Cabbage is having a serious moment. Whether it’s topping tacos or serving as a base for salad, this leafy vegetable is popping up all over restaurant menus. If you still think it’s reserved for mayo-slathered coleslaw (or boil it plain as a side for corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day), we’re here to help you branch out. Here are 35 easy cabbage recipes that prove the veggie is criminally underrated.
35 Easy Cabbage Recipes That Prove It Deserves More Love in the Kitchen
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Published Feb 22, 2023
1. Crispy Baked Fish Tacos with Cabbage Slaw
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
Instead of store-bought salsa and guac, try this tangy, crunchy cabbage slaw instead. It's just the match for fatty breaded fish and rich sour cream.
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe
You can do so much better than humdrum boiled cabbage. With just a few simple seasonings, this veggie is transformed into a dinner party-worthy side dish.
3. Swedish ‘Pizzasallad’ Cabbage Slaw
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, vegan
Try this zesty Scandinavian import that's typically paired with pizza. The sunflower and poppy seeds offer crunch, while the vinegar dressing will cut through any cheesy slice.
4. Fried Cabbage with Noodles and Bacon
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Even picky eaters will adore this 15-minute wonder, spritzed with lemon and dusted with freshly cracked black pepper. (We'll chalk it up to the bacon...and the Parmesan cheese.)
5. Cabbage-Fennel Salad with Honeycrisp Apples
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, no cook, <30 minutes
If salads are all about crunch to you, you're in for a treat. Here, sharp fennel, crisp cabbage and sweet-tart apples are tossed in an elegant maple dressing for the books.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
We don't know what to drool over first: the white wine, the duo of gooey cheeses or the crispy breadcrumbs on top. Eh, doesn't matter—pass us a spoon, please.
7. Winter Red Cabbage and Apple Soup
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, make ahead
Cozy up to a vibrant bowl of deliciousness, starring the most underrated veggie of all time. Use agave instead of honey and dairy-free yogurt to make it vegan.
8. Antoni Porowski’s Lazy Pierogi with Wild Mushrooms, Cabbage and Prunes
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
It may look high maintenance, but this dish of tender Polish dumplings (which are made by hand) only takes about half an hour to come together. Prepare to wow your dinner date.
9. Grilled Honey-Sriracha Chicken Drumsticks with Fennel-Cabbage Slaw
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
No one can turn down these Medieval-looking drums, especially when they're covered in char marks. Save time before the barbecue by preparing the colorful slaw ahead.
11. Curry Noodles with Broccoli Rabe and Purple Cabbage
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, dairy free
The swicy noodles are drool-worthy on their own; the rainbow of crunchy, stir fried veggies is just a bonus. Make the meal gluten free by using rice noodles instead of spaghetti.
12. Caramelized Kimchi Baked Potatoes
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, beginner-friendly
One way to utilize cabbage deliciously without too much work? Stock your fridge with store-bought Napa cabbage kimchi, then use it in everything. Hello, probiotics.
13. Buckwheat Gnocchi with Cabbage, Potatoes and Fontina
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Earthy, nutty buckwheat flour makes from-scratch ricotta gnocchi feel even fancier somehow. (The spuds and cabbage are boiled, then tossed in butter and cheese for good measure.)
15. Rainbow Collard Wraps with Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, gluten free, make ahead
Slathered with hummus and packed with veggies, these handhelds will make you the envy of the break room at first bite. Assemble them ahead to have lunch ready for the week.
16. Make-Ahead Spicy Chicken and Rice Salad
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, high protein
This satiating meal will earn a spot in your weekly rotation before you know it. Pro tip: Shred up a store-bought rotisserie chicken instead of cooking your own.
17. The Cuban Reuben
- Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy
This Latin spin on a Jewish classic is complete with garlicky pork butt, red cabbage kraut, orange Dijonnaise and melty Gruyère. BRB, drooling.
18. Sriracha Shrimp Skewers with Collard-Peach Salad
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
Massaging the collard greens and cabbage in salt and sugar not only drains them of some liquid, but also tenderizes their leaves. (It works for kale too, BTW.)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: no cook, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
If you insist on making cabbage slaw, at least don't bog it down with mayo. This one gets all its flavor from Dijon mustard, tangy Greek yogurt and acidic rice vinegar.
20. Quick Korean-Inspired Spicy Slaw
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, vegan
Spice up your average coleslaw with this twist from Coterie member Heidi Larsen. The secret ingredient is gochujang, a Korean chile paste you *need* in your pantry.
21. Winter Savoy Cabbage and Mushroom-Stuffed Pork Loin
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy, dairy free
It’s like salad and a pork roast had a really delicious baby. (Thanks, Coterie member Carlene Thomas.) Even self-proclaimed mushroom haters will be converted in no time.
22. Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Rice, Lentils and Currants
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, beginner-friendly
Coterie member Gena Hamshaw brings us a tasty spin on a classic. The lentil, rice and currant filling is savory, sweet and just right for wintertime.
24. Lamb Burger with Harissa Mayo and Pickled Red Cabbage
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, beginner-friendly
Because you’re way too chic to serve boring hamburgers. Harissa mayo adds a spicy kick and pickled cabbage brings lots of tangy crunch. Marinate the cabbage ahead to save time before dinner.
25. Beluga Lentil and Black Bean Chili with Purple Cabbage
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, gluten free, crowd-pleaser
Why not skip the canned stuff in favor of something more wholesome on soup night? (The secret ingredient, according to Coterie member Jodi Moreno, is two squares of dark chocolate—sneaky.)
26. Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken Chopped Salad
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein
Mango, macadamia nuts, pineapple—the gang's all here. Warning: You'll want to drizzle the creamy pineapple-BBQ dressing on everything from pulled pork to greens to grilled veggies.
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Rolling dumplings them takes practice, but we promise that with a little patience, even newbies can pull these off. Just think of them as tiny, fancy cabbage burritos.
28. One-Pan Cabbage and Sausage Skillet with Rice
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
This feast fit for St. Patrick’s Day gets a ton of its flavor from smoked, fully cooked turkey sausage. Best of all, it'll only leave you with one dirty dish to clean.
29. Savoy Cabbage, Tangerine and Black Radish Salad
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
Ooh, your go-to salad just got a much needed makeover. Make the dressing ahead by combining olive oil, vinegar, maple syrup and tangerine juice and letting it sit until it's time to serve.
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, one pot
The secret to this deliciousness: brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and canned beef consomme. Serve with crusty bread for dipping.
31. Vietnamese Beef Cabbage Wraps
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, low carb, gluten free
Cabbage leaves play the role of a gluten-free wrap for this dish. If you have leftover beef, use it in a sandwich or toss it in a salad for tomorrow's lunch.
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Great news: This simple side dish goes from the fridge to the dinner table in about half an hour. Zhuzh up the base ingredients with bacon, smoked paprika, lemon juice or fresh herbs.
33. Rustic Cabbage, Chickpea and Wild Rice Soup
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pot, vegan
This recipe makes eight servings, so eat it for dinner tonight, then freeze the rest to reheat on a busy weeknight.
34. Asian Cabbage and Noodle Salad with Sesame Dressing
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
Thanks to instant ramen noodles and slivered almonds, this salad is far from boring. We'll be drenching ours in sriracha, thank you very much.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, vegetarian
Practice your dumpling folds with this mega-impressive, Asian-inspired app. They're filled with button mushrooms, shredded cabbage and fresh ginger.
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
