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A cozy casserole with a whole lotta heart
I don’t know about you, but some days, I just want a meal that feels like a big ol’ hug. Nothing fancy. Just something warm, filling, and full of flavor — the kind of dish that takes you back to a time when life moved a little slower and supper brought everybody to the same table.
This Southern Style Cabbage Beef Bake? Yep, that’s the one.
I grew up with casseroles like this showing up on every church table, potluck, and family get-together. Somebody’s aunt always brought the cabbage bake — and even if you weren’t sure you liked cabbage, you took a scoop, because it smelled too good to pass up. Nowadays, I make it when the weather turns cool or when I need to stretch a pound of ground beef into a meal that feeds everyone with leftovers to boot.
Let me tell you, it never disappoints.
So, Why Will You Love It?
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It’s real-deal comfort food – nothing fussy, just good.
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Hearty and wholesome – beef, cabbage, tomatoes, and cheese? That’s a full plate right there.
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Budget-friendly – feeds a crowd without breaking the bank.
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Leftovers are even better – I don’t know why, but it’s true.
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Easy to tweak – got picky eaters? You can work with this.
Let’s Talk Ingredients (and how to make ‘em work for you)
Look, I’m not here to tell you that you have to follow every recipe to the letter. We’re home cooks — we use what we’ve got. Here’s the lowdown:
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Ground beef – 80/20 gives the best flavor, but if you’re watching fat, leaner works fine too. You could even swap in ground turkey or plant-based crumbles.
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Cabbage – Just chop up a green cabbage. Doesn’t have to be perfect. It’ll all cook down and get tender anyway.
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Onion & garlic – Fresh if you have it. If not? Onion powder and garlic powder will carry you through just fine.
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Diced tomatoes (canned) – Don’t drain them. The juice helps everything cook up saucy and nice.
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Beef broth – It adds depth, but water and a bouillon cube? That’ll do in a pinch.
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Spices – Salt, pepper, paprika, thyme. Not too fancy, but it works. Add a little crushed red pepper if you want some heat.
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Shredded cheese – I use sharp cheddar, but honestly, use whatever’s in the fridge. Cheese is cheese.
Here’s How It All Comes Together
Now this part’s easy — just takes a little stirring and a little baking.
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Preheat your oven to 350°F.
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In a big skillet, brown your ground beef over medium heat. Break it up as you go. Once it’s done, drain off that extra grease.
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Add in your chopped onion and garlic, and cook it ‘til the onion’s soft. It should smell real good right about now.
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Toss in the cabbage, tomatoes, beef broth, and seasonings. Stir it up and let it cook for about 5–10 minutes — just enough to get things mingling.
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Pour the whole mess into a 9×13 baking dish. Cover it with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Go do something cozy — fold laundry, call your sister, sit down for a second.
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Pull off the foil, sprinkle that cheese on top, and bake for another 10–15 minutes, just ‘til it’s gooey and golden.
Let it sit for 5–10 minutes before you serve it. It’ll thicken up a bit, and nobody wants to burn their tongue on boiling tomatoes.
Got a House Full of Eaters? Here’s How to Make It Your Own
Every family’s got their thing — allergies, aversions, spice lovers, you name it. This casserole? She’s flexible.
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Want it spicy? Add red pepper flakes, hot sauce, or a diced jalapeño.
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Feeding a vegetarian? Swap the beef for lentils or plant-based “meat.” Still hearty, still delicious.
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Have leftover mashed potatoes? Spread them on top before you bake — boom, Southern shepherd’s pie.
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Need more bulk? Stir in some cooked rice or quinoa.
Storing Leftovers Like a Pro (or a hungry late-night snacker)
This bake keeps beautifully. And honestly? It might taste even better the next day.
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Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
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Freezer: Let it cool, portion it out, and freeze for up to 3 months. Great for busy nights.
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To reheat: Warm in the oven or microwave. If it looks a little dry, add a splash of broth or water before heating.
Before You Go…
If you make this, I hope it brings a little joy to your table. Food doesn’t have to be fancy to be special — sometimes all it takes is a casserole dish, a warm oven, and a hungry family waiting nearby.
And hey, if you tweak the recipe or have a memory this reminds you of, leave me a comment or send me a note. I love hearing from y’all — it’s like swapping recipes over coffee and pie
Southern Style Cabbage Beef Bake
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium head of cabbage chopped
- 1 can diced tomatoes 14.5 ounces, undrained
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet and cook until the onion is translucent.
- Stir in the chopped cabbage, diced tomatoes, beef broth, salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme. Mix well.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes.
- Remove the foil, sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top, and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition