We’ve all been there: a head of cabbage is set down in front of us and it’s bland and flavorless and just uninspiring. But it doesn’t have to be! Now you could air fry cabbage or make cabbage steaks or even a cabbage smoothie, but if you want something more classic, grab your slow cooker. This slow cooker cabbage recipe uses vegetable broth and apple cider vinegar to highlight the natural sweetness of this veggie. Let’s cook!
Why you’ll love it
Little to no prep work is required because all you do is cut the cabbage, add everything to a slow cooker, and let it do its thing! Tender and flavorful thanks to the cabbage cooking low and slow in a mixture of spices, apple cider vinegar, and broth. Vegetarian! We’re replacing the bacon grease with butter, and replicating some of those classic non-vegetarian flavors (like kielbasa) with smoked paprika.
Ingredients for Slow cooker cabbage
Cabbage: I use green cabbage because it’s the most common for soft cooked cabbage. Red cabbage works too but it may color the cooking liquid. The cooking liquid: To flavor the cabbage, we need vegetable broth and apple cider vinegar. It’s not enough to just spice the liquid, the liquid itself needs to be flavorful. I also add in a bit of butter (fat) to help carry the flavor. Spices and flavor: This cabbage recipe combines a hefty dose of salt, black pepper, paprika, and mustard.
How to make cabbage in the Crockpot
Gone are the days of boiling cabbage in water. Once you learn how easy it is to cook it in the slow cooker, you’ll never go back.
Storage
To store any leftover cabbage, let it cool completely and then place it in an airtight container. It will keep in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Recipe Testing Notes
When testing this recipe, I wanted to make sure it was truly packed with flavor! Here’s what I learned.
Using water instead of vegetable broth does not cut it. Water just leads to mediocre-tasting cabbage. Butter is necessary for this cabbage. Without it, the dish tastes like cabbage and spices, but with butter, it tastes like flavored drenched cabbage. Making it in the slow cooker is ideal because you just have to dump everything into the crockpot and let it cook. There’s no stirring in between or babysitting. (That said, this would also work on the stove top).
how to serve cabbage
Cabbage makes a great base or side dish for many dishes. Here are just a few ideas I love to serve.
Make it a full Irish meal by serving it with potatoes, onion, carrots, vegan corned beef or this vegan haggis recipe (Scottish). For a lighter meal, pair it with a vegetarian Reuben sandwich or mint pea soup. Add protein by mixing in vegan sausage or vegan bacon.
