Hungarian-Style Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Tomato Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-26 · Updated 2026-07-26

Tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a savory mixture of ground pork, rice, and spices, simmered in a rich tomato sauce for a comforting classic. This Hungarian-inspired pork recipe, ready in about 95 minutes, pairs large cabbage leaves, ground pork, uncooked white rice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 12 large cabbage leaves
• 1.5 pounds ground pork
• 3/4 cup uncooked white rice
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 large egg
• 1 tbsp Hungarian sweet paprika
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 3 cups tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 cup water

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Carefully boil 12 large cabbage leaves for 3 minutes until pliable, then drain and set aside to cool.
2. Step 2: In a medium bowl, combine 1.5 pounds ground pork, 3/4 cup uncooked white rice, 1 finely chopped onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 large egg, 1 tbsp Hungarian sweet paprika, 1.5 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Mix thoroughly.
3. Step 3: Lay one cabbage leaf flat, place about 3 tbsp of the pork mixture in the center, and fold in the sides before rolling tightly to enclose the filling. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
4. Step 4: Preheat a large deep skillet over medium heat and add 2 tbsp vegetable oil. Place the cabbage rolls seam side down and brown for 5 minutes.
5. Step 5: Pour 3 cups tomato sauce and 1 cup water over the rolls. Cover and simmer gently for 60 minutes until the pork is cooked and rice is tender.
6. Step 6: Remove from heat and let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Spoon extra tomato sauce over rolls on plates.