Have a hunk of cabbage you need to use up? Put it to work in these delicious cabbage recipes! They include simple sides, slaws, sandwiches, and more.
Choosing to make a cabbage recipe can feel like a commitment. You’re going to buy a whole entire cabbage in order to add a tiny bit of it to some tacos? What on earth are you going to do with the rest?!
My hope is that the cabbage recipes below offer an answer to that question. There are SO MANY ways to cook cabbage—this humble veggie is nothing if not versatile. It can complete a sandwich with a pop of color and crunch. It can transform into a crisp, refreshing slaw or a silky, sweet sauté. You can add it to soup or a bowl of noodles, a sushi roll, or a slider. So please, don’t be afraid to cook cabbage recipes! I promise, you can always find a way to use up a full head, including the hunk that you will inevitably forget for a week at the back of your fridge (just me?). These recipes are a great place to start!
Essential Cabbage Recipes
If you’re a cabbage lover—or even if you’re not!—you need these two cabbage recipes in your rotation. One, my cabbage soup, is the perfect cozy meal on a cold day, while the other, simple sautéed cabbage, is a vegetable side that’s about as easy as it gets.
Cabbage Soup
Want to polish off a head of green cabbage in one go? This recipe is the way to do it! The silky cabbage leaves melt into a flavorful tomato broth alongside beans, veggies, and potatoes.
Sautéed Cabbage (recipe below)
This stir fried cabbage recipe is another easy way to use a large amount of cabbage. It’s simply seasoned with apple cider vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper, but it’s still amazingly flavorful. The entire pan will be gone before you know it!
4 Must-Try Slaws
Any good collection of cabbage recipes has to include coleslaw! Here, I offer four fun variations, all crunchy, colorful, and packed with flavor.
Creamy Coleslaw
Perfect for any BBQ or picnic! A creamy, tangy homemade dressing coats a refreshing medley of red cabbage, green cabbage, carrot ribbons, and scallions.
Vinegar Coleslaw
This slaw features the same mix of vegetables—cabbage, carrots, and scallions—as my classic coleslaw does, but I replace the creamy dressing with a sweet and tangy apple cider vinegar one. I also add sunflower seeds for a nutty crunch!
Broccoli Slaw
Dried cranberries add sweet pops of flavor to this creamy slaw.
Easy Vegan Coleslaw
Like classic coleslaw, but 100% plant-based. Great alongside any vegan hot dog or veggie burger!
Taco Recipes with Cabbage
If you ask me, no taco bar is complete without shredded cabbage. Colorful and crisp, it takes any taco over the top!
Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos
Turn your favorite game day snack into dinner! These epic veggie tacos are packed with crispy buffalo cauliflower, avocado, cilantro, cabbage, and big drizzles of creamy vegan ranch. Tip: cook the cauliflower in an air fryer if you have one. It comes out with an extra-crispy texture.
Spicy Mango, Black Bean & Avocado Tacos
These no-cook tacos are a breeze to put together on a busy weeknight. I love how the crunchy cabbage plays off the tender black beans, sweet, juicy mango, and spicy mayo in the filling. Serve with a big squeeze of lime juice!
Roasted Cauliflower Tacos
These tacos feature roasted cabbage instead of raw, giving them caramelized depth of flavor. Afraid you’ll miss the raw crunch? Don’t worry about it. Fresh fixings like radishes and sliced serrano peppers take care of that!
Healthy Taco Salad
All the flavors of a taco, but in salad form! Shredded red cabbage and chopped romaine create a fresh, crunchy base, while vegan taco “meat,” black beans, and tortilla strips perfect the taco vibe. A zingy cilantro lime dressing ties it all together.
Cabbage-y Noodles and Rice Bowls
No matter what type of cabbage you have on hand—napa cabbage, savoy cabbage, red, or green—you can find a home for it in a bowl with noodles or rice.
Mango Ginger Rice Bowl
I love this recipe because it’s a) super delicious and b) super flexible. Use any kind of cabbage you like, and feel free to change up the other ingredients too. Sub in baked tofu for the black beans, use brown rice instead of white, or toss in whatever veggies you happen to have on hand. Just don’t skip the pickled ginger. It adds such a fresh kick to this recipe!
Adzuki Bean Bowls
These energizing bowls are filled with a simple sesame slaw, brown rice, and nutty adzuki beans. Can’t find adzukis? Black beans work too!
Sesame Noodle Bowl
These vibrant bowls are a delicious easy dinner or make-ahead lunch. The sturdy cabbage, meaty mushrooms, and crisp snap peas hold up nicely under the tangy miso dressing.
Sandwich Cabbage Recipes
Is that sandwich missing something? Just like in a taco, a little cabbage will add color and crunch.
BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich
A quick cabbage slaw adds the perfect crunch to these saucy vegan sliders. They’re great for game day or summer cookouts!
Butternut Apple Cranberry Sandwich
Filled with roasted squash, apples, dried cranberries, and cheddar cheese, this hearty sandwich is basically fall between bread! Lightly pickled cabbage gives it a pop of tangy flavor.
Japanese-Inspired Cabbage Recipes
These cabbage recipes are my homemade twists on two of our favorite Japanese foods: okonomiyaki and sushi. If you’re tired of making the same old cabbage recipes, like coleslaw and cabbage soup, these dishes are a great way to change things up!
Okonomiyaki
These savory cabbage pancakes are a popular Japanese street food. I can’t say that my recipe is entirely authentic, but it’s quick, satisfying, and flavorful, and you can make it with a handful of pantry ingredients. Tip: Don’t skimp on the toppings! They’re half the fun here.
Homemade Maki Sushi
This veggie sushi is anything but traditional, but it’s a blast to make (and eat!) at home. Roasted shiitake mushrooms add rich flavor to the filling, while red cabbage and cucumber supply refreshing crunch. Serve the rolls with my carrot ginger sauce for dipping.
Want more cabbage recipes?
Check out my new cookbook, Love & Lemons Simple Feel Good Food!
It includes a 3-day meal plan specifically designed to help you use a whole head of cabbage. The plan recipes are some of my favorites in the book:
- Seared Cabbage Wedges with Green Harissa
- Loaded Pita Nachos (pictured below)
- Chickpea Tacos with Pickled Cabbage (pictured below)
Best Cabbage Recipes: Sautéed Cabbage
Serves 4 to 6
This simple sautéed cabbage is one of our favorite cabbage recipes! It’s a delicious, quick, and easy veggie side dish.
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Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds, or until fragrant but not browned.
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Add the cabbage, salt, and several grinds of pepper, toss, and cook for 2 minutes, or until the cabbage starts to soften.
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Add the vinegar, toss, and cook, tossing, until most of the liquid cooks off and the cabbage is tender and browned, about 6 minutes. Season to taste and serve.