Easy Chicken and Cabbage Stir Fry

Published: Oct 26, 2018 / Updated: Nov 12, 2022 / 214 Comments

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This chicken and cabbage stir fry recipe is fast and easy. The chicken is soft and tender, and the onions and cabbage melt in your mouth. It's ready in just over half an hour!

If you can't get enough cabbage, try my Cabbage Soup with Bacon and Potatoes or Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry next.

close-up of sautéed cabbage and chicken in a white bowl

Why you'll love it

I based this chicken and cabbage recipe on my popular Sautéed Cabbage and Kielbasa Recipe. It's cooked in a similar fashion, and it's just as delicious! Since I grew up with plenty of Czech and central European food, it's no wonder that I love cabbage so much. Somehow I don't manage to eat it that often, though. I'm always so surprised at just how flavorful fried cabbage is. It's so good.

Making chicken sautéed with cabbage is easy. You really don't need much in the way of seasoning to make this recipe taste totally delicious. I used your standard mild paprika, some fresh garlic, and an onion along with salt & pepper. That's about it for a quick and inexpensive meal with pantry ingredients!

What you'll need

Chicken - we're using boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
Olive oil and butter - for sautéing
Onion - use whatever you've got on hand, but our kitchen likes sweet (Vidalia) onions best
Cabbage - we use green cabbage here
Garlic - if you're a garlic lover, go ahead and use even more than I suggest. It's effortless to mince with a garlic press since there is no chopping or peeling involved.
Paprika - you'll find mild paprika in the spice aisle of any grocery store

white bowl with low-carb fried chicken, onions, and cabbage

Pro tips

You don't have to be super precise with measurements here. Use 2-3 chicken breasts or whatever you buy or feel like putting in. I say a medium cabbage, but I bought half of a MASSIVE cabbage that I cut into half again, and that totaled about what you'd expect from a medium cabbage, so don't worry about precisely measuring.
Keep in mind there's a lot of cabbage in here, so it's important to add enough salt to draw out the flavors!

How to make chicken and cabbage stir fry

This is an overview, and full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

In a skillet, add the chicken to the olive oil. Season with salt & pepper, and sauté until it's just done, then set it aside. Sauté the onion in butter for a few minutes.
Add the cabbage and cook, tossing or stirring frequently, for about 10-15 minutes or until it starts to get nice and tender. Kitchen tongs make it easy.
Stir in the garlic and paprika, and finish by adding the chicken back it into the pan and heating it through to 165F. Give it a taste, add extra salt & pepper, and enjoy.

Substitutions and variations

I don't feel like this recipe needs anything else, but you could always swap the mild paprika for hot paprika or smoked paprika if you wish. If you want to add more paprika or garlic or whatever, go ahead. I suggest tasting and adjusting until it's perfect for you!
Want to make a vegetarian version of this dish? Try my Simple Sautéed Cabbage Recipe.
You can always use chicken thighs if you prefer, but I find chicken breast is fine since we don't overcook it. It remains juicy and tender.
To make it next-level good, add in some crumbled Oven Cooked Bacon.

What to serve with chicken and cabbage

It's totally optional, but a dollop of sour cream adds a nice contrast and a little creaminess.
As written, this is a low-carb chicken and cabbage recipe, but if that's not your thing, pair it with something like rice to round out the meal.
A side salad makes a great accompaniment too. Try mixed greens with my Creamy Balsamic Dressing. Craving roasted veggies? Go for my Easy Roasted Green Beans.

Leftovers and storage

I actually quite enjoyed the leftovers too! The chicken was still tender, even after being microwaved the next day.
Store in a covered container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
I don't really recommend freezing this one since the texture of the cabbage may change, but you're welcome to experiment.

More cabbage recipes

white bowl with simple chicken and sauteed cabbage

If you give this cabbage sautéed with chicken recipe a go, I'd love to hear from you in the comments below! Talk to me if the blog post didn't answer your questions. You can also find me on Instagram.