauliflower rice, diced tomatoes, beef broth, onion, garlic, and seasonings in the slow cooker. Sit back and let it cook to perfection. The result is a comforting meal that’s packed with flavor. Instructions to make this healthy low-carb, paleo, and Whole30 compatible unstuffed cabbage rolls recipe in the Instant Pot are also included.
Ingredients For Slow Cooker Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
- Ground Meat
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower Rice
- Diced Tomatoes
- Beef Broth
- Onion
- Garlic
- Seasonings: salt, pepper, parsley
How To Make Slow Cooker Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground meat and cook until no longer pink, crumbling as you go. Drain grease.
- Add ground meat along with all ingredients EXCEPT the cauliflower rice to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
- Cook HIGH 3-4 hour or LOW 6-8.
- Add cauliflower rice and cook an additional 15-30 minutes or until rice is tender.
- Set pressure cooker to the high sauté setting. Once hot, add oil.
- Add ground meat & onion and cook until browned, 3-5 minutes, crumbling the meat as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add all other ingredients EXCEPT the cauliflower rice. Stir to mix well.
- Add lid, close and seal vent. Select manual setting and set time for 7 minutes. When cook time is completed, natural release pressure 5 minutes then quick release any remaining pressure.
- Open lid & stir in cauliflower rice.
- Add lid, close and seal vent. Select manual setting and set time for 0 (zero) minutes. Quick release pressure.
FAQs & Tips
What type ground meat should you use?
I used ground beef but you can use ground beef, turkey, chicken, pork, or even sausage. For the slow cooker, browned my beef beforehand so I can drain the excess grease. If you’re using a very lean meat, you might find that you do not need to take this step.
Can you make this an unstuffed cabbage soup?
Yup! You can easily turn this recipe into a soup by adding an additional 4 cups of low-sodium beef broth or water.
Do you have to use cauliflower rice?
Nope. Feel free to stir in cooked white or brown rice.
How do you store leftovers?
Store leftover slow cooker unstuffed cabbage rolls in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
What size slow cooker should you use?
I used a 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot.
Cabbage Recipes
-
Low-Carb Corned Beef & Cabbage
-
Corned Beef & Cabbage Soup
-
Cabbage Rolls
-
Corned Beef & Cabbage
-
Cabbage, Sausage, Potatoes
A modified version of this recipe appears my second cookbook, The Low Sodium Slow Cooker Cookbook.
PrintSlow Cooker Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
This slow cooker unstuffed cabbage rolls recipe is perfect if you love the taste of classic cabbage rolls but dread the time-consuming process of making them. Simply combine all the ingredients: ground meat, cabbage, cauliflower rice, diced tomatoes, beef broth, onion, garlic, and seasonings in the slow cooker. Sit back and let it cook to perfection. The result is a comforting meal that’s packed with flavor. Instructions to make this healthy low-carb, paleo, and Whole30 compatible unstuffed cabbage rolls recipe in the Instant Pot are also included.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 mins
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 head cabbage, chopped (approximately 1 pound or 4 cups)
- 1 pound ground meat
- 1 1/2 cups cauliflower rice
- 28 ounces diced or crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth (use 1 cup broth for Instant Pot)
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (or more)
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon oil
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground meat and cook until no longer pink, crumbling as you go. Drain grease.
- Add ground meat along with all ingredients EXCEPT the cauliflower rice to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
- Cook HIGH 3-4 hour or LOW 6-8.
- Add cauliflower rice and cook an additional 15-30 minutes or until rice is tender.
Electric Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot)
- Set pressure cooker to the high saute setting. Once hot, add oil.
- Add ground meat & onion and cook until browned, 3-5 minutes, crumbling the meat as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add all other ingredients EXCEPT the cauliflower rice. Stir to mix well.
- Add lid, close and seal vent. Select manual setting and set time for 7 minutes. When cook time is completed, natural release pressure 5 minutes then quick release any remaining pressure.
- Open lid & stir in cauliflower rice.
- Add lid, close and seal vent. Select manual setting and set time for 0 (zero) minutes. Quick release pressure.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 178
- Sugar: 3.4 g
- Sodium: 374.4 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.7 g
- Fiber: 2.6 g
- Protein: 16.9 g
- Cholesterol: 52.2 mg
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32 thoughts on “Slow Cooker Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls”
This Unstuffed Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll recipe is great! I made it last night, simply delicious. I used cooked white rice instead of cauliflower rice. Added just a small amount of broth to bring a little extra liquid, not much. Not necessary for others perhaps, just personal preference for me. I didn’t change anything else.
What a fun & easy recipe to have on hand. Looking forward to leftovers.
Having recently discovered you, thank you so much for sharing!!
Fits perfectly with a diabetic diet! I cut the tomatoe amount in half and used vegetable broth and it came out amazing! I’m definitely adding this to my lineup! I was able to work out 7 servings, so this was awesome for meal prep in a house where I’m the only one who needs to watch carbs.
This is SO GOOD. I used regular cooked white rice. Definitely making this again.
I used my Instant Pot. This was a quick and yet delicious recipe compared to somewhat time taking cabbage rolls.
We loved it! Used ground turkey and onion but did not have to use oil or drain. Used about 1/3 of a cabbage and a bag of shredded coleslaw. Did not add rice or cauliflower, served both on the side. It is the essence of a cabbage roll
That’s was such an easy recipe. I will just replace meat with vegan crumbles since we are vegan. Very tasty.
Something like beans, lentils, chickpeas, rice, quinoa, barley, etc, would probably be a better replacement for the meat. Cheese would taste good, but it wouldn’t be very substantial, because it would just melt.
And, just FYI… you can’t be vegans if you eat cheese. Vegans do not eat any animal products. Maybe you mean vegetarian…
This recipe sounds good. I’d probably cook thus in my instant pot. Could the cauliflower be replaced with brown brown rice? Would I need more liquid/time?
Thank you, Love this recipe! I sprinkled grated Parmesan on top of my serving, Excellent
This was delicious! I added 3 C of broth to make it more “soupy” but that was the only modification. I used the instant pot method and will definitely make it again! The whole family loves it. Thanks for another great recipe!
Do you think this would freeze/thaw well?
This was so yummy!! It tasted just like traditional cabbage rolls but so much easier to make! I went back for seconds and an so excited for leftovers. Thank you for a great recipe!
Brilliant – I love cabbage and this is delicious delicious!!
Cant wait to try this. Sure looks awesome!
Could use cole slaw instead of cabbage if you want to be real lazy.
I love that idea!
Great recipe. I added cardamom and cumin to warm it up. Served rice on the side for the kids but still had the cauliflower rice inside. It definitely takes longer than 10 minutes to prep. Even with a food processor you cannot possibly prep in 10 minutes.
That was wonderful idea. I just got a slow cooker so I’m learning how to use it.
Another good cabbage recipe. I don’t have the cauliflower so I used cooked white rice. I usually only cooked cabbage one way but this is being added into my lineup.
Have you tried making this with regular rice? I’d like to try it but wondering if more liquid would be needed?
Is your cook book also paleo or just low-sodium? I just found your website and I love it! I am so glad there are people like you that put so much work into blogs so I can just use your recipes. Thank you for all your hard work!
You’re very welcome, I’m so glad you found me! My cookbook is just low-sodium. I haven’t written a cookbook dedicated to paleo or whole30 (YET) so the best way to find those recipes is to just search the blog here. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment, seeing things like this is what keeps me going! XOShannon
What is cauliflower rice??????
It’s literally cauliflower that has been chopped down to look like rice. It’s a great low-carb alternative to the regular grain rice. Enjoy!
This was so good. We are low sodium so I only used a 1/2 tsp sea salt and no salt added tomatoes. Delicious!
I usually make them stuffed and cook them in the pressure cooker but this time I used this unstuffed version. It’s a lot simpiler.
I really like cabbage rolls, but I freakin’ hate rolling them up ahaha. This was a cool alternative. I’d omitted the meat but it still taste great all the same! What a good idea, especially to lazy girls like myself haha. 🙂 x
Can you use a package of frozen cauliflower rice instead of making it yourself?
Absolutely! Stir it in frozen.
I made this last night it was DELICIOUS! I used ground turkey and I added a bit more salt & pepper at the end. I liked your cabbage roll recipe but I like this one more!
NICE! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe!
This was so savory and super simple to make.