The quickest and most delicious stuffed cabbage rolls!

Watch the Video:
Lahanodolmades are Greek stuffed cabbage rolls, and my Instant Pot makes it so quick and simple! I cook them in a lemony Greek sauce known as Avgolemono Sauce, and the cabbage rolls turn into a hearty meal that’s always delicious. The Instant Pot cooks the cabbage leaves in no time while you make the herby beef and rice filling. Then, the cabbage rolls and lemony sauce cook in less than 30 minutes. Simple cabbage rolls!
Why this will become a favorite
- Soft, fresh cabbage
- Light beef and rice filling
- Bright and zesty lemon sauce
- Delicious lemony stuffed beef and rice cabbage rolls in about an hour!!

Don’t have an Instant Pot? Why not?
If you know me, you know that I’m not typically into large kitchen gadgets, but so many of you love the Instant pot that I had to get one. It took me a while to get to know mine, but I’m so glad we became friends! I’ve been able to turn several of my more time-consuming recipes into weeknight meals. I went with the 8-quart Instant Pot Pro Duo because we’re a family of 7, and I cook large batches. Here’s that link (affiliate) if you’d like to read more about the one I have.
Lemony cabbage rolls
- Green cabbage
- Onion, finely chopped
- Olive oil
- Garlic cloves grated
- Ground beef
- Basmati rice
- Fresh parsley
- Dried dill
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Chicken broth
For the Avgolemono Sauce:
- Fresh lemon juice
- Corn starch
- Egg
- Chicken broth

How to make Instant Pot Greek Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
- Carefully remove the core from the cabbage.
- Set a trivet in the pressure cooker and place the cabbage core-side down on the trivet.
- Pour 2 cups of water into the Instant Pot, lock the lid, and set the vent to seal.
- Set to High-Pressure for 9 minutes.
- When the time is up, allow your Instant Pot to release for 10 minutes naturally, and then open the vent to release any remaining pressure.
- Carefully remove the cabbage from the Instant Pot, set aside, and discard the liquid.
Make the filling:
- Combine the onion and olive oil in a pan and cook over medium heat until soft and golden—about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Add the ground beef, herbs, salt, and pepper to a mixing bowl.
- Then, add the onion to the beef mixture and mix until combined.
- Lastly, add the rice and stir together.
Assemble the Cabbage Rolls:
- Separate the cabbage leaves and lay them flat on a work surface. Trim the thick bottom vein and discard.
- Then, scoop a tablespoon of the meat filling onto the center of each leaf and roll it up.
- Place the torn leaves in the bottom of the Instant Pot with the trivet on top of the leaves.
- Next, put the cabbage rolls on top of the trivet, and pour 6 cups of chicken broth into the Instant Pot. Sprinkle with a half teaspoon of salt.
- Close the lid, set the vent to seal, and cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes.
- When the cooking time is over, allow the Instant Pot to release for 10 minutes, followed by a quick release.
Make the Avgolemono Sauce:
- In a mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients and whisk well.
- Pour the sauce into the Instant Pot and set it to the sauté setting.
- Once the sauce comes to a boil, turn the machine off.

Make-ahead Freezer Instructions
The cabbage rolls can be frozen up to 3 months in advance. Just place your uncooked assembled cabbage rolls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper then put the tray in the freezer. As soon as they are frozen, transfer the cabbage rolls to freezer-safe bags until ready to use. Thaw in the refrigerator the night before cooking.
Serving
Your lemony sauce will continue to thicken as it sits. So, give it a few minutes to cool, then dish your cabbage rolls into serving bowls. Drizzle with a little olive oil, add a few lemon wedges and serve with toasted bread. I can’t wait for you to try it! Kali Orexi!
More Instant Pot Recipes:
- Instant Pot Greek Chicken Kapama
- Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
- Instant Pot Chicken Youvetsi
- Instant Pot Greek Lentil Soup
- Chicken Avgolemono Soup

Instant Pot Greek-Stuffed Cabbage Rolls (Lahanodolmades)
Ingredients
- 1 large green cabbage
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup good olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves grated
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup Basmati rice
- 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon salt
- freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 6 cups (about 1.5 liters) chicken broth
For the Avgolemono Sauce:
- 1/4-1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 heaping teaspoon corn starch
- 3 egg yolks
- 2 cups chicken broth
Instructions
Carefully remove the core from the cabbage.
Set a trivet in the pressure cooker and place the cabbage core-side down on the trivet.
Pour 2 cups of water into the Instant Pot. Lock the lid and set the vent to seal.
Set to High Pressure for 9 minutes. Allow it to naturally release for 10 minutes and then open the vent to release any remaining pressure. Carefully remove the cabbage from the Instant Pot, set aside and discard the liquid.
Make the filling:
Combine the onion and olive oil in a pan and cook over medium heat until soft and golden. About 8 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Add the ground beef, herbs, salt, and pepper to a mixing bowl. Add the onion and mix until combined. Add the rice and mix together.
Assemble the Cabbage Rolls:
Separate the cabbage leaves and lay them flat on a work surface. Trim the thick bottom vein and discard.
Place a tablespoon of the meat filling in the center of each leaf and roll it up.
Place the torn leaves in the bottom of the instant pot. Place the trivet on top of the leaves.
Place the cabbage rolls on top of the trivet. Pour 6 cups of chicken broth into the Instant Pot. Add a half teaspoon of salt.
Close the lid and set the vent to seal. Set to High Pressure for 15 minutes. Allow to Naturally release for 10 minutes followed by a quick release.
Make the Avgolemono Sauce:
Ina. mixing bowl, cobine all of the ingredients together and whisk well. Pour the sauce into the Instant Pot and set to the saute setting. Once the sauce comes to a boil turn the machine off. It will continue to thicken as it sits.
Serve with toasted bread and lemon wedges.
Kali Orexi!
Notes
Freezer Instructions: The cabbage rolls can be frozen up to 3 months. Place the assembled cabbage rolls (uncooked) on a bakingb tray lined with parchment paper. Place in the freezer and as soon as they are frozen transfer them to freezer safe bags until ready to use. Thaw in the refrigerator the night before cooking.
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Do you have the money recipe for your lemony stuffed cabbage rolls not in an insta-pot? This looks so good but I don’t have one and would like to make it without.
Thank you! Love all your recipes
Confused… you don’t mention if I’ll need to take the cabbage rolls out of the pressure cooker before starting the lemon-egg sauce…or leave them in to obsorb the sauce as it cooks.
Leave them in 🙂
I should have watched the video before my comment. The video answered my question.