Instant Pot Cabbage Rolls are a great comfort food with seasoned beef, shredded carrots, and onions rolled in a steamed cabbage leaf then simmered in diced tomatoes. A family favorite year round but especially over the holiday season! We make this together to make the work go quicker and the memories made are priceless. Save a ton of time making this classic dish for your family!
Why this works
- Comfort food - Instant Pot Cabbage Rolls are classic comfort food just like Grandma used to make. Serve it with some buttery mashed potatoes or eat them as a meal on their own.
- Timesaver - using the Instant Pot cuts down on the time it takes to make these dramatically just like French dip sandwiches.
- Budget-friendly - the ingredients are inexpensive and easy to find simple ingredients. If you like this then try some Beefy Rice-A-Roni one night for dinner!
- Make ahead - these can be made up to two days in advance for special events or holiday dinners.
- Leftovers - you'll have plenty of leftovers for lunches and they taste just as good if not better the next day. It is also freezer-friendly!
Ingredients you will need
Here is a quick snapshot of the ingredients you'll need. Scroll down to the recipe card where you'll find exact measurements.
Ingredient notes
- Cabbage - should be small enough to fit into your pressure cooker. You can use either green or red cabbage.
- Ground beef - I used an 80/20 mixture of ground beef. You can use a half and half mixture of ground pork and beef if you like.
- Rice - I use cooked rice because I like the way it turns out at the end. You can often find cooked rice at the grocery, save rice from recent take-out, or make a little extra when you are eating rice with a meal. You can use uncooked rice instead if you like (½ cup rinsed).
- Breadcrumbs - I use Italian seasoned breadcrumbs.
How to make this
Step 1: Prepare the cabbage leaves
Trim the core of the cabbage, and cut an "x" in the remaining stem. Add the minimum amount of water for your model, and the rack.
Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes and follow with a quick release.
Step 2: Make the filling
Combine well in a large bowl or mixer the ground beef, half of the diced onions, shredded carrot, salt, pepper, minced garlic, eggs, water, rice, and breadcrumbs.
Step 3: Make the cabbage rolls
Fold one of the cabbage in half, and cut off the very thick part of the stem...usually up to one inch. Take your knife and gently slice partially through the middle of the being careful not to cut all the way through. This will make it easier to roll.
Lay the cabbage leaf flat, and place some filling near the bottom. Fold one half over the meat mixture, and then fold over the other side.
Roll vertically, and set aside with the seam side down. Repeat the process until you've used up all your meat mixture.
Step 4: Cooking the stuffed cabbage rolls
Stack the stuffed cabbage rolls in the in the pressure cooker. Top with the brown sugar, and lemon juice.
Add water to the pot and cover the top of the rolls with the diced tomatoes. Do not overfill the pot! At this point the pot should be filled almost to or at the ⅔ mark.
Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes, and follow with a 20-minute natural pressure release. If you have the time you can do a full natural pressure release.
It's important to note that since your pot is full to the maximum it will also take a while to come to pressure.
Expert tips
If you do not want to soften the cabbage in the Instant Pot you can do it on the stove top with a large pot of boiling water. Once the water is boiling just gently put the cabbage head in, and let it boil submerged for a few minute. Remove from water and cut cabbage leaves off with small knife. Repeat if necessary.
This is a great meal to hide vegetables in like the carrots. Add in some shredded zucchini for something different.
The raw cabbage rolls can be made as far in advance as the night before. The cooked cabbage rolls can be made two-days in advance, and still retain there flavor.
FAQs
You eat them warm.
The reason is because they have not been cooked enough.
Cabbage often takes on the flavor of the foods it is cooked with. While raw cabbage has a bitter taste the cooked version does not.
Serving suggestions
These Instant Pot Cabbage Rolls delicous served on their with a dollop of sour cream. However, you can also pair this cheesy potatoes or start dinner with French onion soup.
Storage & Reheating
Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to one week. Reheat in microwave, oven, or stove.
You can freeze uncooked cabbage rolls for up to three months. Cooked cabbage rolls can be frozen for up to one month but may be watery when thawed. Thaw in refrigerator then cook or reheat.
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How to video
Recipe
Instant Pot Cabbage Rolls
Ingredients
Filling
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 onion diced
- 1 cup rice cooked
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 2 carrots shredded
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon pepper
- ½ cup water
Cabbage Roll Ingredients
- 2 cabbage heads steamed or boiled, leaves cut off, remainder chopped
- 2 14.5 ounce diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 lemon several drops
- 2-3 cups water enough water to cover or fill to max line
Instructions
- Cut an "x" in the cabbage heads. Steam in pressure cooker for 5 minutes on trivet with one cup of water followed by a quick release. Or, boil a large pot of water and boil cabbage head for ten minutes. Cut the leaves off, and set aside.
- Combine all the ingredients in the filling group together in a large bowl or mixer, and set aside.
- Trim the ends of the cabbage leaves and partially slice the thicker part of the spine of the leaf. Place the meat mixture in the middle and fold both sides of the cabbage leaf over. Roll vertically and set aside seam side down.
- Stack prepared cabbage rolls into inner pot. Add the brown sugar along with several lemon drops.
- Pour diced tomatoes on top with juices. Do not overfill the pot. It will be at or close the to the ⅔ mark in a six-quart pressure cooker. Cover with water or full to max line. Note since the Instant Pot is so full it will take time to build pressure.
- Seal and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes and follow with a 20-minute natural pressure release. You can also opt for a full natural pressure release if you have time.
- Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to one week.
Notes
Nutrition
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