Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Carefully remove the core from the cabbage and place the whole head into the boiling water for about 5 minutes or until the outer leaves start to soften. Remove the cabbage, let it cool slightly, and carefully peel off 12 large leaves. Set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef along with the chopped onion and minced garlic until the meat is browned and the onion is translucent. Drain excess fat if necessary.
Add the uncooked rice, diced tomatoes (with liquid), tomato sauce, salt, black pepper, oregano, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce to the cooked meat mixture. Stir to combine and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
Spread a thin layer of the meat and rice mixture on the bottom of the 9x13 inch baking dish. Place 2-3 cabbage leaves on top, then add another layer of the meat mixture. Continue layering until all the ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of meat mixture on top.
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes.
If using cheese, remove the foil during the last 10 minutes of baking, sprinkle the cheese on top, and continue to bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Once cooked, remove from the oven and let it sit for about 5 minutes before serving.