This braised cabbage recipe is wedges of cabbage slow cooked with carrots, onions, butter and seasonings until tender. The absolute best way to eat cabbage!
When I’m looking for simple yet satisfying veggie side dish recipes to go along with a meal, I turn to glazed carrots, parmesan zucchini or this succulent braised cabbage.
In my opinion, cabbage is a totally underrated vegetable. It’s inexpensive, readily available year round and is totally delicious when prepared properly. This braised cabbage is my family’s favorite way to eat cabbage. The long cooking time transforms the cabbage into a tender and flavorful side dish that is mild enough for even the kids to enjoy.
Table of Contents
Braised Cabbage Ingredients
When you make braised cabbage you will need cabbage, onion, carrots, broth, butter, parsley, kosher salt and black pepper.
How Do You Make Braised Cabbage?
Preheat the oven, then coat a baking dish with cooking spray. Discard the outer leaves of the cabbage and then rinse and dry the cabbage. Cut your cabbage into wedges. Arrange the wedges in the casserole dish, then add the carrots and onions around the cabbage. Pour the chicken broth into the pan, then add butter, salt and pepper. Cover the dish tightly, then bake for two hours. Be sure to flip the cabbage halfway through the baking process. Finally, increase the oven temperature. Uncover the dish, and bake until the cabbage starts to brown. Sprinkle with parsley, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Braised Cabbage
- Leftover cabbage will stay good in the refrigerator in a sealed container for 3 days. Freezing the cabbage is not recommended as frozen cabbage tends to be limp and watery when reheated.
- Be sure to leave the core attached so that the wedges will hold together in one piece.
- You can use different types of cabbage for this recipe such as red cabbage, Savoy cabbage or the traditional green cabbage.
- Make sure the cabbage wedges are placed laying down on the bottom of the pan so that the cabbage can absorb the braising liquid and the butter can get into the cabbage.
- I use a small to medium sized cabbage for this recipe, but if you’re feeding a crowd, you can grab a large cabbage and double the rest of the ingredients in the recipe.
Quick Tip
Your cabbage wedges should be similar in size so that they all cook in the same amount of time.
Recipe FAQs
The best way to slice a cabbage for this recipe is to cut a thin slice off the bottom of the cabbage core. From there, cut the cabbage in half lengthwise, then cut each half into 4 equal pieces.
Braising is a method of cooking that involves slow cooking meat or vegetables with a small amount of liquid in a covered container. It’s a great way to tenderize tough cuts of meat, and many food greatly benefit in flavor and texture from being braised.
I serve braised cabbage as a side dish alongside a starch and a protein. Braised cabbage pairs perfectly with chicken, pork and beef.
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Braised Cabbage Variations
This is a simple recipe, yet there are so many different ways to customize it to make it your own. Here are some of my favorite add-ins to this dish.
- Bacon: Add 1/2 cup of cooked crumbled bacon right before serving.
- Garlic: Stir in 1 teaspoon minced garlic when you add the carrots and onions.
- Vegan: Substitute extra virgin olive oil for the butter and vegetable broth for the chicken broth.
- Spicy: Sprinkle crushed chili flakes over the top of the cabbage before it goes into the oven.
- Toppings: Add 1/2 cup parmesan cheese after you uncover the dish for the final bake. Another option is to add a sprinkle of caraway seeds. You can also use other types of fresh herbs as garnish such as thyme, dill or chives.
- Tangy: For extra flavor try adding a drizzle of 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to the broth in the baking dish.
Once you try this cabbage, you’ll want to make it all the time. It’s totally worth the long wait time as it braises. I often make this recipe on the weekends when we’re home relaxing and I have a little more time to prepare dinner. This one is sure to get rave reviews!
Main Courses To Pair With Cabbage
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
4 hrs 5 mins
Honey Mustard Chicken
40 mins
Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
4 hrs 10 mins
Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
50 mins
Mushroom Pork Chops
30 mins
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Braised Cabbage
Ingredients
- 1 head cabbage cut into 8 wedges
- 1/2 cup onion sliced
- 2 carrots peeled and sliced
- 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup butter cut into small pieces
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Coat a baking dish with cooking spray.
- Arrange the cabbage wedges in the baking dish, then scatter the carrots and onions around the cabbage.
- Pour the chicken broth into the pan. Sprinkle the butter pieces over the cabbage and season everything with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover the dish with foil, and bake for 2 hours. Uncover the dish halfway through the bake time and use tongs to carefully flip the cabbage wedges over.
- Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Uncover the dish and bake for 15-20 minutes or until cabbage starts to brown at the edges.
- Sprinkle with parsley, then serve.
Notes
- Before slicing your cabbage, discard the outer leaves and then rinse and dry the cabbage.
- Be sure to leave the core attached so that the wedges will hold together in one piece.
- Make sure the cabbage wedges are placed laying down on the bottom of the pan so that the cabbage can absorb the braising liquid and the butter can get into the cabbage.
- Your cabbage wedges should be similarly sized so that they all cook in the same amount of time.
I want to cook this but can I omit the butter?
You can substitute 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil for the butter!
Fantastic recipe and great instructions! Our family loves it! Making tonight for some new friends and serving with a ham steak and new potatoes. Easy and soo delish!
It’s also great with a dollop of sour cream or plain yogurt or some diced tomatoes on top. Love this recipe?
I had an extra head of cabbage and tried this recipe and now its become a favorite!
Could you add quartered red potatoes? Thinking of trying with corned beef today as I’m not a fan of boiled cabbage..
Yes that should work just fine, just be sure your potato pieces aren’t too large so that they’ll cook through in time.
It was so delicious and easy I’ve made it twice! We like to eat it with a spicy mustard!
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I am eager to give it a try soon. Great post!
Oh wow! How informative this was! I had no idea of braising as a method for sow cooking! I’m going to try this for sure!
Omg can we say yum?!? I just love cabbage! Must give your recipe a try!
I had no idea about Braising! Thanks for sharing about it and that braised cabbage looks incredibly delicious!
this looks interesting. i’ll have to think of something good to try it with
Wow! I’m drooling! This braised cabbage looks soooo delicious! I should try making this at home!
I don’t know why but I’ve never thought of braising regular cabbage. I always just braise red cabbage! Your recipe sounds gorgeous!
This looks far more tasty than boiling cabbage, will certainly give it a try
Delicious! This is a cabbage dish that I can get behind eating for sure!
I’m really not a fan of cabbage, mainly due to bad memories from school dinners, but this looks amazing. I might have to forget all my ideas about cabbage and give it a good.
I adore cabbage, but I have never braised it before! This sounds utterly delicious, and will definitely be made soon!
Why does it take so long to cook?
It has the best flavor when cooked slowly!
I’ve made this before and its delicious, thanks for sharing the recipe
We just started loving cabbage- looks so good!