Make a great side dish with a head of cabbage, melted butter, a few garlic cloves and your crockpot. Slow cooking vegetables is a great way to prepare easy, hands-off side dishes to go with weeknight dinners.
Along with this flavorful slow cooker cabbage recipe, I like making sweet potatoes, carrot soup, cauliflower, mashed sweet potatoes and garlicky mashed potatoes all in my crockpot.
This tender, buttery cabbage side dish goes well with a variety of main dishes, such as crockpot pork chops and apples, a coffee-rubbed tri tip roast, barbecue cheddar meatloaf, country style ribs, and so much more. One of my favorite ways to enjoy a cabbage side dish is to toss it together with this easy air fried kielbasa sausage, peppers and onions recipe.
More Delicious Cabbage Recipes
Ingredients
This easy slow cooker recipe uses simple ingredients:
- A head of green cabbage: these can be anywhere between 1 and 9 pounds. This recipe calls for a 3 pound head of fresh cabbage but you can go smaller or larger.
- Butter: or substitute with olive oil.
- Garlic cloves: fresh whole garlic cloves are my favorite but you can use roasted garlic and minced garlic too. Use garlic powder only in a pinch, as the flavor won't be as strong.
- Chicken broth: or water, vegetable broth or beef broth.
- Salt and pepper: add salt and pepper to your liking- that's all the seasoning this buttery cabbage needs to be great.
Crispy bacon pieces, chopped onion or a bay leaf are great flavor boosters too.
Step-By-Step Instructions
It is incredibly easy to cook cabbage in your crockpot. Here's how to make it:
STEP 1: Start by trimming and washing the whole cabbage. Cut it in half, then cut out the thick stem on each side and discard. Tear the remaining cabbage leaves into 1 to 2 inch pieces using your hands (or cut with a knife). As you cut, remove and discard any very thick veins. The closer the leaves are to the inner core, the thicker the veins of the leaf are. Wash the cabbage leaves using cool water.
STEP 2: Put the torn cabbage leaves into the crockpot. Cut the butter into pieces and place on top of the cabbage. Add whole garlic cloves and pour in chicken broth or water. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper.
STEP 3: Set to HIGH for 2-4 hours (see notes below and in recipe card for timing). If you can, stir halfway through. When finished, mix well and taste. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired and serve with your favorite main dish.
Recipe FAQs
Cabbage cooks quickly, however different brands of slow cookers may work differently and take more or less cooking time. In general, on high cabbage will take 2-4 hours to become soft and tender and 4-6 hours on low. The timing also depends on if you like more tender cabbage or more crispy cabbage.
With the average 3 pound head of cabbage, this recipe will yield about 6 cups of cooked cabbage.
Yes, you can use red cabbage instead of green cabbage.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Slow Cooker Cabbage
Make a great side dish with a head of cabbage, melted butter and your slow cooker. Using your crockpot to make vegetables is an easy, hands-off way to prepare many different delicious side dishes to go with dinner.
- slow cooker
- 2-3 lbs cabbage
- ¼ cup butter
- 4 cloves garlic
- ½ cup chicken broth (or water)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Trim and wash the cabbage. Cut it in half, then cut out the thick stem on each side and discard. Tear the remaining cabbage leaves into 1 to 2 inch pieces using your hands (or cut with a knife). As you cut, remove and discard any very thick veins. The closer the leaves are to the inner core, the thicker the veins of the leaf are. Wash the cabbage leaves using cool water.
Put the torn cabbage leaves into the crockpot. Cut the butter into pieces and place on top of the cabbage. Add whole garlic cloves and pour in chicken broth or water. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper.
Set to HIGH for 2-4 hours (see notes below for timing). If you can, stir halfway through. When finished, mix well and taste. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired and serve with your favorite main dish
Yield: A 3 pound cabbage will yield about 6 cups of cooked cabbage.
Timing: cabbage cooks quickly, however different brands of slow cookers may work differently and take more or less time. In general, on high cabbage will take 2-4 hours to become soft and tender and 4-6 hours on low. The timing also depends on how soft or crispy you prefer it to be.
Storing: store in an airtight container for up to 7 days in the fridge.
TJ says
Easy and tasty!
tami says
The butter was too much. It changed the texture so much. Leave out the butter.