Cabbage Roll Pasta Bake (Printable version)
Comforting cabbage roll flavors in an easy cheesy pasta bake with hearty beef and tangy tomato sauce.
# What You’ll 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 (optional, to taste)
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or oil.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta shells or penne for 2 minutes less than package directions for al dente texture. Drain well and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking apart with a wooden spoon, until fully browned and no pink remains.
05 - Stir in chopped cabbage. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until cabbage is wilted and tender.
06 - Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, smoked paprika, and sugar if using. Simmer for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Season generously with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, beef-cabbage sauce mixture, and half of the shredded mozzarella. Mix gently until evenly distributed.
08 - Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Spread evenly. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese and all grated Parmesan cheese.
09 - Cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes at 375°F.
10 - Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and golden brown on top.
11 - Allow the cabbage roll pasta bake to rest for 5 minutes before serving to set for easier serving.
# Expert tips:
01 -
- It captures everything you adore about traditional cabbage rolls without the tedious rolling process
- The pasta soaks up all that sweet tomato-cabbage goodness while it bakes
02 -
- Undercooking the pasta initially is crucial, as those final minutes in the oven prevent it from turning mushy
- The cabbage will seem like too much at first, but it wilts down significantly and becomes delightfully tender
03 -
- Use a box grater to shred your own mozzarella instead of buying pre-shredded for superior melting
- Grate some extra Parmesan over individual servings right at the table for that fresh hit of flavor