This list of the best cabbage recipes includes quick sides, cozy soups, crispy roasted cabbage, slaws that don’t get watery, and hearty mains. I’m also sharing the simple tricks that keep cabbage from being bland or smelling like a science experiment.
Why You’ll Love These Comforting Cabbage Recipes
- So many ways to use one humble veggie. Crispy roasted, buttery sautéed, crunchy slaws, cozy soups, and hearty mains all included.
- Budget-friendly and family-friendly. Cabbage is inexpensive, stretches meals, and these recipes make it taste like a treat.
- Fast weeknight options. Several recipes come together in under 30 minutes.
- Great for low-carb eating. Low carb recipes that feel satisfying without heavy carbs.
This cabbage recipe list turns an inexpensive, long-lasting veggie into craveable sides, toppings, and dinners you’ll want on repeat.
How To Choose The Right Cabbage
To choose the right cabbage, start by looking for a head that feels heavy for its size with tight, crisp leaves and no slimy spots or strong odors. Those are the best signs it’s fresh.
For all-purpose cooking (sautéing, roasting, and soup), green cabbage is the most versatile. For slaws and pickling, red cabbage adds extra crunch and color. For stir-fries, wraps, and lighter salads, napa cabbage is tender and cooks quickly.
A little wear on the outer leaves is normal. Just peel them off, and you’re good to go.
The Best Way To Cut Cabbage
The easiest way to cut cabbage is to start by removing any tough outer leaves, then slice the head in half through the core and cut each half into quarters. Lay a quarter flat, slice out the tough core triangle (it’s the part that keeps leaves attached), and then cut based on your recipe.
Thin shreds for slaw and stir-fries, medium slices for sautéing, and thick wedges or “steaks” if you’re roasting so the pieces hold together.
Using a sharp chef’s knife and keeping the flat side down makes it safer and gives you more even cuts.
How To Keep Cabbage From Smelling Bad
To keep cabbage from smelling bad, avoid overcooking it. That strong, sulfur-y odor usually shows up when cabbage is boiled hard or simmered too long.
Instead, cook it with high heat and shorter time (like sautéing or stir-frying) or roast it so it caramelizes and turns sweet rather than funky.
If you’re making soup or braised cabbage, keep it at a gentle simmer instead of a rolling boil, and don’t cook it longer than necessary. Finishing with a splash of acid (lemon juice, vinegar, or even a little pickle brine) also brightens the flavor and helps tame any lingering cabbage smell.
These Instant Pot Cranberry Brussels Sprouts are a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy holiday side dish made by pressure steaming Brussels sprouts with cranberries, then tossing them with melted butter, orange marmalade, salt, and a pinch of cayenne. Ready fast with just a 3 minute pressure cook, this easy Brussels sprouts recipe adds festive flavor and color to any Thanksgiving or Christmas menu.
Continue Reading
These Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon are a simple sheet pan side dish that turns Brussels sprouts, bacon, and red onion into crispy, caramelized perfection with just olive oil, salt, and pepper. With only 2 net carbs per serving and about 40 minutes total time, this easy keto and gluten-free recipe is a weeknight favorite that goes with everything.
Continue Reading
This Air Fryer Bok Choy recipe makes baby bok choy with crispy, lightly charred edges and tender stems in just 12 minutes, for a quick, healthy Asian-inspired side dish. Tossed with sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic powder, and a pinch of red pepper flakes, it’s an easy way to add big flavor to any weeknight meal.
Continue Reading
This Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe makes melt-in-your-mouth corned beef fast in the pressure cooker, then finishes with perfectly tender cabbage, carrots, and potatoes for a classic comfort-food dinner. The foolproof two-step method keeps the veggies from turning mushy, making it an easy St. Patrick’s Day meal or weeknight favorite.
Continue Reading
This Instant Pot Chicken Bratwurst with Cabbage recipe makes homemade low carb brats as juicy ground chicken meatballs cooked right on a bed of tender, steamed cabbage for an easy one-pot dinner. Ready in about 30 minutes with a quick 4 minute pressure cook, it’s a kid-friendly keto meal finished with butter and milk for rich, cozy flavor.
Continue Reading
This Instant Pot Irish Colcannon is creamy mashed potatoes with tender cabbage and green onions, finished with butter, cream, and a pinch of nutmeg for classic Irish comfort food. Ready in about 30 minutes, it’s an easy vegetarian side dish that’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any cozy weeknight dinner.
Continue Reading
This Pan Fried Pork Chops and Cabbage in Mustard Cream Sauce recipe delivers juicy, golden-seared pork chops with tender sautéed cabbage, all finished in a tangy Dijon mustard and heavy cream sauce. Ready in about 22 minutes, it’s an easy low carb weeknight dinner that tastes rich, cozy, and restaurant-worthy.
Continue Reading
This Indian Cabbage with Peas and Carrots is a quick vegan fried cabbage recipe packed with classic Indian flavors and loads of tender veggies, ready in just 15 minutes. Delicious served hot or cold, it’s an easy low carb side dish or light main that’s perfect for fast weeknight meals.
Continue Reading
This Instant Pot Ethiopian Cabbage and Potatoes (Atakilt Wot) is a vibrant, vegan cabbage stew made with potatoes, carrots, and onions seasoned with turmeric, smoked paprika, and cumin for bold East African flavor. Ready in about 30 minutes with just a 2 minute pressure cook, it’s an easy one pot dinner or hearty side dish that’s naturally gluten free and weeknight friendly.
Continue Reading
This Pork Belly Cabbage Soup is a hearty, warming low carb soup that combines rich pork belly with tender napa cabbage and mushrooms in an umami-packed broth made with miso and sesame paste. Ready in under 30 minutes, this easy keto cabbage soup is perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner that tastes deeply savory and satisfying.
Continue Reading
This Instant Pot German Red Cabbage (Rotkohl) recipe makes a sweet and sour, traditional German side dish with red cabbage and apples, plus warm spices like cloves and bay leaves for classic flavor. Ready in about 13 minutes with just a 3-minute pressure cook, it’s the easiest way to serve tender, tangy cabbage alongside bratwurst, pork, or roast dinners.
Continue Reading
This Indian Cabbage Slaw is a crisp, refreshing summer salad made with chopped cabbage, tomatoes, cilantro, and roasted peanuts, then finished with a quick mustard-seed turmeric tempering for big Indian flavor. Naturally vegan and low carb, it’s an easy make-ahead side that tastes even better the next day.
Continue Reading
This Vegan Coleslaw is a crisp, colorful, and creamy plant-based side dish with crunchy veggies tossed in a zesty dairy-free dressing. With just 15 minutes of prep plus a quick chill, it’s the perfect easy vegan coleslaw recipe for BBQs, picnics, and potlucks.
Continue Reading
This Keto Coleslaw is a creamy, tangy Southern-style slaw made with green and red cabbage, a little shredded carrot, and a quick mayo dressing with apple cider vinegar, Dijon, and lemon juice. Ready in about 15 minutes, this easy low carb coleslaw recipe is the perfect keto side dish for BBQ, burgers, pulled pork, and weeknight dinners.
Continue Reading
These Roasted Cabbage Steaks are a quick, low carb side dish made by slicing cabbage into thick “steaks,” brushing with olive oil, and seasoning with salt and pepper before roasting at 400°F until tender with crispy edges. Ready in about 30 minutes, this easy baked cabbage recipe is a simple way to add a flavorful vegetable to any weeknight meal.
Continue Reading
This Quick Pickled Red Cabbage recipe shows you how to make crisp, tangy pickled cabbage in under 30 minutes with an easy vinegar brine and simple spices. Perfect as a bright topping for tacos, burgers, BBQ, sandwiches, and salads, this homemade pickled cabbage adds crunch and bold flavor to almost anything.
Continue Reading
These Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts come out crispy and caramelized in just 15 minutes at 375°F, making an easy, low carb side dish that’s faster than oven roasting. Tossed with oil, salt, pepper, and garlic, this simple air fryer brussels sprouts recipe is the perfect weeknight veggie for pairing with any protein.
Continue Reading
This Instant Pot Haluski is an easy cabbage and noodles recipe made with bowtie pasta, butter, onion, mushrooms, and tender cabbage for cozy comfort food in under 30 minutes. Packed with veggies and perfect for a quick vegetarian weeknight dinner, this pressure cooker haluski finishes with peas and carrots for a simple one-pot meal everyone will love.
Continue Reading
Learn how to cook cabbage with easy, foolproof methods like boiling, braising, sautéing, slow cooking, baking, and grilling so it turns out tender, flavorful, and never mushy. This simple cabbage guide is perfect for quick low carb sides and weeknight dinners, with tips to get the best texture and taste every time.
Continue Reading
These Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are classic comfort food made with tender green cabbage leaves wrapped around a savory ground beef and rice filling, then baked in a rich tomato sauce for a cozy Polish-inspired dinner. With about 10 minutes of prep and 1 hour 30 minutes of baking, this homemade cabbage rolls recipe is perfect for family meals, make-ahead dinners, and special occasions.
Continue Reading
This Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon is a quick skillet side dish that turns tender sautéed cabbage into a smoky, savory favorite with crispy bacon, onion, garlic, and paprika. Ready in about 20 minutes, it’s an easy keto-friendly cabbage recipe that pairs perfectly with weeknight mains and holiday plates alike.
Continue Reading
This Szechuan Cabbage is a quick, spicy cabbage stir fry that brings bold Chinese takeout flavor to your table in just 15 minutes. Savory and low carb, it’s an easy weeknight side dish made with simple ingredients like garlic, ginger, Sichuan peppercorns, dried chiles, soy sauce, and rice vinegar.
Continue Reading
Cabbage is one of those ingredients that quietly makes your life easier. It’s affordable, lasts forever, and can be turned into everything from crispy roasted wedges to cozy soups and fast skillet dinners.
