Here’s a simple way to make cabbage and bacon rolls in a slow cooker. They turn out tender, smoky, and very comforting.
Ingredients
- 1 large head of Cabbage
- 12–16 slices of Bacon
- 1 cup cooked rice (optional but traditional for cabbage rolls)
- 250–300 g ground beef or pork
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 cups tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
Instructions
1. Prepare the cabbage
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Carefully remove the core from the cabbage.
- Place the whole cabbage in boiling water for about 5–7 minutes until the leaves soften.
- Peel off about 12 large leaves and let them cool.
2. Make the filling
In a bowl mix:
- Ground meat
- Cooked rice
- Onion
- Garlic
- Egg
- Salt, pepper, paprika
Mix until well combined.
3. Roll the cabbage
- Place a spoonful of filling near the base of a cabbage leaf.
- Fold the sides in and roll it tightly like a burrito.
- Wrap one slice of bacon around each roll.
4. Arrange in slow cooker
- Pour a little tomato sauce on the bottom.
- Place the cabbage rolls seam-side down.
- Pour the remaining tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce over them.
5. Cook
- Low: 6–7 hours
- High: 3–4 hours
The cabbage will become very tender and the bacon adds a smoky flavor.
Optional extras
- Add chopped carrots or potatoes to the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle brown sugar into the sauce for a sweet-savory flavor.
✅ Serve with mashed potatoes, crusty bread, or sour cream.
If you want, I can also show you:
- A 3-ingredient lazy slow cooker cabbage & bacon recipe, or
- Polish-style cabbage rolls (Goląbki) adapted for the slow cooker.
