Slow Cooker Cabbage is a simple and budget-friendly recipe that can be served as a side dish. This vegetarian recipe can be also be made vegan with a simple swap. Try this crockpot cabbage recipe today!

a plate of slow cooker cooked cabbage.

Cabbage is an overlooked vegetable, but it’s healthy and delicious! The leaves become tender and buttery when cooked. They have a mild flavor that soaks up whatever liquid they’re cooked in.

This slow cooker cabbage recipe uses simple ingredients that you can find at the grocery store.

Crockpot cabbage couldn’t be easier to make. All you have to do is combine the cabbage, seasonings, broth, and butter in the crockpot and then let it work its magic.

Why You Need This Recipe

  • Cabbage is low in fat and calories, but high in nutrients including vitamin C and vitamin K. It’s also budget-friendly and available almost every month of the year.
  • Since cabbage has such a neutral flavor, it tastes great with any main dish. I consider it the perfect vegetable side dish.
  • It’s so easy – just dump and cook! This is a super simple recipe with just a handful of ingredients. Add it to your list of healthy recipes to make in a slow cooker.

Recipe Substitutes

  • This delicious side dish tastes amazing no matter what you serve it with, but I love to serve it with chicken and rice (see my recipe for Crockpot Chicken and Cabbage).
  • Or, make it a main entree by adding meat or a plant-based protein like crumbled tempeh or cooked beans. This is also a very easy way to cook tender cabbage to make your favorite cabbage roll recipe.
  • If you want to, you can add bacon, corned beef, or ham to crock pot cabbage for added flavor and texture. It tastes great either way.

Key Ingredients

ingredients for crockpot cabbage with labels.
  • Vegetable broth – The cabbage leaves soak up the vegetable broth as they cook. Vegetable broth can be high in sodium which is why I always purchase reduced-sodium broth. You can can also make your own vegetable broth using scraps. Or, if you want to add protein to this dish, use beef broth or chicken broth.
  • Green cabbage – A whole head of cabbage may seem like a ton of cabbage, but remember it’s very low in calories. It will also cook down quite a bit. You can use red cabbage or purple cabbage too.
  • Spices – Garlic powder, salt, and black pepper boost the flavors nicely.
  • Butter (regular or vegan) – This gives the cabbage a nice buttery flavor and texture. You can use olive oil or dairy-free or vegan butter in its place if you prefer to make a vegan version. Or, just leave out the fat.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Recipe Steps

how to make cabbage in the crockpot.

Step One

In the base of a slow cooker, combine the cabbage, vegetable broth, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and butter.

Be sure to check the full recipe card at the end of this post for the full easy recipe.

Step Two

Put the lid on the pot and set it to high for 2 hours.

Step Three

When the cooking time is up, remove the lid and stir the cabbage.

Step Four

Serve the cabbage dish hot. Feel free to add a dash of lemon juice, red pepper flakes, apple cider vinegar, or Worcestershire sauce for extra flavor. Enjoy!

I hope you agree that this easy Crockpot Cabbage recipe is one of your new favorite recipes. Whether you’re making it for St. Patrick’s Day or for busy weeknights, it’s sure to be a hit.

close up of cooked cabbage.

Crockpot Cabbage Recipe Tips

  • You can get creative with the seasonings. Italian seasoning, caraway seeds, dried thyme, or even dried dill would be great additions.
  • If you aren’t on a vegan or vegetarian diet, you can use chicken broth instead of vegetable broth to add more protein. If you are on a low-fat diet, feel free to leave out the butter.
  • Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Or, freeze your cooked cabbage for up to 2 months.
  • You can also cook the cabbage on low for 7 to 8 hours or until the cabbage is tender.

Recipe FAQs

What can I serve with slow cooker cabbage?

Cooked cabbage tastes delicious with any form of potatoes, air fried green beans, air fryer pork, kielbasa sausage, gluten-free cornbread, air fryer roasted chicken, beef brisket, or ham. These are delicious common pairings, but it goes great alongside anything.

You could also make this side dish into a whole meal by adding cooked ground beef along with tomato sauce (or tomato juice) and cooked white rice.

How do I reheat cooked cabbage?

You can reheat the cabbage in the microwave or on the stovetop. To reheat on the stovetop, pan-fry the cooked cabbage in butter in a large skillet until heated through.

Is eating cabbage good luck?

Eating cabbage or cabbage rolls for New Year’s (or any type of green vegetable) is supposed to bring luck in the new year, as the green leaves are reminiscent of dollar bills. This is also a traditional recipe for St. Patrick’s day with savory flavors.

Can I cook shredded cabbage in the crockpot?

Yes, but the cooking time will be shortened to prevent overcooking. Use a shorter cooking time and check to see if the cabbage is soft.

cooked cabbage served in white bowl.

More Cabbage Recipes You Might Like

Don’t Miss These Easy Crockpot Recipes!

Crockpot Coconut Chicken Stew

Crockpot Applesauce Recipe Without Added Sugar

Crockpot Spaghetti Squash (Cooked Whole)

Crockpot Hard Boiled Eggs

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

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a plate of cooked cabbage

Slow Cooker Cabbage (Vegetarian)

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5 from 6 reviews

Print Recipe

Slow Cooker Cabbage is a simple and budget-friendly recipe that can be served as a side dish. This vegetarian recipe can be made vegan and dairy-free to suit any dietary preference.

  • Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 head of green cabbage, chopped with the core removed
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons butter or vegan butter

Instructions

  1. In the base of a medium slow cooker, combine the vegetable broth, chopped cabbage, garlic powder, sea salt, pepper, and butter.
  2. Put the lid on the pot and set it to high for 2 hours.
  3. When the cooking time is up, remove the lid and stir the cabbage.
  4. Serve hot.

Notes

  1. You can get creative with the seasonings. Italian seasoning, dried thyme, or even dried dill would be great additions.
  2. If you aren’t on a vegan or vegetarian diet, you can use chicken broth instead of vegetable broth.
  3. If you are on a low-fat diet, feel free to leave out the butter.
  4. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
  • Calories: 91
  • Sugar: 7.3 g
  • Sodium: 221.4 mg
  • Fat: 4.1 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 13.3 g
  • Fiber: 5.2 g
  • Protein: 2.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 10.2 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and is a certified holistic nutritionist. She is a top wellness and food blogger with over 5 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send her a message through her contact form.