50+ Great Recipes That Start with Cabbage

by Kristin Appenbrink

updated 2 days ago

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four pieces of chicken over curried cabbage and chickpeas — Credit: Photo: Jason Rampe; Food Styling: Amelia Rampe
One-Skillet Chicken Thighs with Curried Cabbage and Chickpeas

Cabbage is an unsung kitchen hero. Other than around mid-March, you might want to disregard cabbage. But it’s always easy to love: cabbage is actually one of the most versatile veggies in your arsenal. If you’re just reserving it for slaws and salads, it’s time to broaden your horizons and discover some of the amazingly delicious things a simple head of cabbage can do.

But first, let’s start with a quick refresher: When it comes to buying a head of cabbage, you’ve got some choices. When you’re browsing through recipes or head to the produce aisle, there four cabbage varieties you’re most likely to come across: green, red, Napa, and Savoy. While all can be shredded and eaten raw in salads and slaws, mild and tender Napa cabbage is a common addition in stir-fries and soup, and Savoy cabbage, which is less crispy than the other varieties, does its best work when cooked (we particularly love it as a wrapper for cabbage rolls).

From traditional slaws and salads to stir-fries and soups, we predict you’ll be eating a lot of cabbage in the months ahead. Here are over 50 cabbage recipes to try now.

Main Dishes with Cabbage

From stir-fries, to skillet dinners, to pasta, there are so many dinner recipes that make cabbage the star of the table.

1 / 19

One-Pan Miso Butter Chicken and Cabbage

This one-pot chicken dish has got everthing you could want in a cozy meal: miso-rubbed chicken thighs perfectly caramelized, golden-brown skin and saucy cooked down cabbage with more miso. To achieve both, you let the oven do all the work.

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2 / 19

Crispy Skillet Salmon with Mustardy Cabbage

In this one-skillet wonder, filets of crispy-skinned salmon nestle on top of a warm bed of savory sautéed cabbage brightened up with vinegary honey mustard.

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3 / 19

Caramelized Cabbage Butter Pasta Recipe

This buttery caramelized cabbage isn't just perfect with pasta — try it piled onto toast, with eggs, or in sandwiches and wraps.

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4 / 19

Chitra's Chitranna (Shredded Cabbage, Lime & Peanut Rice)

A variation of nimbekai chitranna, made with shredded red cabbage and carrots lightly sautéed in oil and then tossed with cooked turmeric rice, fried peanuts, lime juice and chopped cilantro.

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5 / 19

Cabbage Wedge Gratin with Blue Cheese and Bacon

Cabbage wedges baked in heavy cream until tender are topped with bacon bits, blue cheese, and walnuts.

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6 / 19

Larb Recipe

The secret trick to making this hearty, meat-based salad is toasting the rice powder.

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7 / 19

Short Rib Borscht

Boneless short ribs braised in beets, cabbage, and fennel create this deeply savory and comforting classic stew.

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8 / 19

One-Skillet Chicken Thighs with Curried Cabbage and Chickpeas

Golden brown chicken thighs, leeks, cabbage, and chickpeas are simmered with curry powder and coconut milk all in one skillet.

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9 / 19

30-Minute Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet

If you’re new to cooking with cabbage (or cooking for a cabbage skeptic), I encourage you to give this skillet dinner twist on the classic German dish a try. Finish this 30-minute meal with a splash of sweet and tangy apple cider vinegar and a bit of whole-grain mustard, and it tastes just incredibly good.

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10 / 19

Weeknight Cabbage Rolls

Cabbage rolls are typically reserved for weekends or special occasions, since they can take a while to assemble. But we didn't like waiting, so we made this streamlined version, which is every bit as satisfying, but a lot faster.

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11 / 19

One-Pot Cabbage & Sausage Pasta

To make this weeknight-friendly pasta even easier to pull off pick up already prepped veggies from the grocery store salad bar, or even the bagged stuff in the produce section.

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12 / 19

Baja Shrimp Taco Salad

This is how you do shrimp tacos as a salad. All the very best elements — juicy, spice-dusted shrimp, crisp cabbage slaw, tangy crema, and creamy avocado — come together in one big bowl. It's a seriously feel-good dinner salad.

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13 / 19

Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Bowls

We do love cabbage rolls. But sometimes you want the flavors of a dish without any of the assembly. This weeknight recipe is exactly that: All the taste for a fraction of the work.

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14 / 19

Lucky 8 Stir Fry

Eight is a lucky number in the Chinese culture, especially at Lunar New Year. This mixed vegetable dish takes its inspiration from Buddhist vegetarian cooking and can include any combination of ingredients that represent good luck, prosperity, happiness, family wholeness, and longevity.

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15 / 19

Pork and Cabbage Stir-Fry

Taking a classic cooking technique into an entirely different direction, this pork-and-cabbage stir fry adds apple slices, which give it sweetness and crunch. It's perfectly delicious served over rice but hearty enough to be enjoyed on its own, too.

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16 / 19

Vegan Stir-Fried Cabbage in Peanut Sauce

In this vegan dish, sweet, tender Napa cabbage simmers in a coconut-peanut sauce. One bite and you’ll wonder why you don’t cook cabbage more often.

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17 / 19

Pasta and Potatoes with Cabbage (Pizzoccheri) 

Also called pizzoccheri, this dish hails from the Lombardy region of Italy. We consider it proof that potatoes and pasta do actually go well together. The traditional dish is made with buckwheat pasta, but you can substitute your favorite variety. Here, we used orecchiette.

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18 / 19

Burrito-Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

This low-carb dinner gives you all the best parts of stuffed cabbage and a beef burrito in one meal.

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19 / 19

Cider Vinegar-Glazed Chicken Sausage

There's no easier weeknight meal than this sausage-and-cabbage combo. All it takes is a little sautéing, and you can have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes. Be sure to serve it with a healthy scoop of whole-grain mustard as well.

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Cabbage Sides and Soup

From roasting and grilling, to braising and sautéeing, there’s no shortage of ways to transform cabbage into an easy side dish to sidekick with whatever you’re cooking for dinner.

1 / 16

Oven-Caramelized Cabbage Wedges

Cabbage wedges are tossed with olive oil and seasoned simply with salt, then roasted in a hot oven until darkly-caramelized and tender, with extra-crispy edges.

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2 / 16

Cabbage Steak

Buttery roasted center-cut cabbage steaks with fresh herbs and toasted nuts.

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3 / 16

Smothered Cabbage and Potatoes

This classic Southern dish is the epitome of comfort food.

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4 / 16

Cabbage Tabbouleh

This make-ahead friendly dish only take 35 minutes to put together.

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5 / 16

Asian Pickled Cabbage

The perfect balance of flavors, this side dish is tangy from the vinegar, sweet from the sugar, and just a bit spicy from the ginger.

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6 / 16

Cabbage Roll Soup

All the classic flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls stewed together into an easy, filling soup.

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7 / 16

Easy Cabbage & White Bean Soup

A Parmesan cheese rind bolsters the broth of this simple soup and makes it far more flavorful than you might expect.

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8 / 16

Creamy Cabbage Gratin with Bacon and Mushrooms

If you prefer to keep this rich gratin meatless, leave out the bacon and swap the bacon fat for butter.

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9 / 16

Roasted Cabbage with Bacon

If you haven't tried roasting cabbage in wedges, you don't know what you're missing. Similar to roasting Brussels sprouts (but, you know, bigger), these wedges have just enough char to transform a head of cabbage that's been languishing in your crisper. The bacon — that's a no-brainer.

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10 / 16

Veggie-Packed Cabbage Soup

This light and hearty soup is incredibly comforting and comes together with a few fresh things and a couple of pantry staples.

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11 / 16

Roasted Cabbage with Mustard Vinaigrette

Don't sleep on roasted cabbage. The hot oven sweetens and softens the cabbage to perfection.

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12 / 16

Hot & Sour Soup with Mushrooms, Cabbage, and Rice

This rich broth-based soup is the perfect antidote to a sore throat, a cold, or the cold. And it's easy to customize for your own tastes. Use chicken, turkey, or veggie stock and adjust the level of spice, sour, or salt to fit your mood. And the best part? You probably have most of the ingredients you need in your fridge already.

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13 / 16

Grilled Cabbage Wedges with Spicy Lime Dressing

For the year-round grill masters, this is a recipe worth firing up the coals (or opening the propane tank) for. The charred leaves provide the perfect balance for the spicy-sour dressing made with lime and cayenne. If grilling isn't feasible, you can also roast the wedges for a similar charred effect.

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14 / 16

One-Pot Braised Cabbage with Bacon

A bit of bacon fat transforms a simple pot of braised cabbage into something salty, savory, and that doesn't need much more than cornbread to call it dinner.

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15 / 16

Sautéed Cabbage and Roasted Potatoes

This side dish, from Bryant Terry, is inspired by atakilt, a hearty Ethiopian dish of slow-cooked potatoes, cabbage, and carrots.

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16 / 16

The Best Fried Cabbage

Cabbage, bacon, and a couple of spices join forces for a quick and easy, smoky-sweet side dish that will forever change the way you think about cabbage.

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Salads and Slaws

Classic coleslaw is a beloved for a reason, but it barely scratches the surface on all the ways you can turn a head of cabbage into a crave-worthy, crunchy slaw.

1 / 19

Gỏi Gà (Vietnamese Shredded Chicken and Cabbage Salad) Recipe

Gỏi gà (translated to “chicken salad”) couldn’t be simpler or anymore mouthwatering. Shredded cabbage and chicken are mixed up with julienned veggies, and tossed in a vinegary dressing cut with sugar and fish sauce.

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2 / 19

Chopped Thai Satay Salad

Inspired by Thai chicken satay, this crunchy dinner salad from the cookbook Healthier Together is loaded with a rainbow of vegetables drizzled with a perfectly-spiced, sweet and savory peanut sauce.

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3 / 19

Ginger Cabbage Slaw

This slaw is perfect layered on a veggie burger, used as a topping for baked sweet potatoes, paired with some hummus and roasted potatoes, or just thrown on top of some greens to make a quick salad.

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4 / 19

Cabbage Beet Coleslaw

This simple dish is tangy, sweet, and tender from the roasted beets, and crunchy with shaved cabbage.

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5 / 19

Kohlrabi and Cabbage Salad with Maple Lemon Dressing

They say what grows together goes together, and that is no exception for kohlrabi and cabbage. This salad marries the two veggies into one great make-ahead side dish. Because the kohlrabi and cabbage are sturdy enough, they won’t wilt too much as they sit and of course, the flavors just meld together really well.

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6 / 19

Hetty McKinnon's Pad Thai Salad with Shredded Cabbage and Kale Recipe

As opposed to cooking vegetables, cookbook author and vegetable wiz, Hetty McKinnon, deploys raw kale and cabbage, massaged in salt and lime juice. This leaves the cruciferous crunchers zesty, with a bit of crunch, adding an exciting brightness to a beloved takeout dish.

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7 / 19

Crunchy Cabbage Slaw with Farro, Pecorino, and Dates

Meet one of our favorite lunches to meal prep. A hearty duo of red cabbage and kale are the secret to a make-ahead slaw loaded with farro, dates, and Pecorino that will keep well all week long.

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8 / 19

Cabbage and Apple Slaw with Honey-Lime Dressing

Crisp shredded apples and a sweet and tangy honey-lime vinaigrette give your regular cabbage slaw a serious upgrade. Pair it with everything from tacos to roast chicken to pork chops, or eat it on its own.

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9 / 19

Shredded Cabbage and Sweet Potato Slaw

This gorgeous slaw is as welcome on your holiday table as it is in early fall. The citrus dressing brightens the cabbage and tenderizes it.

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10 / 19

Tangy Cabbage and Jalapeño Slaw

Thanks to the crunchy textures and bold tangy and spicy flavors, no one will ever be the wiser that you pulled this together in just five minutes.

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11 / 19

Sesame Ginger Slaw

If coleslaw has always been your potluck go-to, this Asian-inspired version is a great way to change things up. It comes together with two kinds of cabbage and a punchy, nutty dressing.

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12 / 19

Easy Taco Slaw

This simple recipe for red cabbage and carrot coleslaw that's tossed in a spicy and creamy dressing — perfect for serving alongside tacos.

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13 / 19

Crunchy Asian Slaw with Ginger-Tahini Dressing

While we love making this no-cook dish in the summer, it is worth making any time of year. The bright ginger dressing and the crunch of two types of cabbage can almost make you think the weather outside is delightful.

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14 / 19

Roasted Cabbage Slaw with Hazelnuts & Lemon

This tasty slaw makes use of both red and Savoy cabbage, and the roasting brings out the sweet flavor of both varieties. And because you're roasting the cabbage after it's been shredded, it's incredibly quick to prepare. We think it's the perfect companion for your favorite pizza.

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15 / 19

Napa Cabbage and Kale Coleslaw with Creamy Miso-Ginger Dressing

Get all your greens taken care of in one dish with this crunchy slaw. You can substitute in seasonal produce as well. Just be sure to make plenty of dressing — believe us, you'll want extra.

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16 / 19

Napa Cabbage and Tofu Salad

This delightful dinner salad is built on a bed of Napa cabbage and keeps well in the fridge all week for meal prep.

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17 / 19

Apple Cabbage Salad with Brown Sugar Cider Vinaigrette

Make a big bowl of this tangy salad for your next chili night. The crispness of the veggies paired with the tartness of the apple cider vinegar serves as a delicious contrast to a bowl of comforting chili.

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18 / 19

Crunchy Cabbage & Ramen Noodle Salad

This sweet, tangy, and crunchy retro recipe is one of our favorites. There's a reason it has endured so long. Not only is it easy to make, but it's also inexpensive since it uses instant ramen noodles. You can opt to use a bagged slaw mix or shred your own cabbage. Either way, it's a crowd-pleaser.

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19 / 19

Peanut, Carrot, and Cabbage Slaw

One of the best things about this slaw (aside from a delicious peanut dressing) is how you can add in any veggie you currently have in your fridge. Celery, bell peppers, and radishes all are fair game. And if you want to make it a full-on meal, add in some tofu and soba noodles to round it out.

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