Unstuffed Cabbage Bowls (Keto, Paleo, Whole30)

Unstuffed Cabbage Bowls with ground beef, onion, garlic, tomato sauce, and green cabbage are deconstructed cabbage rolls…in a bowl! A simple yet flavorful and satisfying healthy dinner made in one pot in under an hour and is perfect for meal prep!

Nourishing, wholesome unstuffed cabbage bowls are that healthy dinner recipe that really hits the spot when we’re craving a big volume of food, but not necessarily a ginormous amount of calories.

Also amazing for those times we’re craving tomato sauce (pasta lovers, you may just find this to be an appropriate substitute)  or just…BEEF!

These “Unstuffed” Cabbage Bowls are so easy to put together any night of the week and creates a substantial amount of food. 

The way I see it, this is the perfect recipe to meal prep for work lunches or dinners!

But let’s back up just a bit.

What is “Unstuffed Cabbage?”

Unstuffed Cabbage is simply a deconstructed version of stuffed cabbage rolls (or leaves). Stuffed cabbage rolls are filled with a mixture of ground beef, rice, onion, and a tangy tomato sauce. It is typically served as an appetizer or finger food.

We’re taking that concept and simply making it easier. Everything gets chopped up and cooked in one big pot for a delicious, satisfying one-pot meal. 

Bonus: The whole thing comes together in less than 40 minutes!!

Let’s make it!

How to Make Unstuffed Cabbage Bowls:

Add the avocado oil to a large thick-bottomed pot (I use my Dutch oven) and heat to medium-high.

Add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic and stir well. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion and celery are very fragrant, about 5 minutes.

Move the vegetables off to one side of the pot and add the ground beef. Allow it to brown for 3 minutes before flipping it to the other side to brown for another 2 to 3 minutes. Break the meat up into smaller chunks and mix it in with the vegetables.

Add the remaining ingredients to the pot (tomato sauce, chicken broth, nutmeg, black pepper, sea salt, and cabbage).

Cover the pot without stirring and cook for a few minutes to allow the cabbage to wilt slightly so that it is easier to stir.

Stir the pot well, cover, and cook at a gentle boil for 30 to 40 minutes, or longer if you have the time (the longer it cooks, the more flavorful it will be). Be sure to stir every once in a while.

Serve the unstuffed cabbage in big bowls and enjoy!

Tip For Making this Recipe:

The cabbage will be difficult to stir in the pot when you first put it in. Simply keep the pot covered and stir from time to time until the cabbage wilts and becomes easier to incorporate into the meat mixture.

Recipe Adaptations:

Add 1 to 1.5 cups of cooked brown rice or white rice for a more traditional approach to stuffed cabbage. Leave it rice-less for a low-carb, whole30, paleo, keto version.

Swap ground turkey for the ground beef.

As the recipe is written, there is a generous amount of cabbage. For a higher ratio of meat to cabbage, add another pound of ground beef and an additional 6 to 8 ounces of tomato sauce.

More Easy Healthy Dinner Recipes:

• 30-Minute Teriyaki Beef Skillet
• One-Pot Indian Chicken Biryani
• Instant Pot Spanish Rice with Chicken
• Instant Pot Pot Roast
• One-Skillet Ground Turkey Thai Curry with Rice
• Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore
• Mediterranean Shrimp Skillet

Stuff those Unstuffed Cabbage Bowls!

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4.22 from 28 votes

Unstuffed Cabbage Bowls

The combination of cabbage and ground beef in a magical tomato sauce yields a nourishing and satisfying meal!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time40 minutes mins

Total Time55 minutes mins

Course: Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4 Servings

Calories: 331kcal

Author: Julia

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp avocado oil
• 1 medium yellow onion chopped
• 1 cup carrots chopped
• 1 cup celery chopped
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 15-oz can tomato sauce
• 2/3 cup chicken broth or beef broth
• ⅛ tsp nutmeg optional
• ¼ tsp black pepper to taste
• Sea salt to taste
• 1 large green cabbage chopped

Instructions

• Add the avocado oil to a large thick-bottomed pot (I use my Dutch oven) and heat to medium-high.
• Add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic and stir well. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion and celery are very fragrant, about 5 minutes.
• Move the vegetables off to one side of the pot and add the ground beef. Allow it to brown for 3 minutes before flipping it to the other side to brown for another 2 to 3 minutes. Break the meat up into smaller chunks and mix it in with the vegetables.
• Add the remaining ingredients to the pot (tomato sauce, chicken broth, nutmeg, black pepper, sea salt, and cabbage).
• Cover the pot without stirring and cook for a few minutes to allow the cabbage to wilt slightly so that it is easier to stir.
• Stir the pot well, cover, and cook at a gentle boil for 30 to 40 minutes, or longer if you have the time (the longer it cooks, the more flavorful it will be). Be sure to stir every once in a while.
• Serve the unstuffed cabbage in big bowls and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 4 | Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 20g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g