Breakfast, lunch, or Christmas dinner- if you’ve ever had Halupki Stuffed Cabbage Rolls you’ll agree the traditional Eastern European dish could be eaten for all three. A blend of beef, sausage, & rice is stuffed into tender cabbage leaves and baked in and drizzled with a sweet, soupy tomato sauce. 

While I grew up in aprons, standing on wooden stools by the stove top at the hands of two of the best cooks I’ve ever know, we weren’t always known for branching out.

Mama and Grandma made what they made, and you’d best believe whatever was set on that supper table was gonna be the best version of <enter recipe name here>, but we mostly rotated meals in a two month cycle.

Other than the holidays where we pulled out all the stops and whipped up the more extravagant family favorites.

Ya know, the dishes that even when they included veggies- it was still full fat everything, and grocery lists called for copious amounts of heavy cream.

I was spoon fed on Southern comfort food, despite having a New Yorker grandmother because she’d married a Georgia boy and adapted.

Fast forward 20 years and I meet my very Italian husband, have a whirlwind romance (ironically very mirroring such polar opposite grandparents) and am engaged three months later.

While my FIL is full blooded Italian, and only a second generation child of immigrants- my MIL is half Italian and half Polish.

Yes, I know the Hubs isn’t fully Italian because of this, it’s just easier to call him that since for the most part those are the traditions that carried over.

All this to say, that while my MIL also adapted to her Husbands taste buds, she also managed to pass down some of her Mothers tried and true family recipes.

I’d never heard of stuffed cabbage rolls, let alone anything called Halupki, before that first Thanksgiving.

It was placed squarely in the center of the table along with that juicy, brined and roasted turkey. 

I hate to admit it now, but at that time in my life- I wasn’t exactly a picky eater, but I was a firmly stay in your lane kind of eater.

Never had cabbage before, knew I didn’t like cabbage, and that was all she wrote.

Until my husband gave me the droll stare that said,

“Really? I just scarfed down green bean casserole, pecan pie, and everything pumpkin related under the sun at lunch with your family. And you won’t even try a single bite of my mother’s halubki?”

It was a very loaded look.

So, of course I sheepishly scooped a stuffed cabbage roll onto my plate.

Almost 13 years later, and am I ever so glad that I not only noticed the look, but also gave it a try. They’re amazing!

Ever heard of stuffed peppers? Love the filling, but could take or leave the roasted pepper? Then this is the dish for you.

Even if you’re on the fence about cabbage- this dish will consider the vegetable signed, sealed, delivered, it’s yours- or at least on your regular menu from now on.

One bite’s all it takes.

It’s actually a very popular Eastern European dish, which encompasses many different cultures, all with slight variants on the name.

One thing that remains the same? They all essentially mean ‘little doves’ in their native tongue.

Believe it or not, Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are incredibly easy to make. You start by rinsing and coring a plump cabbage.

You don’t want to cut too much though and then have all your leaves fall apart. That’s the hardest part, and if you’re unsure I recommend watching a YouTube video or two to see it in action.

The cabbage is then boiled for 8-10 minutes, just long enough to make the leaves soft and pliable, but still sturdy enough for filling and rolling.

A hearty mixture of a combination of ground beef & sausage, cooked jasmine rice, minced onion, and beaten eggs is kneaded and mixed together with a variety of simple, flavorful seasonings.

This mixture is then divided evenly amongst the cabbage leaves, which are tucked and rolled, and placed seam side down into a casserole dish prepared with tomato soup.

Topped with more tomatoes soup, the dish is then covered, and baked for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. 

We tend to make ours on the larger, heartier side, but I know some taught by older generations swear they should be appetizer sized.

Whichever size you opt to make them, they will be delicious- smaller ones will just yield more, making them perfect for party appetizers of as a side to a larger Holiday meal.

Whether you call them Halupki or Holubki (in different dialects both names transfer to little doves/small pigeons) these stuffed cabbage rolls are a true delight, a recipe destined to be handed down with tasty kitchen memories for future generations.

Other Family Recipes You’ll Also Enjoy:

• Nonna’s Italian Spaghetti & Broccoli
• The Best Saucy Italian Style Stuffed Peppers
• Grandma’s American Goulash
• Nonna’s Italian Style Chicken Noodle Soup
• Chicken & Tomato Pesto Gnocchi

If you’ve tried these HALUPKI STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!