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This Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls recipe is a quick and easy version of the classic dish, made with tender cabbage, seasoned pork, and a flavorful sauce. Perfectly portioned for one, it’s a satisfying one-pan meal that’s simple to make and full of comforting flavors.
Serve unstuffed cabbage rolls hot, paired with a slice of warm French bread to soak up the flavorful sauce. For a lighter option, enjoy it alongside a fresh green salad with a tangy vinaigrette.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: Enjoy all the flavor of traditional cabbage rolls without the hassle of wrapping and rolling.
- Versatile: Simple ingredient swaps make it easy to fit different dietary needs.
- One-Pan Dish: Minimal clean-up makes it perfect for a quick meal.
- Easily Doubled: The recipe serves one generously but can be doubled to serve more.
Unstuffed cabbage rolls offer all the comforting flavors of the classic dish—cabbage, meat, rice, and a savory sauce—without the extra work of wrapping the filling. This one-pan recipe is quick, easy, and just as satisfying. Our single serving version features tender cabbage, seasoned pork, and a rich sauce, perfectly portioned for one but easy to double if needed.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this single serving unstuffed cabbage roll recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is used for its authentic flavor and nutritional benefits. A lighter olive oil can also work if preferred.
- Lean Ground Pork: Ground beef, turkey, or a plant-based alternative can be used instead. Leftover ground pork? Use it in Beer Bread or Biscuit with Sausage Gravy.
- Chopped Onions, Garlic, and Tomato: These ingredients add depth and richness to the dish.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Adjust to your taste for seasoning.
- Cabbage: Use about 1 cup (3 ounces) of chopped cabbage. Leftovers are great for Colcannan or Coleslaw.
- Marinara Sauce: Choose your favorite jarred sauce or make a small batch of homemade tomato sauce.
- Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey: Adds a balance of tart and sweet. White or balsamic vinegar can replace apple cider vinegar, and sugar works as a substitute for honey.
Recipe Variations
Try these flavorful twists on the classic recipe:
- Spicy Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for a touch of heat.
- Asian-Inspired: Swap the marinara sauce for a mix of soy sauce, ginger, and sesame oil, and use ground chicken for a flavorful twist.
- Mediterranean-Style: Use ground lamb and season with a pinch of cinnamon and cumin for a warm, aromatic flavor.
How to Cut Cabbage
Follow these simple steps to prepare your cabbage:
- Rinse: Wash the cabbage under cool running water to remove dirt.
- Peel: Remove and discard the tough outer leaves.
- Trim: Cut off the stem or root with a sharp knife.
- Halve and Quarter: Slice the cabbage in half, then cut each half into quarters.
- Remove the Core: Cut out the root from each quarter with a diagonal cut.
- Slice: Chop or slice the cabbage as needed.
How to Freeze Cabbage
If you’re making this single serving unstuffed cabbage rolls recipe, you might have leftover cabbage. Freezing cabbage is a great way to avoid waste and save it for future recipes. Here’s how to do it:
- Prepare the Cabbage: Rinse the cabbage and cut it into thick wedges.
- Blanch: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the cabbage wedges and blanch for 3 minutes.
- Cool Quickly: Remove the cabbage from the boiling water and immediately place it in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
- Dry and Freeze: Once the cabbage has cooled, remove it from the water and shake off excess moisture. Lay the cabbage wedges on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer to flash freeze.
- Store: Once frozen, transfer the cabbage to freezer bags and return to the freezer.
When you’re ready to use the cabbage, take out the amount you need and thaw it in the refrigerator. It’s perfect for soups, stews, or other recipes calling for cooked cabbage.
How To Make Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
These photos and instructions help you visualize how to make this unstuffed cabbage rolls recipe. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Cook the Pork and Aromatics: In a medium skillet, cook the pork, onions, garlic, and chopped tomatoes over medium heat until the pork is browned and the onions are soft. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add Cabbage and Sauce: Stir in the chopped cabbage, marinara sauce, water, and vinegar. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 5–7 minutes, or until the cabbage is tender.
- Finish and Serve: Stir in the honey and serve over cooked rice.
Expert Tips
- Prepare the Cabbage: Thinly slice the cabbage for faster, even cooking. Pre-shredded cabbage is a great shortcut for convenience.
- Simmer Gently: Keep the heat low to let the flavors meld beautifully.
- Season to Taste: Adjust the seasonings before serving to suit your preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Green cabbage is most commonly used, but red cabbage, napa cabbage, or savoy cabbage will also work.
Yes, simply swap the ground pork for a plant-based meat alternative or cooked lentils.
Yes, unstuffed cabbage rolls are traditionally served over cooked rice, so you’ll need to prepare the rice separately.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Yes, it can be easily doubled to serve more people. Just make sure to use a larger skillet to cook everything evenly.
This is a single serving recipe, but if you double it, you may have leftovers to freeze. We recommend freezing the cabbage roll mixture and rice in separate containers to maintain the best texture.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this easy unstuffed cabbage rolls recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 4 ounces lean ground pork
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 1 clove garlic -chopped
- 1 medium Roma tomato -chopped, or substitute with 4–5 halved grape tomatoes
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 cup chopped cabbage
- ¼ cup Marinara sauce
- ¼ cup water
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 cup cooked rice
Instructions
- Cook the Pork and Aromatics: Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork, onions, garlic, chopped tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the pork is browned and the onions are soft.
- Add the Cabbage and Sauce: Stir in the cabbage, marinara sauce, water, and vinegar. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer. Cover and cook for 5–7 minutes, or until the cabbage is tender.
- Finish and Serve: Stir in the honey and serve the dish over cooked rice.
Notes
- Prepare the Cabbage: Thinly slice the cabbage for faster, even cooking. Pre-shredded cabbage is a great shortcut for convenience.
- Simmer Gently: Keep the heat low to let the flavors meld beautifully.
- Season to Taste: Adjust the seasonings before serving to suit your preferences.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Delicious! I served mine with the oven baked rice found on your site. Delicious!
This recipe is fantastic. It tastes like stuffed cabbage that I remember my mother making. I love stuffed cabbage but live alone now so this recipe is perfect for me. This tastes perfect without having to make a whole batch of stuffed cabbage. Fabulous! Thank you so much!!
I was not sure about this but, as I had a little Cabbage leftover after making some coleslaw. Why not? So yummy. Like comfort food I did not know I needed.
Really, really good! Thank you!