🥬 Slow Cooker Layered Green Cabbage (Crock-Pot Cabbage Bake)

This Slow Cooker Layered Green Cabbage dish is a comforting, old-fashioned meal made by layering chopped cabbage with seasoned meat, vegetables, and a flavorful tomato-based sauce. It’s similar to unstuffed cabbage rolls but much easier—everything cooks together slowly until tender and delicious.

Prep Time

• Prep: 20 minutes
• Cook: 6–8 hours
• Total: About 8 hours

Servings

6–8 servings

Ingredients

Cabbage Layers

• 1 large green cabbage, chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

Meat Layer

• 1½ lbs ground beef (or turkey)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Tomato Sauce Mixture

• 2 cans (14.5 oz each) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• ½ cup beef broth

Optional Additions

• 1 cup cooked rice (for a cabbage roll flavor)
• 1 cup shredded cheese for topping
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

1. Prepare the Meat

1. Brown ground beef in a skillet with onion until cooked.
2. Drain excess grease.
3. Add garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.
4. Stir well.

2. Make the Sauce

1. Combine diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, broth, oregano, basil, and brown sugar.
2. Mix until combined.

3. Layer in the Crock-Pot

1. Lightly grease the slow cooker.
2. Add a layer of chopped cabbage.
3. Add a layer of seasoned meat.
4. Spoon over some tomato sauce.
5. Repeat layers until ingredients are used.
6. Finish with sauce on top.

4. Slow Cook

• Cover and cook:
  • LOW: 6–8 hours
  • HIGH: 3–4 hours

The cabbage should be very tender and the flavors blended.

5. Serve

• Stir gently before serving.
• Top with parsley or shredded cheese if desired.

Serving Suggestions

• 🥔 Mashed potatoes
• 🍞 Crusty bread
• 🥗 Green salad
• 🥒 Pickles or sauerkraut

Variations

🍚 Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Style

Add:

• 1 cup cooked rice
• Extra tomato sauce

🥓 Bacon Cabbage Version

Add:

• Cooked bacon pieces
• Smoked paprika

🌶 Spicy Cabbage Bake

Add:

• Red pepper flakes
• Hot Italian sausage

🥬 Low-Carb/Keto Version

Skip rice and use:

• Ground beef
• Extra cabbage
• More cheese

Tips

• Chop cabbage into larger pieces so it doesn’t completely disappear during long cooking.
• Browning the meat first adds much deeper flavor.
• Let the dish rest for 10–15 minutes before serving so the sauce thickens.
• It tastes even better the next day after the flavors develop.