Cabbage Roll Pasta Bake (Printable)

Comforting cabbage roll flavors in a cheesy pasta bake with beef, tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella.

# 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)
16 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or a small amount of oil.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook 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 onions and cook for 3 minutes until translucent and fragrant. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until aromatic, being careful not to burn.
04 - Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook for 5–6 minutes, breaking apart with a wooden spoon, until fully browned and no longer pink.
05 - Stir in chopped cabbage. Sauté for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cabbage has wilted and softened.
06 - Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, smoked paprika, and sugar if using. Stir well to combine. Simmer for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Season generously with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, beef-cabbage sauce mixture, and half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix gently until evenly distributed.
08 - Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese and all of the grated Parmesan cheese.
09 - Cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes to heat through and meld flavors.
10 - Remove foil and return to oven. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and golden brown on top.
11 - Let the bake rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set and make serving easier.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Its the shortcut version of classic cabbage rolls without sacrificing any comfort or flavor
  • The pasta soaks up all that sweet tomato sauce and becomes incredibly tender
  • Everything bakes together in one dish so cleanup is practically nonexistent
02 -
  • Do not overcook the pasta initially since it will continue cooking in the oven
  • The cabbage will release water as it cooks so dont worry if the sauce seems thick at first
  • Letting the dish rest before serving is crucial for clean portions
03 -
  • Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce or red wine vinegar to the sauce for extra depth
  • Ground turkey or pork work well if you want to try something different
  • For extra vegetables, stir in some diced bell peppers with the cabbage

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