Instant Pot Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

Instant Pot Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls is a comforting dish packed with beef, herbs, spices, and vegetables, all cooked in seasoned tomato sauce. It has all the flavors of the classic dish, but no rolling is required. It’s cooked in one pot, and it’s incredibly delicious!

With all the taste of cabbage rolls and none of the work, this recipe is perfect for busy people who love delicious food because you make it in an instant pot in minutes. You get all those incredible flavors from cabbage rolls without having to stuff them, making them look perfect before baking them. Sure, they look amazing that way, but it is all going to the same place! And this tastes better because it is all mixed up, so it melds together more.

Instant Pot Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls is an effortless way to enjoy this traditional Eastern European dish. It has all that hearty goodness such as rice, tender veggies, and beef in a herbed tomato sauce. Except, you don’t have to roll individual leaves. It only takes 20 minutes in the pressure cooker to make this dish, making it a convenient dinner option on a busy day.  

I love instant pot recipes, they are so easy to make and this one is especially easy because there is no need to precook the rice, the ground beef, or the cabbage. You toss it all into the pot and the pot does its magic. It is deconstructed cabbage rolls, so you get all that deliciousness without all the work. Since you are making it all in one pot, that is all you have to wash too!

Besides all that, most of the ingredients you probably already have. They are basic pantry ingredients like herbs and spices, oil, and a few other things. Grab the rest at any grocery store for a few bucks. You can choose which rice or cabbage to use, so this is a versatile dish. Also, it is easy to double or triple this recipe to make extra for serving a crowd or to freeze for later. You can freeze it for up to four months.

This dish goes great with all sorts of side dishes, like mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, corn on the cob, or steamed broccoli. The leftovers can also be used for casseroles, soups, salads, and stews. Nothing goes to waste in my house. I am always thinking of something!

Why you will love this recipe

• It is so fast: Less than 20 minutes to cook.
• Only one pot to clean: Easy cleanup. That is my kind of dinner.
• Easy to make: Just a few steps. Dump and go.
• Costs less than $10: Most of the ingredients you probably already have.

What you’ll need to make instant pot unstuffed cabbage rolls

Special items

• An instant pot – I use a six-quart Duo Plus.
• Cooking utensils

Ingredients:

• Cabbage – I use about two pounds, coarsely shredded.
• Rice – Uncooked, white or brown rice, rinsed and drained.
• Ground beef – I use lean (85/15) for the least grease and most flavor.
• Diced tomatoes – My favorite is Cento San Marzano diced tomatoes. You need a 28-ounce can with the juice.
• Tomato paste – For this, I also use Cento San Marzano tomato paste.
• Onion – I prefer a large white onion, roughly chopped.
• Garlic – Freshly minced for the best flavor.
• Chicken broth – Use my easy recipe to make your own chicken stock from scratch.
• Worcestershire sauce – This umami sauce brings it all from sweet and savory to sour and spicy.
• Dried thyme – Adds a bittersweet, peppery, and warm taste.
• Dried oregano – For a robust, pungent flavor with a bit of mint and hay.
• Dried rosemary – Gives your dish a sharp, citrusy taste that has a hint of bitterness.
• Smoked paprika – Smoky, sweet, and almost spicy.
• Canola oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Fresh dill – Sprinkle on just before serving for a bit of color and tangy flavor.
• Sour cream – A nice creamy touch to serve on the side.

How to make homemade Instant Pot Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls?

1. Sauté. First, crumble the beef and cook with the aromatics for about 3 mins. using the Sauté function of the IP. Then, add the herbs and cook a little more. Lastly, stir in the chopped vegetables along with the water, tomato paste, Worcestershire, and diced tomatoes.
2. Add rice. Just press it down lightly on top of the meat and veggies until it’s covered with liquid. DO NOT stir.
3. Cook. Next, set to High for 20 mins. Afterward, vent until all pressure is released.
4. Serve. Enjoy hot with a dollop of sour cream on top, sprinkled with chopped dill.

Expert tip

Thickening the sauce

Whenever you cook anything with cabbage and other watery raw vegetables, you always run into the problem of excess water in the instant pot when you are done cooking. But there is no reason to worry about it or dump it out. In fact, I set my instant pot on saute and let it simmer until it reduces down to where I want it. If you have been doing that for a while now and it is still watery, you still have some options.

My first choice, in this case, would be cornstarch slurry. Mix equal parts cornstarch with cold liquid like water or broth until it is dissolved. Then, stir it into your sauce as it is simmering on saute. Let it simmer while whisking until it is thick enough for your liking. Remember, it will continue to thicken as it cools, so do not add too much.

If you do not have any cornstarch, add some flour directly to your pot and let it simmer as you whisk for a few minutes. Ensure you continue cooking it long enough to cook the raw flour away. The ratio is two tablespoons of flour per one cup of liquid. Other thickeners include tapioca flour, arrowroot, xanthan gum, and potato starch. You could also try more tomato paste or rice.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Low fat: Use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef for a low-fat meal.
• Hot stuff: You can also turn this into a five-alarm dinner for spicy food lovers. Toss in some chopped jalapenos and sriracha sauce with a pinch of cayenne pepper.
• Hide the veggies: This is a great way to sneak some extra veggies into the kids’ diet. Chop up some bell peppers, carrots, spinach, corn, and peas.
• No meat: Leave out the meat completely and use beans or mushrooms for a vegetarian dish. Don’t forget to switch the chicken broth to vegetable too.
• More herbs: Add your favorites like chives, cilantro, marjoram, basil, cumin, bay leaves, and cardamom.

Serving suggestions:

• Your family or guests (and you) will need some kind of bread to use to soak up the excess sauce. These bacon ham cheese rolls are perfect because they are like a side dish too with all the extra meat and cheese.
• It’s also wonderful with home-baked dinner rolls, classic cornbread, and crusty beer bread.
• Since this is such a fast and easy meal, you can toss together some freshly chopped vegetables or fruit to go with it while you are waiting. A light and easy salad like this beet salad with goat cheese complements it perfectly.
• Serve this dish with a flavorful salad like this pineapple cucumber salad that is sweet, spicy, savory, and tangy. 
• You really only need something else with this instant pot unstuffed cabbage rolls dish, but everyone will be expecting dessert. Serve something easy. A bowl of ice cream or strawberry sorbet would be perfect.
• The perfect wine to go with this dinner would be Chianti Classico or Sauvignon Blanc.

Topping suggestions:

Go the classic route by scooping it into bowls, then top with a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream, and sprinkling fresh, chopped dill on top. Or stir in some parmesan and top with cheddar and mozzarella for a cheesy twist. For richness, swirl in some heavy cream!

Frequently asked questions

What are Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls?

They’re basically deconstructed Stuffed Cabbage Rolls! Like the original version, it has meat (usually beef) and grains (brown rice or white rice) all cooked in a tomato sauce with herbs.But for this one, there’s no need to stuff leaves one by one. Instead, we chop up the cabbage and cook it along with all the other ingredients.

Do I need to brown the ground beef for this recipe?

Since it is all going to be cooked in such a manner and the mixture does not require it, you certainly do not have to. However, if you want to continue to cook your ground beef long enough to brown it, that is fine. In fact, if you happen to be using ground beef with a lot of fat in it, you may want to brown it so you can drain the grease. Not only that, but browning the beef will sear it to lock in the flavor and make it taste even better.

Why is my rice still hard?

There are several reasons why this may happen. If you live at a high altitude, add extra time for any recipe. It may also be that you needed more liquid in the pot. If rice does not have enough liquid, it cannot cook properly. Check the steam release valve. Make sure it is set to seal. Also, different rice may need extra time. Long-grain brown rice needs an additional three minutes and wild rice needs an extra five.

How do I not overcook the rice?

Always use the right ratio of liquid to rice—the recommended amount is one-to-one. Also, measure the rice accurately. Use the rice cup that comes with the instant pot or a standard measuring cup, and measure the liquid using a liquid measuring cup. When the rice is done, fluff it with a fork and not a spoon to keep the grains separate. Also, never leave the rice on the keep warm setting because it will continue to cook the rice.

Can I just cook the rice separately?

Rice can be a difficult thing to get right in the instant pot when you are making it with other ingredients. Yes, if you prefer to cook the rice with the rest of the ingredients or are confident that it will be cooked to the right consistency, you can cook it in a separate way. In fact, you can even use leftover rice from last night’s dinner or today’s Chinese takeout.

How to store leftovers:

• Refrigerate: Refrigerate for up to four days in an airtight container.   
• Freezing: To store longer, put it in a freezer-safe container and freeze it for up to four months.   
• Defrost: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for the best taste and texture.
• Reheating: Put thawed leftovers in a pot and reheat on the stove for several minutes, or reheat in the instant pot for zero minutes.  

More instant pot cabbage recipes:

The Pressure Cooker is my best friend when it comes to delicious, hot meals with almost no effort like this pork stew and chicken and dumplings. You can even make desserts in there, like this Instant Pot Oreo Cheesecake!

Recipe tips:

• Do not cook the rice first. This will cause the rice to get mushy.
• Only stir after adding the rice if you want the dreaded BURN notice.
• Make sure your cabbage is thick enough. You do not want it to dissolve or disappear. After all, it is the star of the dish.
• Remember that it will take about 20 minutes for the pot to build up pressure, so add that to the cooking time.
• If there is too much liquid after it is done cooking, turn it on saute and simmer until it reduces to your liking.
• If you have time to brown the beef first, do it! Caramelizing it and searing in the flavor will make it taste so much better.