Easy Russian Chicken and Cabbage Rolls

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These Russian cabbage rolls combine savory rice and chicken with fresh vegetables for the ultimate meal. These delicate, tender, and most importantly tasty rolls are popular in Eastern Europe countries such as Poland, Ukraine, and Russia. They’re filling and full of flavor and I’m sure your whole family will love them.

Halved cabbage rolls and vegetable sauce on a brown plate ready to serve.

Making incredibly delicious Golubtsi is on my to-do list occasionally. They require patience and a little bit of technique when it comes to wrapping the cabbage leaves. But they’re so worth it!

Golubtsi (Голубцы) is the Russian word for stuffed Russian cabbage rolls. There are different ways to make the Stuffed Cabbage Rolls.

In this recipe, I used a delicious combination of white rice, ground chicken, and vegetables rolled into cabbage leaves then simmer it in an aromatic sauce so that all the ingredients come together to make the most scrumptious roll. I serve it with a dollop of sour cream and voila!

These are not like any other cabbage rolls you’ve had. You know those creamy tomato sauce and ketchup-soaked rolls. Nope. They’re packed with so much flavor and are several stones throw away from those boring ones we’re all too familiar with.

Every bite gets better and better. Just a fair warning though. If you’re serving these to guests, they’ll request these cabbage rolls over and over again. They’re so uniquely good. And don’t even get me started on the sauce. I can sip it by the jug.

This is one of our favorite dishes as a Ukrainian family. It makes for true comfort food when it’s a bit chilly outside.

Why you’ll love Golubtsi

The tasty rolls use simple and inexpensive ingredients that you can easily find at the grocery store.
The stuffed rolls cooked in a light sauce are healthy, juicy, filling, and bursting with flavors.
You’ll enjoy this recipe even if you’re not a fan of cabbage.
They may take a long time to make but they’re so rewarding and worth it!
The simple process makes this a recipe you can follow even if it’s your first time.
Perfect for you if you’re a fan of wholesome dinner ideas!
They’re a great way to enjoy Russian cuisine.
Cabbages are packed with Vitamin C so cabbage recipes like this one help us survive long winter months without catching a cold.

Key Ingredients for the Cabbage Roll Recipe

Chicken cabbage rolls ingredients- cabbage, olive oil, pepper, salt, tomato paste, red pepper, onion, rice, ground chicken, and carrots.

Ground chicken thighs: They are full of flavor that will enhance any dish.

Boiled white rice: It’s the perfect texture that complements the ground chicken. It brings the whole dish together.

Onions: They are optional but l add them because they give the dish a unique flavor profile.

Tomato paste: For that perfectly acidic taste that you don’t get from the other ingredients.

Whole head of cabbage: This is the star ingredient so it must be fresh and crispy. Use medium to large-sized heads of cabbage so that the leaves are big enough for stuffing.

What goes in the Ukrainian Golubtsi sauce?

Chopped/grated veggies: I use chopped onions, chopped bell peppers, and grated carrots. The perfect combination.

Tomato paste: Remember when we talked about acidity? The tomato paste brings acidity here too but its thickness also helps transform the ingredients from bland water to sauce.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How to Make Homemade Cabbage Rolls

Step 1: Cook rice

Cook the rice according to the package instructions on the stovetop. But make it slightly undercooked. Set aside to cool.

Step 2: Carve the cabbage core out

Remove the outer leaves and cut out the core from the center of the cabbage head.

Step 3: Boil cabbage head

In a large pot of water with salt, boil a cabbage head for 1 hour to make a tender cabbage.

Step 4: Prepare the meat filling

While the cabbage is boiling, add ground chicken thighs to a large bowl.

Step 5: Mix the meat filling

Grate the onion into the bowl with the chicken. Add 1 tsp sea salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 2 tsp tomato paste, and boiled rice to the bowl. Mix well together.

Ground meat and filling ingredients in a white bowl.

Step 6: Pull off the the leaves

Remove the cooked cabbage from hot water then using tongs carefully take each cabbage leaf from the cabbage onto a nearly plate.

Cut cabbage on a wooden board with a knife.

Step 7: Cut off the stem

When the cabbage is cool enough to handle, cut off the hard rib or stem (harder part) at the bottom of the leaf with a paring knife and discard the ribs.

Step 8: Add the filling to the cabbage

In the center of each cabbage leaf add full tablespoons of meat mixture.

cabbage-with-filling-inside-on-a-wooden-board-with-cabbage-in-a-white-plate-on-the-side

Step 9: Fold the cabbage leaf

Take the middle part of the leaf and cover up the meat with it. Now, take the two ends (on the long sides) and fold sides inwards. And then roll it up like a burrito or egg roll.

cabbage-rolls-on-a-wooden-board-with-cabbage-on-a-white-plate-on-the-side

Step 10: Layer in a pot

Stack in a large Dutch oven or a regular pot in a tight single layer at the bottom. Continue layering the cabbage rolls into the pot.

Step 11: Prepare the sauce

Boil water in a kettle then chop up an onion, grate 2 carrots, and chop 1 red bell pepper.

Step 12: Sauté onion

In a medium saucepan, heat extra virgin olive oil and sauté the onions for 2 minutes on medium heat.

onion-frying-in-a-skillet-with-a-wooden-spoon

Step 13: Add the carrots

To the onions, add chopped carrots, then sauté for another 2 minutes until they’re aromatic and soft.

carrots-and-onion-in-a-skillet-with-a-wooden-spoon

Step 14: Stir in peppers and tomato paste

Add the red bell pepper and tomato paste to the onion mixture. Sauté for another 3-4 minutes on medium-high heat.

bell-peppers-carrots-onion-tomato-paste-in-a-skillet-with-a-wooden-spoon

Step 15: Mix sauce and cabbage rolls

Pour sauce over the rolled cabbage rolls and add boiling water from the kettle, just enough to cover everything. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cabbage rolls in a pot with added veggies and hot water on top.

Step 16: Simmer, finish off, and serve!

Bring to a boil, then lower heat to the lowest and cook for 1 hour. Garnish with fresh dill or other fresh herbs and serve the stuffed cabbage rolls hot with a dollop of sour cream.

Cabbage rolls on a brown rimmed plate with a fork on the side.

Expert Tips

You can use brown rice instead of white rice. There’ll be some difference in the flavor not the texture.
Do not let the folded roll boil as they can unravel. Keep on very low heat.
If the cabbage leaf is too big, you can cut it in half.
If you have more stuffing than cabbage leaves, roll the stuffing into meatballs and plop them into the pot. No waste here.
If the meat mixture feels very stiff, add a little bit of water. The meat mixture should be soft but stay together. If it feels very stiff, the cabbage rolls will be dry.
There’s no need to cook the ground meat ahead of time, as it will cook inside the rolls. Cooking ahead will dry out the meat.

How to Store Leftover Stuffed Rolls

Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
Freeze the cooked cabbage rolls with the sauce in a tightly sealed Ziploc bag or freezer bag for up to 6 months. To reheat, thaw overnight then heat on a stovetop in a large skillet that’s oiled or in the oven and heat slowly until fully heated through.

Recipe FAQs

Which other meat can l use for this recipe?

Use ground meat or a combination of different meats. You can use ground beef, ground turkey, or ground pork.

What can l serve with the Russian cabbage rolls?

Serve them with a dollop of sour cream, some crusty bread, dinner rolls, creamy mashed potatoes, or a Simple Cucumber and Tomato Salad.

What is the best type of cabbage for these tasty rolls?

Use a simple cabbage such as green cabbage. Another good option would be savoy cabbage which adds more texture to the dish.

Other authentic Russian and Ukrainian recipes:

Green Sorrel Soup nicknamed Green borscht is a delicious and hearty soup that can either be served refreshingly cold or warm making it comfort food.
The Simple and Classic Olivier Salad which is referred to as Russian Potato Salad is a unique, ultra-creamy salad that’s so yummy.
You’ll love this Russian Korean Carrot Salad with Spices. They’re a great way to get a huge dose of vitamins and protect your eye health and vision.
Try the Sugarless Dough Rogaliki (rugelach). They’re easy-to-make, easier-to-devour cookies that are flaky, buttery, and absolutely delicious.
The Russian Braised Cabbage Recipe shows that with a bit of effort and love, cabbage can turn into a perfect delicacy at the table.

More cabbage recipes

If you tried these Easy Russian Chicken and Cabbage Rolls with Fresh Veggies (Golubtsi) or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!