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A close up shot of a slice of cabbage roll casserole on a fork.

Cabbage Roll Casserole

This easy casserole has all the flavors of cabbage rolls, baked in one dish with a creamy, cheesy topping.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup long-grain white rice 150g
  • 1 ½ cups vegetable broth warmed, 360ml
  • 1 medium head cabbage cored and chopped into bite-sized pieces, about 2 lbs / 900g
  • 1 can diced tomatoes undrained, 28 oz / 794g
  • 1 can brown or green lentils rinsed and drained, 15 oz / 425g
  • ½ medium yellow onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tub whole milk cottage cheese 24 oz / 680g
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch 16g
  • 8 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded, 225g

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  • In a 9x13-inch (23x33 cm) baking dish, combine the uncooked rice, warm vegetable broth, chopped cabbage, undrained diced tomatoes, lentils, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir well until everything is mixed.
  • Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the cabbage is tender and the rice is mostly cooked through.
  • While the casserole bakes, prepare the topping. In a blender, combine the cottage cheese and cornstarch. Blend until completely smooth and creamy.
  • Carefully remove the foil from the baking dish. Pour the blended cottage cheese mixture over the top and spread it into an even layer.
  • Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the cottage cheese layer.
  • Return the casserole to the oven, uncovered. Bake for another 20 to 30 minutes, until the topping is bubbly and lightly browned in spots.
  • Let the casserole rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. This allows it to set and makes it easier to slice.

Notes

For a non-vegetarian version, you can replace the lentils with 1 pound of cooked ground beef or turkey. Brown the meat with the onion and garlic before adding it to the casserole.
Make sure to use warm broth. This helps the rice cook evenly and reduces the overall baking time.
Covering the dish tightly with foil is important for the first bake. It traps steam, which helps cook the cabbage and rice properly.
Letting the casserole rest before serving is key. It will be very hot and loose straight from the oven, and resting helps it firm up.
Keyword Cabbage, cabbage roll casserole, Casserole, comfort food, vegetarian