Hamburger Cabbage Casserole

Hamburger Cabbage Casserole

• 1 white onion — small dice
• 3 tablespoons butter — divided
• ½ pound lean ground beef
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
• 6 cups green cabbage — cored and coarsely shredded
• 1 can condensed tomato soup — 10.5 oz
• if needed Up to ¼ cup water — only if needed

1. Cook the Onion and Beef: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Use a small amount of the butter to lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish. Melt the remaining butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned. Add the ground beef, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking the meat into small crumbles, until no pink remains. Do not deeply brown or dry out the beef. Spoon off any obvious excess grease.1 white onion, 3 tbsp butter, 8 oz lean ground beef, ¾ tsp salt, ⅛ tsp black pepper
2. Layer the Casserole: Spread half of the cabbage evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spoon the beef and onion mixture over the cabbage, then top with the remaining cabbage. The dish will be full, so press the cabbage down lightly without packing it tightly.6 cups green cabbage, beef mixture
3. Add the Soup: Stir the condensed tomato soup in a small bowl until smooth. If it is too thick to spread, stir in water 1 tablespoon at a time, using no more than ¼ cup. Spread the soup evenly over the cabbage and all the way to the edges.10.5 oz condensed tomato soup, up to ¼ cup water
4. Bake: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil or a fitted lid. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes, until the cabbage has begun to soften and the casserole is hot throughout.
5. Brown the Top: Remove the cover and continue baking for 10–15 minutes, until the cabbage is fork-tender, the tomato sauce is bubbling in the center, the edges are lightly browned, and the center registers 165°F.
6. Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot with buttered bread, noodles, or mashed potatoes.