Lazy golumpki is a quick and easy way to enjoy all the flavors of our very popular stuffed cabbage recipe featured here on Platter Talk. With over 100,000 views on our original golumpki recipe, I wanted to simplify the process without losing out on any of the deliciousness of the original version.
This rendition hits the mark, perfectly.
Lazy Golumpki
©Platter Talk
As I mentioned, our golumpki recipe is on of our top recipes on Platter Talk. I think that people are drawn to it, partly because of it’s unusual name and also because of it’s Polish origin.
Our Original Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage) Recipe.
However, I do have to admit, our original golumpki recipe is a bit tedious with many different steps. Although it is not a hard recipe in the least, it is very time consuming.
With that in mind, I wanted to make a version of this dish that is quick and easy. Enter Lazy Golumpki.
Try this deconstructed stuffed cabbage casserole.
The nice thing about Lazy Golumpki is how fast and versatile it is. There are many short cuts that can be taken, without sacrificing the taste. The bacon that I included was baked in the oven. I used a “boil in the bag” type rice.
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Instead of boiling the cabbage and pulling apart every leaf so that you can roll the meat mixture into them, I shredded the cabbage into big long pieces and I layered it, much like a lasagna or a casserole.
This reduces the necessary time of assembling this deconstructed “stuffed cabbage” recipe to mere minutes. I have to admit, I felt that I was cheating my grandmother’s recipe by taking these shortcuts.
However, that feeling was quickly gone after how fast this went together.
©Platter Talk
In this version, I used only a lean ground beef, 90/10. I did this because most of us have hamburger sitting in the freezer unused, and this makes a great use for it. However, you could easily use different meat combinations, such as ground beef, ground Italian sausage, and even veal.
Traditionally, golumpki was made with different meats. This was done years ago to keep the dish economical. People bought what was affordable and on sale to feed your family.
My grandmother would use primarily beef because she had a family of 9 to feed. My point is, use what you have in your freezer. It makes it that much more convenient.
©Platter Talk
After putting this lazy golumpki together and allowing it to spend some time in the hot oven, our house quickly filled with the welcomed aroma and memories of the golumpki the I grew up with, without all the work.
After the first bite, I knew that this was a winner. The cabbage still retains a little crisp to it and the meat is moist and delicious.
“…use what you have in your freezer. It makes it that much more convenient.”
If you are one of the 21,000 people that looked at the original recipe but shied away from it because it seemed too daunting, then this is the recipe for you. I threw this together as a weekday meal but it would make a great sit down Sunday Supper for your family. I know that you will enjoy this family favorite. -Scott
©Platter Talk
Lazy Golumpki (Gołąbki, Stuffed Cabbage)
Ingredients
- Medium size head of cabbage
- 2 1/2 lbs lean ground beef 90/10
- 1/2 lbs cooked bacon coarsely chopped
- 1 med white onion
- 1/2 cup Italian flavored bread crumbs
- 1/2 -3/4 cup cooked white rice
- 1-2 eggs
- 1 family sized and 1 10 oz can of tomato soup
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- See video above to watch this quick and easy recipe come together.
- Preheat oven 375 degrees.
- Coarsely shred the cabbage it thick long pieces and set aside.
- Cook bacon in the oven, allow to cool, coarsely chop and set aside.
- Dice onion and set aside.
- Cook rice and allow to cool and set aside. For convenience, I used a boil in the bag type of rice.
- In a large bowl, add meat, bread crumbs, onion, bacon, rice, egg and salt and pepper. Start by only using one egg. If the mixture seems too dry, then add the second egg.
- In a 9X9 pan, place a layer of the shredded cabbage so that the bottom of the pan is completely covered.
- Add the meat mixture on top of the cabbage and press into the shape of the pan.
- Add another layer of cabbage to cover the meat mixture.
- Pour the family sized can of tomato soup over the top of the cabbage to cover completely. Reserve the smaller can to add additional soup while baking in the oven.
- Add salt and pepper over the top.
- Cover with aluminum foil.
- Place pan on top of a cookie sheet and put in a 375 preheated oven.
- Cook for approximately 1 hour 45 minutes-2 hours.
Recipe Video
Make this Lazy Golumpki Stuffed Cabbage Casserole and post it on Instagram. Don’t forgert to tag us @plattertalk!
Made this today for my husbands birthday dinner. He loves stuffed cabbage! On a work day it is much easier and less time consuming than steaming the cabbage then rolling up the stuffed cabbage. We both enjoyed it! He gave it a ten on flavor and enjoyed it. The one thing we missed was actually cutting into a roll and getting both the cabbage and meat together. The shredded gives it the flavor but is different than what we are use to. I would definitely make it again! Thanks for a great recipe.
Thanks for the great feedback, Diane! Next, try the Golumpki Soup!
What is the feasibility of mixing everything then freezing to cook a few days later? Going out of town but want to come back and have a meal ready
Alan, thanks for the question. You can try this however there may be a little excess water as a result of freezing and thawing the cabbage. If you experience this, you may want to remove the foil from the baking dish, 15 minutes or so before taking it out of the oven. This should help to reduce it, if necessary.
This looks so good! I have to make this for dinner this week!
This would make a perfect meal for when I am short on time! I can’t wait to try it out!
Ooooooo… I am just loving this lazy version! My kind of recipe. 😉
Thanks so much, Carrie!
Stuffed cabbage is a family favorite!! I can’t wait to try this! It looks SO delicious!!
Great recipe. I like all the ingredients in it. This is perfect for me. thank you.
This is such a classic favorite!
Yes, it is, we love golumpki in our family!
A great and delicious way to get cabbage into your diet. This sounds amazing!
I just finished a slice of this dish and it is phenomenal! My grandmother used to make kapusta (Hungarian stuffed cabbage), every time she visited and this reminds me of her recipe. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much for the great feedback. We love that you tried this lazy golumpki and that you enjoyed it!
I made this yesterday, and it was great! I left it, covered, in the oven for three hours (I actually could have even left it in a little longer). I used the ground been/sausage mixture. It was so easy to assemble, and I liked the fact that tomato soup was part of the recipe because this is how my mom (and her mom) always made it. Lots of recipes out there call for tomato sauce and even spaghetti sauce which I don’t care for. Anyway, I will definitely make this one again. It’s a keeper, and I cannot wait for leftovers later today!
Sounds wonderful, thanks for the feedback!
Yes yes yes! Can’t wait to make this..I love stufffed cabbage but the prep going into it I never make it! Thank you for adding this to my life 🙂
Really yum recipe. We eat alot of cabbage dishes and I should try this one as well.
This stuffed cabbage looks so easy! Can’t wait to try it!!
Can this be made in a crock pot? If so, on what temperature and how long?
Mandy, yours is a terrific question. We have not tried that technique. My initial guess is that a slow cooker would turn this into a soup, which would not be the biggest tragedy in the world. In the mean time, we are going to research this into greater detail and will do our best to showcase a slow cooker-made golumpki, sometime soon!
Mandy, this is such a great question and one that we need to explore further. My initial thought is a slow cooker would turn this recipe into a soup. We will be looking into this possibility and you can bet we will be responding with a new post, when we find the answer!
I’ve always made the traditional version (rolled cabbage) in the crock pot. It comes out fantastically well. I keep them in the crock for about six hours on medium. However, I don’t think I would do the Lazy Man’s version in the crock.
I love your idea, if you care to share the recipe that you use we would love to feature it. Thanks?
This looks like a quick and hearty dish for Autumn/Winter! Need to make this soon