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This sautéed cabbage recipe is an incredibly flavorful low-carb side dish that’s easy to make from a handful of ingredients.
This recipe came about when I was making my kielbasa soup. It was very spur-of-the-moment. I had more than half a head of cabbage left, so I figured that I should really do something with it then and there. This doesn’t always happen when I am cooking, mind you. 😛 The motivation was there that day.
My chicken and cabbage stir fry and my cabbage and kielbasa recipes continue to go strong, so I took inspiration from them. This cabbage recipe has the same cooking technique and similar ingredients, but it does not contain any meat. It could even work as a meatless main course if you want to serve it over rice or with noodles or something. Or, if you’re on a low-carb/keto diet, this could quite easily become a staple since it’s just that yummy.
It’s hard for me to describe just how tasty sautéed cabbage is. You basically just have to try it. Growing up with a Czech mom, I definitely ate my fair share of cabbage when I was little. The lightly browned onion imparts a delicious flavor into this dish. And the butter and smoked paprika take it up another notch. Oh, and this recipe did pass my mom’s taste test. 🙂
You can easily control how crisp the cabbage remains in this recipe depending on your personal preferences. I like mine to be slightly softer than tender-crisp, but you can cook it even longer (or less) if you prefer.
How to make sautéed cabbage
- Prep your ingredients. Slice the cabbage into thin-ish strips (you don’t need to be too precise);
- Sauté the onion in the olive oil + butter for 3 minutes;
- Add the cabbage to the skillet and cook for 10-15 minutes (toss occasionally) until it’s tender-crisp;
- Add in the paprika and garlic;
- Season with salt & pepper and enjoy!
(full instructions are in the recipe card below).
What kind of cabbage to use?
I just use a regular green cabbage (also sometimes called “cannonball” cabbage). Red cabbage or savoy cabbage would work too, but the red cabbage will discolor a bit when you cook it, so keep that in mind.
What size of cabbage to use?
Size-wise I usually just eyeball it, but to give you an idea of weight, a small-to-medium cabbage for this recipe weighs around 3 pounds. You don’t have to worry about being too exact. If you’re using a much smaller cabbage, you might want to cut the butter to 1 tablespoon.
Love cabbage? Try my stuffed cabbage roll soup or this Crockpot cabbage soup.
Will you give this easy cabbage side dish recipe a try? Do you cook cabbage often?
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions.
Simple Sautéed Cabbage
Ingredients
- 1 medium head green cabbage cored & sliced into thin strips
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep the cabbage and chop your onion. I just slice the cabbage thin (cut out the core) and chop the onion like usual.
- Add the butter and oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion for 3 minutes.
- Add the cabbage to the pan and toss/stir it as best as you can (use 2 spoons or tongs to make it easier). Don't worry, as it cooks the cabbage goes down and it becomes more manageable. Stir/toss it often and let it cook until it's just about as soft as you want it (about 10-15 minutes).
- Add in the paprika and garlic. Cook it for a couple more minutes. If the cabbage starts to brown too quickly, turn the heat down. Some browning is good - it adds extra flavor.
- Season with salt & pepper as needed and serve immediately.
Notes
- Serves 4-6 as a side dish.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Loved this recipe. I literally typed in an easy recipe with chicken and cabbage because that all I had on hand. Easy and so delicious! I’m a big cook and baker and sometimes you don’t want to fuss but you still want the taste. It delivered, thank you!!!! I’m going to skim through the rest of your recipes. Ty.
Yay!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Gayle!! 😀 Let me know what else you try.
I love to add cheddar/jalapeno chicken brat to this to make a complete healthy meal! One of my favorite go to meals. Super healthy, quick, and delicious. Thanks for posting so many wonderful recipes!
It’s our pleasure, Cindy! Thrilled you liked this one and others. Thank you for your reviews! 🙂
Made this for dinner with grilled pork chops and sautéed green beans. It was delicious! I will be making this again.
Excellent!
I grew up eating this, but my Grandma always fried it in bacon grease. It’s delicioius!!!!!
I love frying stuff in bacon grease!!
Fantastic! Our new favorite cabbage dish. The smoked paprika really adds flavor. Thanks
You’re very welcome, Nancy!
What an easy recipe. I love cabbage and always looking for recipes that don’t require a lot of effort. I added a red pepper cut into strips. Really tasty and quick.
So glad you enjoyed it, Paula!
Very good and so much better than bacon with all the drippings . Just the right amount of butter. Thank ya mam ! 😊
You’re very welcome, Bruce! 😀
I share my recipe. Combine cabbage, onions, carrots, salt, pepper, lemon juice and olive oil or any vegetable oil that you use. Quantity – all to your taste. Stir and let stand for 20 minutes. Then fry in a preheated skillet for 15-20 minutes. Very simple and very tasty.
Recipe needs sugar and vinegar.
FINALLY!! It’s so nice to find something that’s very close to the “southern fried cabbage” I grew up loving! Thank you!
Excellent! You’re very welcome!