Our Cabbage Lasagna is an easy recipe that cooks in about 30 minutes in one skillet! Healthy, hearty, and so flavorful – the whole family loves this dish. Plus, it’s a great way to sneak in extra veggies!
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We’ve never been huge pasta eaters in our house. I mean, sure, the occasional plate of pasta was always delicious, but it’s not something I’ve really missed a lot since going low carb.
The other night, though, man. I had a CRAVING.
I needed lasagna and I needed it immediately. Our lasagna stuffed chicken wasn’t going to cut it, because we’ve had a lot of chicken the past few days. I need something with that classic beef lasagna vibe!
This low carb cabbage lasagna is a bit strange sounding, since it’s made with chopped cabbage instead of lasagna noodles, but it just works.
No, the cabbage will never taste exactly like a traditional lasagna noodle, but it totally satisfied my craving and my family loved it too! That’s a win in my book.
Besides, how could a skillet full of saucy beef smothered in a creamy ricotta mixture not be a win??
Ingredient Notes:
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Cabbage Lasagna – Cabbage is not usually the first thing that comes to mind when you’re craving pasta. But if we’re being honest the pasta itself is usually just a convenient way to get what we really want: loads of cheese and a meaty tomato sauce! The cabbage will soften the longer it cooks in the sauce, and while cabbage lasagna isn’t quite the same as real pasta, it does have a similar vibe after cooking in the sauce and soaking up the flavors.
Meat Sauce – We really enjoy using Rao’s Marinara for any dish that requires marinara sauce. It pairs perfectly with all the cheesy goodness in this skillet lasagna recipe, it has excellent flavor, and it isn’t loaded with sugar! I used lean ground beef but you could use a fattier blend or even a different type of ground meat like pork. You’ll also add some onion and garlic to the meat sauce.
Ricotta Topping – The meat sauce is pretty darn good, but it’s not complete without lots of cheese! You’ll stir in mozzarella with the cabbage and sauce, and then you’ll top the dish with a mix of ricotta and Parmesan cheeses, garlic, and parsley.
- Cheese, cheese, cheese! The key to a tasty dinner. 😉
- The meat sauce along with all that cheese does an excellent job of hiding the fact that you’re eating cabbage and not actual pasta.
- Lasagna is a dish that most kids like and this is just similar enough that they’ll give it a shot. My kids ended up loving this one!
- Cabbage lasagna is healthy and low carb, but it still delivers the same rich flavors and cheesy goodness of traditional lasagna.
How To:
Ground Beef – We’ll start this skillet lasagna recipe by preparing the ground beef for the marinara meat sauce. You’ll want to grab a large, deep skillet. I’m using a 12 inch skillet that’s about 3 inches deep. Heat your skillet and add some ground beef. Break the beef up as it cooks and add some onions and garlic to the skillet. I’m using 90/10 ground beef, so I don’t bother draining the fat, but feel free to drain the grease if necessary.
Marinara Sauce – Once your meat is cooked through, add your preferred low carb marinara sauce to the skillet and combine with the meat, onion, and garlic. This will make a flavorful marinara meat sauce that’ll help convince you that this dish tastes similar to regular lasagna!
Cabbage – Now you can add in the chopped cabbage. The cabbage will likely fill the pan, but just very carefully stir to coat the cabbage in the marinara meat sauce. It’ll cook down quite a bit. Cover the pan and let the cabbage lasagna cook over low heat for about 15 minutes or until the cabbage is as soft as you’d like!
Cheese – My favorite part! When the cabbage is ready stir in some shredded mozzarella. You can’t have lasagna without loads of cheese, right? Mix up some ricotta, parsley, Parmesan, and garlic and spread that mixture over the top of your skillet lasagna.
Finish – Cover the dish again and let this cook for another minute or two – just long enough to heat the cheese. That’s it, guys! Easy low carb skillet lasagna with cabbage! I hope you guys give this a try and let me know what your family thinks! My kids both devoured this one. My littlest was definitely skeptical at first, but once she managed that first bite, she was hooked!
FAQs:
This should last covered in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. I’ve not tried freezing this low carb lasagna myself but readers have commented that they’ve tried it with mixed results. I don’t think cabbage usually holds up well to freezing.
The longer that the cabbage cooks in the sauce, the softer it will get. If you don’t want any crispiness at all to it and for it to be as tender as possible then you could boil or steam the cabbage first before adding it in with the marinara meat sauce.
Our recipe is for a skillet version of cabbage lasagna and it really couldn’t be easier! You’ll prepare a meat sauce using your favorite jar of marinara, cook chopped cabbage in the sauce until it has softened, and then spread some ricotta over the top.
What to Serve with Cabbage Lasagna:
Just like a traditional lasagna, our cabbage lasagna goes great with salad and breadsticks!
Our keto Italian dressing is simple to whip up, or try our keto ranch dressing. Both are delicious on a green salad loaded with fresh veggies, like tomatoes, cucumbers, diced peppers, and greens.
For the breadsticks, you’ll want to keep it low carb by whipping up a batch of our cauliflower breadsticks. Our keto cheddar bay biscuits or garlic bread chaffle are also good choices!
More Easy Dinner Recipes:
Pizza Stuffed Zucchini: hollow out a zucchini and top it with your favorite pizza toppings!
Cream Lemon Chicken: This saucy chicken happens about once a week in this house! So good!
Garlic Butter Shrimp: If you love shrimp, you have to try this simple recipe.
Sheet Pan Chicken and Green Beans: Just about the quickest thing to toss together ever!
Skillet Cabbage Lasagna
Ingredients
For the lasagna:
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ onion minced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 medium head cabbage cored and chopped
- 24 ounces Rao’s Marinara
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
For the ricotta topping:
- 2 cups ricotta
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef.
- Brown the beef until about halfway cooked, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Add the onion and garlic to the meat mixture and cook, stirring often, until the meat has cooked through.
- Add the marinara to the meat and stir to combine.
- Add the cabbage to the skillet and carefully stir to coat the cabbage in the meat sauce.
- Once the cabbage has cooked down a bit, cover the pan with a lid and continue cooking for 15 minutes over low heat or until the cabbage is as soft as you’d like.
- Remove the lid and add the mozzarella to the skillet. Stir well to combine.
- To make the ricotta topping, add the ricotta, Parmesan, garlic, and parsley to a small bowl and stir to combine.
- Spread the ricotta mixture over the cabbage and cover the pan and cook over low heat for 2 minutes to warm through.
- Serve immediately.
Bethanie says
So good! I used a spicy pepper marinara and it brought the perfect heat ♥️
Gina Roberts says
This was a big hit for my family! I will definitely make it again!!!!
Karly Campbell says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Darlene Carrigan says
Made this for dinner tonight. I have made a similar version before that I baked in the oven. I didn’t want to turn the oven on tonight since it has been so hot. We really loved this recipe. Just as good as any lasagna I have ever had. Thank you so much for sharing your delicious recipe!
Karly Campbell says
Thanks, Darlene!
Kelly B says
Ugh! This looks HORRIBLE
Karly Campbell says
Well, thanks for taking the time to say so.
Yvonne says
How did our country get to be so rude?
JLP says
KELLY B
Then you are welcome to scroll past, not stop and rudely leave an insult.
Sarah R says
Kelly B, what a sad life to feel the need to comment on a recipe you haven’t tried! I hope you can find happiness elsewhere since clearly this low carb recipe isn’t bringing you joy like it has so many others.
Karly, I’m making this tonight and can’t wait!!
Tiffany Robinson says
My husband loved it! Definitely a keeper in the recipie book!! Thanks for sharing!
Amy Hustedt says
RUDE! Take your negativity elsewhere!
jenny melindy says
this looks amazing! Freeze well?
Karly Campbell says
Hi Jenny! I’ve not tried freezing this one…I’m not sure if the cabbage would hold up well or not, to be honest.
Kathleen says
I made this for my elderly parents and froze half. They absolutely LOVED the dish. However, it did NOT freeze well; the cabbage does not hold up. They ended up not finishing the frozen one. So this is a recipe that needs to be enjoyed the first time. :). It did reheat well as leftovers. They like it so much they want me to make it again. Delicious!
Fran says
Truly delicious! Instead of ground beef. We used ground Turkey and added red pepper flakes. ♡ Thank you.
Christine says
Can you replace ricotta with cottage cheese? My husband hates ricotta!
Karly Campbell says
I’m sure you could!
Shannan Coon says
So silly question, If I have pre-made spaghetti sauce already made up could I use it instead of the marinara and (onions and ground beef since it has it in it)?? Or do you think it would change the flavor too much?? I’ve made this before exactly as recipe states… but just wondering if the substitute would work since it’s already made… haha
Karly Campbell says
I think that would work fine!
Tina Conrad says
omg this is delicious!
Chelsea Koziatek says
Yum this is so good! I made it today for lunch with a few alterations: purple cabbage, yellow split peas instead of meat, and I used a mixture of diced tomatoes and marinara sauce. I was afraid the purple cabbage would stain the other ingredients and make it an off color, but it didn’t. I used 1 1/4 C dry yellow split peas which makes about 3 C worth, roughly the same as a pound of meat. After I let the ricotta warm on top, it was easier to spread around to evenly coat the top. Thanks for this awesome idea! With split peas, and not using oil to saute the onions, the calorie count is around 480 in 5 equal servings (you could probably stretch it to 6 servings and adjust calories).
carolyn truett says
I made this today for an early dinner. I did add an egg to the ricotta mixture and bake it in the oven instead of finishing it in the skillet. Mainly because I like the top of cheesy dishes to get bubbly and brown. This was a great recipe. The cabbage was a unique touch and the hubs really liked it! Thanks!
Jayne Carter says
Karly, thank you so much for sharing this recipe, we’ve been eating low carb for three years and I’m always trying new recipes, my husband said this was the best meal I have made yet, it was definitely a hit, thanks again… Jayne
Karly Campbell says
Oh, that’s high praise! Thank you for sharing! <3
Cheryl Chambers says
Do you drain the oil from the ground beef
Karly Campbell says
If I’m using lean beef, I don’t. If there is a lot of grease I do.
Kathleen says
I can’t wait to try this! I might alter a layer of zucchini with a layer of cabbage.
Just curious as to why the carbs are so high? Is it the cabbage ?
Karly Campbell says
Cabbage and tomatoes have quite a few carbs. 🙂
Robin Archer says
Cabbage is high in fiber so the net carbs aren’t as bad as they look
Tiffani Warren says
Saw this recipe and wanted it immediately. Had everything but the head of cabbage. Did have a bag of angel hair coleslaw – all cabbage, no carrots – so I used that instead. Delicious!!! This is officially in the rotation.
Karly Campbell says
So glad it worked out for you! 🙂
Melissa J. says
I just made this with ground turkey instead of beef…it was in sale! Added mushroom and extra onion. It was so good I don’t even miss the noodles.
Joanna Jackson-Smith says
Delicious! Excited to be trying a low carb diet especially with recipes like this!
Christina Anderson says
Could you use lettuce instead of cabbage?
Karly Campbell says
No, I don’t think you’d want cooked lettuce.
Tammy says
This recipe was simply amazingly delicious I will definitely be having it again I recommended to all thanks for sharing
Lesley Blackman says
I made this for dinner yesterday and it was a TOTAL HIT! Amazing is an understatement! My husband & I are enjoying it for lunch today!
Karly Campbell says
Yay! So glad you gave it a try and loved it!
Teresa Holman says
This is the recipe I’ve been waiting for. I can’t wait to make this!
Karly Campbell says
Hope you love it as much as we did!