These lazy cabbage rolls adapt Ukrainian sour cabbage rolls—rice, sauerkraut and bacon—into a quick, unrolled skillet version that tastes like the original without the rolling.
I grew up with Ukrainian food on holidays. My mother is fully Ukrainian, and many gatherings with her side of the family meant my grandmother’s classic recipes: perogies, nalysnyky (crepes with cottage cheese and dill), pyrizhky (filled buns), and of course cabbage rolls.
Traditional Ukrainian sour cabbage rolls are made with sauerkraut leaves filled with rice (and sometimes meat or bacon) rather than the fresh-cabbage-and-tomato version many people expect. My family’s version focused on sauerkraut, rice and a little bacon for smoky flavor.
What are Ukrainian Sour Cabbage Rolls?
Ukrainian sour cabbage rolls use sour cabbage leaves (similar to sauerkraut), rice, and often a bit of bacon. They are different from the fresh-cabbage rolls cooked in tomato sauce; the sour cabbage creates a distinct tangy, fermented depth that defines the dish.
How do you make sour cabbage rolls?
Traditional cabbage rolls are labor-intensive: you separate cabbage leaves, trim thick ribs, stuff each leaf with rice filling and roll them tightly before baking. That method makes excellent cabbage rolls, but it can take a long time.
For busy weeknights or when I want the same flavors without the time commitment, I make Lazy Cabbage Rolls. This version keeps those familiar ingredients—sauerkraut, rice, bacon, onions and garlic—but skips the rolling. Everything is combined in a skillet and cooked until heated through, yielding the same comforting flavor with a fraction of the effort.
How do you make Lazy Cabbage Rolls?
Lazy cabbage rolls are quick and straightforward. A few key tips make a big difference:
- Use cold or day-old rice so the grains stay separate and don’t turn mushy.
- Brown chopped bacon to render flavorful fat, then cook onions and garlic in that fat for depth of flavor.
- Drain and squeeze the sauerkraut so it doesn’t add excess liquid, but don’t rinse it—the briny tang is essential.
- Stir everything together and heat until combined and hot; finish by seasoning to taste.
Lazy Cabbage Roll Ingredients:
- Bacon: regular bacon or turkey bacon (if using turkey bacon, you may need a little extra oil).
- Onion, minced
- Garlic, minced or pressed
- Sauerkraut, drained and squeezed dry (do not rinse)
- Leftover or cold cooked rice (about 4 cups)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
I often serve lazy cabbage rolls as a weekday side, but they also work well for holiday dinners when I want the familiar taste of traditional cabbage rolls without the extra labor. They’re a satisfying, flavorful option that recalls family recipes while saving time.
Lazy Cabbage Rolls — Recipe
Lazy Cabbage Rolls
Author: Carissa Serink
Servings: 6 | Course: Dinner | Cuisine: Ukrainian
Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 20 mins | Total Time: 30 mins
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon, coarsely chopped
- 1 medium yellow onion, minced
- 2 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed
- 24 ounce jar sauerkraut, drained and squeezed dry (do not rinse)
- 4 cups day-old or cold cooked rice
- 3/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
Method
- In a 12″ skillet over medium-high heat, cook chopped bacon until well browned and crisp, about 6–8 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towels, leaving about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet. If using turkey bacon, add a little oil if the pan is dry.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced onion to the bacon grease and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add the drained sauerkraut and cook, stirring frequently, until heated through, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the cold rice, salt and black pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the rice is heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir the cooked bacon back into the skillet. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve warm as a side or a simple main with a green salad or roasted vegetables.
Notes
Use brown rice to boost fiber, or switch to turkey bacon to reduce fat (add oil when cooking onions if necessary). Chilling the rice before using helps preserve grain texture.
Nutrition (per serving, approximate)
Calories: 260 | Carbohydrates: 37 g | Protein: 7 g | Fat: 9 g | Sodium: 1188 mg
Lazy Cabbage Rolls Nutrition Notes
Substituting brown rice for white increases fiber. Choosing turkey bacon lowers fat slightly, though you may want to add a small amount of oil when sautéing the onions. Because sauerkraut is salty, taste before adding additional salt.
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