This Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Casserole is the easiest way to enjoy all the flavors of traditional Polish Halupkie without rolling a single cabbage leaf. Everything cooks together in the crockpot for a hearty, comforting unstuffed cabbage roll casserole that’s ready in about 4 hours. It’s a family favorite, budget-friendly, and perfect for busy weeknights!
Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Casserole
Cabbage Rolls were a big deal in my house growing up. My mom is Polish, so her recipe was passed down through generations and quickly became one of my all-time favorite comfort meals. Just like my Polish Cabbage Rolls, my Baked Cabbage Roll Casserole, and my Creamy Cabbage Casserole, this dish is another one of Mom’s famous recipes that my family loves. And the best part? This Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Casserole gives you all the same cozy flavors of traditional cabbage rolls in an easy, hands-off crockpot version that’s ready in about 4 hours.
My mom’s original halupkie always started with tender cabbage leaves filled with ground beef, rice, and tomato sauce, rolled up tightly, and left in the fridge overnight to let the flavors develop before our Sunday dinner. Just the smell of cabbage still takes me right back to my childhood kitchen. This unstuffed cabbage roll casserole is a direct spin on her classic Halupkie recipe—only we’re turning it into a simple, hearty crockpot cabbage roll casserole that skips the rolling but keeps every bit of that nostalgic, comforting flavor.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Great for meal prep. Leftovers reheat beautifully and taste even better the next day.
- All the flavor of traditional cabbage rolls without the rolling. This unstuffed version gives you the classic Halupkie taste with a fraction of the effort.
- Easy slow cooker recipe. Just mix, dump, and let the crockpot do the work—perfect for busy days.
- Family-loved comfort food. Inspired by my mom’s Polish recipe and passed down through generations.
- Budget-friendly ingredients. Cabbage, ground beef, rice, and tomato sauce make a hearty meal without breaking the bank.
Pin for later:
Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Casserole
PrintIngredients
- 1 pound raw ground beef
- 1 medium size head of cabbage chopped
- 1 medium sized green pepper chopped
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 15 Oz can of diced or stewed tomatoes undrained
- 2 15 Oz cans of tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon beef bouillon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup uncooked white rice (not instant)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except white rice in slow cooker. Stir good to combine. Cook on high for 1 hour. Add rice, stir, and cook on high for 3 more hours. Serve in bowls.
Lynn says
I made this and added cooked brown rice at the end when all was cooked. Delicious. Would this work if doubled?
L.K.Abbott says
Making this dish as we speak. Was worried at first that there was not enough juice but close to an hour later, viola! Plenty of juice for the rice.
Billy Bob Bubba says
what about adding a can of can of canoe wild rice pre cooked
Rebecca T. says
I am curious, if you don’t brown the meat first, wouldn’t there be a lot of grease?
Pamela says
Hey Rebecca, I’ve never had a issue with grease. If you want to be extra safe, use a lean beef.
Kelly says
I saw this recipe on MSN today and thought it reminded me of my Grandmother so it was worth a shot. It tastes AMAZING! Just like Grandma used to make it! We have some leftovers so it might be dinner tomorrow too!
Pamela says
Glad to hear it reminded you of your Grandma! Thanks for commenting!
Kay says
How many calories?
Pamela says
Hi Kay, I don’t provide calorie count. To do this, you can google “calorie counter” and manually add the ingredients. Hope this helps!
Jennifer says
Hi Pamela, I just made your recipe and it is fantastic! I made it vegan by subbing out the beef for 2 cups of lentils, and using a vegetable bouillon cube. And of course, vegan Worcestershire – no fishies 🙂 But such small, minor adjustments to make it 100% plant based. And cabbage is a nutrition power house.
This is totally a keeper, and thank you for sharing!
Pamela says
Hey Jennifer, thanks so much for commenting and letting me know you liked this casserole! I love how you put your vegan spin on it – it sounds delicious! I hope you keep on enjoying!
Carol G says
I made this for a chilly night and my family loved it! My little boy even wanted more after he finished his bowl! This will be a keeper for us, thank you!
Pamela says
I’m happy to hear you guys liked this casserole Carol! Thank for commenting and letting me know!
Jessica says
Bookmarked and cooking this week! I love that this is easy enough for Hubby to throw together without my assistance 🙂 I’m hiking to cook 6hrs on low. Do you suggest adding the rice at the beginning of cook time on low or would you cook it separately and add afterwards? I’m worried about either ending up wirh soggy rice or a watery casserole… Thanks!!
Pamela says
Hey Jessica, 6 hours is too long to cook the rice, so I suggest he sets a timer and adds the rice or just cooks the rice separately and adds afterwards. Enjoy!
Charlie Anderson says
I’d love to make this but…..do you have an approximate cup amount for the cabbage? You say a medium head but that’s a little too loosey goosey for me. My medium is another persons large. Good way to hose up a dish.
Pamela says
Hi Charlie, I’d say a medium head is about 2 pounds. Enjoy!
Kathy says
I would like to cut the recipe in half as I live alone. Would the cooking times need to be adjusted?
Pamela says
Hey Kathy, you don’t need to adjust the cooking time. Enjoy the casserole!
rickt smith says
Do you add any water or no
Pamela says
Hey Rickt, this recipe doesn’t call for any water. Enjoy!
Ernie says
Please un-confuse me. 1 tablespoon of beef bouillon? Powdered? Liquid concentrate? One cube dissolved in hot water? Straight out of the College Inn box?
Pamela says
Hey Ernie, 1 tablespoon of powdered beef bouillon. Just throw it in the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients and it will dissolve over time – no extra work required! Enjoy this casserole!
Kim says
Hi Pamela. ..if using liquid bovril instead of poder, how much do I use..I don’t want to spoil recipe
Pamela says
Hey Kim, I don’t usually use liquid Bovril but a quick google search tells me 1 tablespoon should work good. Enjoy!
Kim says
I am such a cabbage roll fan; it reminds me of family dinners when I was younger, being at the dinner table with my brothers and sister and parents! It was always so enjoyable. This recipe sounds like everything my mother included in her rolls. I am just wondering if there is any way to get a calorie/nutrition count on this dish. I didn’t worry about such things when I was younger, which is why I have to worry about it now! Thanks.
Pamela says
Hey Kim, I don’t provide nutritional info but if you google “calorie counter” you will find lots of them that you can manually enter Hope this helps! Enjoy the casserole!
Cori anderson says
This is fantastic Pamela! The one suggestion I have is to boil the cabbage first and then add it to the crock pot. Then you won’t have to worry about it being hard. Thank you for sharing your recipes.
Pamela says
Hey Cori, glad you liked the recipe! The cabbage is never hard for me when the slow cooker is done, but you can definitely boil it first if you want. Enjoy!
atha w. belsha says
could someone please send me this recipe?
[email protected]
thanks.
Pamela says
Hi Atha, the recipe is on the page. You can also use the “print” button to print it.
Sheila says
Can time be adjusted to use instant rice ?
Pamela says
Hey Sheila, I wouldn’t recommend adding instant rice to the slow cooker. The rice is going to get very mushy which you don’t want! Instead I’d make the instant rice on the stove top and then just add it into the slow cooker and mix once everything’s done. Hope this helps!
Betty Ford says
Followed the directions to a tee but cabbage is still crunchy. Maybe I should have taken out the vein like I do when I make stuffed cabbage rolls.
Pamela says
Hey Betty, I always cut out the cabbage core but let the veins in. If the cabbage is still crunchy, try cooking it for another 30 minutes-1 hour. Enjoy!
Cori anderson says
Betty Ford – I found that when I boiled the cabbage first, it turned out perfect. Just a tip. 🙂
Melanie says
This was AMAZING. Its like my late mother-in-law’s, but without all the sugar but all of the taste! Love that everything that goes in it is real whole food. THANK YOU!
Pamela says
Hey Melanie, I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe and it tasted like it came from the family! Thanks for commenting! 🙂
S Koski says
LOVE it. Have question(s). Could this be adapted to be cooked in a pressure cooker?
I saw a recipe that alternately layered the cabbage, then meat/rice mixture. What’s the difference between what you did and the layering process??
Pamela says
Hello, I never cooked it in a pressure cooker but if you try I’d love to hear how it came out! For my recipe, I just throw all the ingredients together, I don’t have time to layer the ingredients! Plus in the end since it’s a slow cooker recipe to serve with a spoon I really don’t think layering is necessary at all. Enjoy!
Kailya says
Can I put it all in the crock pot and cook for 8 hours on low instead of on high for 3
Pamela says
Hey Kailya, I would recommend 6 hours on low. Enjoy!
gregory gammon says
have all ingredients in crock pot now in half hour will add rice hoping for good results. appears a bit dry might add more liquid or tomato sauce. first time for this recipe wife and sister in law will be back when this is done both enjoy. aroma should be wonderf then
Mary hicks says
I keep seeing this post but cant find the dang recipe
Karen Vater says
I can’t seem to get the recipe…only the pictures. Would love to make this tonight!
Karen Stroud says
Does it have to be white rice? Will brown rice work?
Pamela says
Hi Karen, yes you can use brown rice. Enjoy!
Cecile says
Hi Pam ! i hope all is well with you and yours. Happy New Year!
Recently I decided to begin a weekly recipe-sharing post called Weekly Roundup.. I just posted my very first Roundup – and included this delicious-looking recipe of yours. I included three more recipes – one from The Bartolini Kitchens, The Southern Lady Cooks & also Mom on Timeout ; o )
Megan says
Omg, I love a good cabbage roll, and the slow cooker is Mom’s best friend! I’ll be pinning this to try, thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!
Lauren says
Do you put the ground beef in raw or cook it first? Thanks!
Pamela says
Hey Lauren, you add the ground beef raw. Enjoy!
Debbie says
Does the ground beef make it greasy cooking raw
Pamela says
I’ve never had a issue with it being greasy. If you want to be extra safe, use a lean beef.
Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today says
My mom does it just like your 😀 Nice recipe, I don’t have a slow cooker, but there’s so many nice recipes, that maybe I should get it.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Such a healthy delicious comfort food!