Best Sauteed Cabbage Recipe (2024)

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This is the best sauteed cabbage recipe! It is the perfect quick and healthy side dish for any meal. Using only a few ingredients and taking 10 minutes of your time, you can’t go wrong with this flavorful, affordable gluten free recipe!

Best Sauteed Cabbage Recipe (1)

Original post: March 2019 | Updated: February 2023

Why This Recipe Works

  • One of my favorite things in the entire world is when a handful of super simple ingredients work together to create a magically delicious and versatile recipe. This sautéed cabbage recipe is one for the books!
  • A few simple ingredients come together to create the most flavorful side dish for any meal, with the absolute best flavor.
  • This simple dish only requires 10 minutes of your time, from start to finish.
  • It is a healthy recipe that will fill everyone up.

Recipe Ingredients

Best Sauteed Cabbage Recipe (2)

Cabbage – Find a firm head of cabbage that’s not over sized but that is heavy. Crisp leaves attached to the ball are another sign that it’s a good vegetable. Green cabbage, napa cabbage or red cabbage both work great and can be used interchangeably.

Butter – Replace with equal amounts of olive oil to make this recipe Whole30 compliant.

Garlic – Use fresh minced garlic or up to 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder for that big flavor.

Cayenne Pepper – This ingredient is optional, but highly recommended for a good flavor boost! The small amount called for in the recipe adds just enough zing to make the final dish sing.

Salt and black pepper – Cater these amounts to your liking and feel free to spruce up the dish even more by adding garlic powder, onion powder or other fresh or dried herbs.

How To Make Fried Cabbage Recipe

This is such an easy sauteed cabbage recipe. Follow these steps to create this simple side dish:

Step 1

Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cabbage, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (optional). Season with salt and pepper.

Best Sauteed Cabbage Recipe (3)

Step 2

Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until cabbage turns golden brown and garlic is fragrant. This will take just a few minutes.

Best Sauteed Cabbage Recipe (4)

How To Make Caramelized Cabbage

When you saute green cabbage it transforms into delicious caramelized cabbage. Follow these instructions:

Step 1

Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, shredded cabbage and seasonings to the hot skillet.

Step 2

Cook, stirring frequently, until it is tender and lightly browned and the garlic is fragrant (this will take 5-7 minutes).

Recipe Notes

  • Throw in a couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to add extra flavor.
  • Cooking cabbage is super easy and will produce one of the easiest, most delicious side dishes you’ll ever make.
  • Use 1 head green cabbage (or red) to double the batch.
  • Spice up the recipe by adding red pepper flakes, a dash or two of hot sauce or additional cayenne pepper.
  • For a meaty side, chop a few strips of bacon (use turkey bacon for a leaner option!) and add them to the pan while frying. The salty bacon will add such great flavor to the dish.
  • You may also toss cooked shredded chicken into the mix. Cook until heated through.
  • Add dried or fresh herbs of your choice to season this side dish just the way you want it. Add thyme, fresh parsley, cumin, chives, oregano or whatever your heart desires!
  • Sprinkle fresh lemon juice over the top just before serving!
Best Sauteed Cabbage Recipe (5)

Best Seasonings For Cabbage

I tend to stick with the simplest-is-best philosophy when it comes to seasoning vegetables. I love adding salt, pepper, garlic and cayenne pepper for an added kick.

However, there are many other spices to explore in this delicious world of ours, so here are a few other flavors that will taste great with sauteed cabbage:

  • Thyme
  • Parsley
  • Cumin
  • Ginger
  • Celery Seed
  • Red pepper flakes

Healthy Cabbage Recipes

Here is a small sampling of my favorite cabbage recipes:

  • Red Cabbage Sauerkraut
  • Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup
  • Reuben Grilled Cheese
  • Cabbage Steaks
  • Runza Casserole
  • Shrimp Tacos
  • Coleslaw
  • Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe

What To Serve With Cabbage

So many main course options as well as secondary sides pair perfectly with it! If you are searching for that perfect recipe to pair it with, read on for some great ideas about what to serve with cabbage.

Included in the article are recipes for Reubens, tacos, corned beef, potatoes, lamb, pork chops and more!

How To Cut Cabbage

Using a sharp knife, remove and discard the outermost leaves and cut the very bottom of the stem off on a cutting board. Place the head of cabbage on its end where you cut and slice down the center vertically. Cut each half lengthwise.

Remove the core and stem by cutting a wedge out of each quarter. Place each cabbage quarter onto a flat portion so it is lying flat and slice 1/4-inch strips, creating shredded cabbage.

FAQ About Cabbage

Is cabbage good for you?

There are benefits to adding cabbage to your meals such as it can raise levels of beta-carotene and lutein as well is high in Vitamin C and K. One cup of shredded cabbage contains approximately 17 calories and 4 grams of carbohydrates.

Can dogs eat cabbage?

All types of cabbage are not only safe for dogs to eat, but are actually beneficial. It aids in digestion and can help to fight disease. Be warned, however, that cabbage can produce gas, so feed it to your dog in small quantities for this reason.

Can cabbage be eaten uncooked?

Yes, cabbage can be eaten raw, it can be cooked, added to stir fries and soups. You will find it added to salads and it’s also fermented to make sauerkraut.

Can cabbage be frozen?

You can freeze cabbage for 1-2 months when stored in an airtight container. However, if you want it to last longer in your freezer, your best bet is to blanch it first, giving it a longer life in the freezer.

Delicious Healthy Sides in 30 Minutes or Less

Putting together a vegetable side for your meal should be easy and delicious. Mix up your go-to vegetable with one of these flavorful options!

  • Best Roasted Vegetables Recipe
  • Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Pomegranate Seeds Recipe
  • Easy Sautéed Zucchini and Mushrooms Recipe
  • Coleslaw With Apple Cider Vinegar Recipe

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Best Sauteed Cabbage Recipe (10)

Best Sauteed Cabbage Recipe

This is the best sautéed cabbage recipe you'll find! It is the perfect quick and delicious side dish for any meal. Using only a few ingredients and taking 10 minutes of your time, you can't go wrong with this super flavorful and affordable recipe!

5 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 89kcal

Author: Megan Porta

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 head cabbage shredded, red or green
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper optional
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cabbage, garlic, cayenne pepper (if using), salt and pepper.

  • Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until cabbage has softened and garlic is fragrant. Serve warm!

Notes

  • Throw in a couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to add extra flavor.
  • Cooking cabbage is super easy and will produce one of the easiest, most delicious side dishes you’ll ever make.
  • Use 1 head green cabbage (or red) to double the batch.
  • Spice up the recipe by adding red pepper flakes, a dash or two of hot sauce or additional cayenne pepper.
  • For a meaty side, chop a few strips of bacon (use turkey bacon for a leaner option!) and add them to the pan while frying. The salty bacon will add such great flavor to the dish.
  • Add dried or fresh herbs of your choice to season this side dish just the way you want it. Add thyme, fresh parsley, cumin, chives, oregano or whatever your heart desires!
  • Sprinkle fresh lemon juice over the top just before serving!

Nutrition

Calories: 89kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 81mg | Potassium: 137mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 377IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

Best Sauteed Cabbage Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do you put baking soda in cabbage? ›

Baking soda does help green vegetables retain color, but it causes undesirable color changes in red cabbage—it turned blue. The science can be distilled to this: Adding baking soda to cooking water makes it slightly alkaline, which stabilizes the green color of chlorophyll.

How do you keep cabbage crisp when cooking? ›

Once people started roasting them at a high heat, perhaps with a little extra salt and fat (like bacon), it was a game-changer. You can also try slicing cabbage thin and sautéing it to maintain some of its crunchy texture.

How do you cook cabbage Jamie Oliver? ›

Whatever cabbage you are using, cut off the dry end of the stalk. If using Hispi, quarter the cabbage lengthways through its core. If using a regular white cabbage, cut it into manageable wedges, again through the core. Steam for about 10 minutes until it looks rather relaxed and easy to cut through.

How do you cook Mary Berry cabbage? ›

Heat the oil and a knob of the butter in a deep ovenproof saucepan. Add the onion and cabbage and fry for 3–4 minutes. Add the cider and redcurrant jelly, season with salt and pepper, bring to the boil and boil for a few minutes.

What can I add to cabbage to reduce gas? ›

Add herbs. Adding the right herbs can also help ease digestion. A few of Cording's favorites that pair particularly well with cabbage include ginger and turmeric.

Why do you soak cabbage before cooking? ›

Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water. This also helps cut the pungent edge. Drain well before combining with other ingredients.

How do you take the bitterness out of cooked cabbage? ›

Salt is your friend: Salt acts as a natural counter to bitter tastes. Adding a bit more salt or something salty like capers to bitter-tasting cabbage will dampen the bitter tastes and increase the sensation from the natural sugars.

Can you overcook cabbage? ›

Yes, cabbage sizzles in stir-fries; simmers in soups, stews, and braises; adds healthy crunch to salads; and does wonders for casseroles, gratins, and meat pies — cabbage does it all, and for a bargain price. The key to cooking cabbage: Don't overcook it. Cabbage is sweet and aromatic when cooked correctly.

Why is my cooked cabbage mushy? ›

4. You overcook the cabbage. Overcooked cabbage is rather unappetizing as it becomes too soft and attains "that" annoying smell that dissuades many from cooking cabbage.

Why do you soak cabbage in vinegar? ›

Douse the cabbage in vinegar water, if desired.

Vinegar kills some types of bacteria and helps killing mold and mildew that could have grown on the cabbage.

Why does cooked cabbage taste so good? ›

As it cooks, green cabbage releases its natural sugars, giving it a milder and slightly sweeter profile. However, overcooking can lead it to develop a sulfurous aroma, so keep a keen eye on the cooking time to ensure its flavor remains palatable and pleasant.

Do I need to wash cabbage before cooking? ›

Cabbage. The outer layer isn't going to be eaten—the leaves are tougher and undesirable to many—so why wash cabbage? There's a good reason: Worms or other insects could be inside the cabbage, so to be safe, follow these steps for cleaning and washing it.

How to cook cabbage Delia Smith? ›

The secret is to shred it quite finely and cook it briefly in rapidly boiling water. What I do is pack it down quite tightly into a saucepan, sprinkle with salt, then place the pan over a high heat, pour in boiling water from the kettle, which re-boils instantly, and time it for 3-5 minutes.

How do you cook cabbage without making it soggy? ›

Best ways to prepare cabbage once you've drained it

Giving sliced wedges of cabbage a quick roasting session in the oven will help them to caramelize and get nice and crispy. Instead of getting soggy and overcooked, the cabbage will have a nice crisp texture and a more complex flavor than raw cabbage.

What does baking soda do to red cabbage? ›

Baking Soda is definitely a base and not an acid, so the cabbage juice will turn blue. It turns pink in an acid, like vinegar. You can test it yourself at home with things you probably already have around your house.

Why does baking soda turn cabbage blue? ›

contain anthocyanin, a molecule that is a reddish colour in its naturally acidic environment: fruit. But, when it comes into contact with alkaline ingredients (the baking soda in a cake batter, for ex.), the anthocyanin turns blue.

What happens when you add baking soda to red cabbage? ›

The cabbage juice is called an indicator because it can tell you the pH of a solution based on the color that it changes. The vinegar will turn the cabbage juice red because it is an acid (acetic acid). The baking soda will turn the cabbage juice greenish-yellow because it is a base (sodium bicarbonate).

What can you put on cabbage to stop bugs from eating it? ›

Apply Diatomaceous Earth for Bug-free Cabbage

I've had good luck using diatomaceous earth if I end up with the cabbage moth larvae, plus you can use products with Bt such as Thuricide.

What is the disadvantage of using baking soda to vegetables? ›

This is a bad practice, however, and you should avoid adding baking soda when boiling any type of vegetable. It has various unwelcome effects, such as softening the vegetable, altering the vegetable's flavor, destroying thiamine content, and hastening the loss of vitamin C.

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