Cabbage Roll Pasta Bake With Tomato (Print Version)
Classic cabbage roll flavors transformed into a cheesy, hearty pasta bake with beef and tomato sauce.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 small head green cabbage, chopped (about 5 cups)
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Pasta
05 - 12 oz small pasta shells or penne
→ Tomato Sauce
06 - 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
07 - 1 cup tomato sauce
08 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
→ Dairy
09 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
10 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Pantry and Seasonings
11 - 2 tbsp olive oil
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1 tsp dried basil
14 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
15 - 1/2 tsp sugar
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# Preparation Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook 3 minutes until translucent. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute.
04 - Add ground beef; cook until browned, breaking apart with a spoon, about 5–6 minutes.
05 - Stir in chopped cabbage and sauté until the cabbage is softened, 5–7 minutes.
06 - Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, basil, smoked paprika, and sugar. Simmer 10 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper.
07 - Combine cooked pasta, beef-cabbage mixture, and half the mozzarella in a large bowl. Mix gently.
08 - Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and all the Parmesan cheese.
09 - Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes.
10 - Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and golden. Rest 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- All the nostalgic comfort of stuffed cabbage rolls in a fraction of the time
- The cabbage gets sweet and tender in the oven, melting into the tangy tomato sauce
02 -
- Undercooking the pasta is essential because it will absorb sauce and finish cooking in the oven
- The cabbage might look like too much at first but it cooks down significantly
03 -
- A splash of Worcestershire sauce or red wine vinegar added to the sauce creates depth
- Ground turkey or pork work well if you prefer something lighter than beef