50 Cabbage Recipes That Prove This Veggie Is Way More Versatile Than You Think
If you've only eating been eating it in coleslaw, it's time to expand your horizons.
If the only time you eat cabbage is in coleslaw form, it's time to expand your horizons. Whether we’re talking red cabbage, Napa cabbage, savoy cabbage, or even bok choy, this cruciferous veggie is actually SO versatile. Think of it another way: You know how cauliflower can be transformed into everything under the sun? Cabbage is kind of like that, with the added benefit of being extra crisp, crunchy, and super-fresh tasting. Check out our list of 50 cabbage recipes for proof and to help get your creative cabbage juices flowing.
Speaking of, you’ll want to keep in mind that the vegetable's water content is pretty high, so don't be afraid to salt it pretty heavily while cooking with it. Because it’s so hearty, it stands up to cooking techniques like braising or roasting wayyy better than other greens. Where a romaine salad can sometimes feel not-so-filling, that’s never the case with cabbage—check out our crunch salad or our mandarin orange chicken salad to see what we mean. It’s also a joy in veggie soups (hello borsht!), and pairs super-well alongside noodles, like in our Haluski cabbage & noodles, our Japanese chicken yakisoba, or our Korean jajangmyeon.
Are noodles a no-go? Whether you’re on a keto or low-carb diet, or are just cutting down on gluten, cabbage is there for you. This humble veggie can easily be turned into a variety of low-carb delights, from a burrito or enchiladas to a bunless cheeseburger or Philly cheesesteak. Avoiding meat? Cabbage is also a vegetarian dream. We know it’s not quite the same as a steak, but serve it breaded, like in our cabbage schnitzel; topped with cheese, like in our cabbage Parm; or topped with mushroom gravy, like in our whole roasted cabbage, and we bet you won’t even miss the meat.
Wait a sec, we can't talk about cabbage without talking about St. Patrick's Day! The Irish really take their cabbage seriously, most popularly in classic corned beef & cabbage. Follow our tips to make your at-home version the best it can be, then check out all the rest of our Irish-inspired meals to pair along with it this St. Patrick’s Day too.
Bacon Fried Cabbage
If you want to venture into the world of cabbage that goes beyond corned beef or coleslaw, try this fried cabbage on for size. Hearty and flavorful, it only requires 5 ingredients (if you don't count the salt and pepper). Plus, one of those ingredients is bacon! This simple recipe might just convert even the most ardent of cabbage haters.
Get the Bacon Fried Cabbage recipe.
Spicy Ahi Tuna Nachos
This recipe takes all the things you love about spicy tuna and turns it into crispy, delicious nachos. You'll start by quickly frying up some wonton wrappers to make crispy chips, then topping them with some tuna poke. You'll then top the whole thing with avocado, cabbage, scallions, and sesame seeds, then drizzle on homemade spicy mayo.
Get the Spicy Ahi Tuna Nachos recipe.
Cabbage Parmesan
Craving chicken Parm but trying to eat less meat? This cabbage recipe is about to blow your mind. It's even Italian mother-approved!
Get the Cabbage Parmesan recipe.
Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein
The key to any good stir-fry is having all the prep done beforehand—when you’re working with a hot wok, you gotta move quickly. In this copycat recipe, cabbage and celery are cooked just slightly so the dish retains some crunchiness. If you can’t find fresh yakisoba noodles, any fresh or dried wheat noodle would work as a substitute, so long as you cook them al dente.
Beer Braised Cabbage
Don’t overlook the humble cabbage! It’s a natural flavor absorber that pairs well with punchy, intense ingredients (think kimchi), but we also think it can stand up and shine all on its own.
Get the Beer Braised Cabbage recipe.
Classic Corned Beef and Cabbage
Just as good as our slow cooker version, but prepped the classic way. This classic boiled dinner is relatively low maintenance, just make sure to keep your corned beef fully submerged in liquid for the entire cook time.
Egg Roll Bowls
If you're a fan of crispy, savory egg rolls, then you might consider this unwrapped version your dream lunch. Without the need to wrap or fry, this veggie-packed meal comes together in well under an hour. Garnish with crispy raw scallions, toasted sesame seeds, and plenty of sriracha or chili oil.
Get the Egg Roll Bowls recipe.
Homemade Coleslaw
No summer potluck is complete without a big bowl of coleslaw, and we happen to think our recipe is the absolute best. Follow our 3 important rules to guarantee yours turns out great every time you make it.
Get the Homemade Coleslaw recipe.
Kimchi
Kimchi is a broad name for a type of fermented Korean banchan—or side dish—that is served alongside most meals in Korea. Serve it alongside bibimbap, stir it into fried rice, or fold it into creamy pasta.
Get the Kimchi recipe.
Cabbage Schnitzel
A breaded fried cutlet is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and these cabbage schnitzels are no exception. Coated in crispy golden brown bread crumbs and drizzled with a luscious mushroom gravy, this vegetarian spin on a meaty classic will delight meat lovers and vegetarians alike.
Get the Cabbage Schnitzel recipe.
Haluski Cabbage & Noodles
This humble Eastern European dish is a combination of caramelized cabbage and onions, tossed with rich egg noodles; savory, crisp bacon; and of course, butter. The most traditional Haluski recipes keep it simple, but this one adds a punch of acidic lemon and fresh garlic to cut through some of the fattiness.
Get the Haluski Cabbage & Noodles recipe.
Air Fryer Egg Rolls
Since this recipe includes the not-so-traditional act of air frying, we figured we'd keep the filling classic with carrots, celery, cabbage, and crispy pork; however, any multitude of fillings could work (and we recommend you experiment)! Check out our antipasto, Reuben, or Buffalo chicken egg rolls for inspo.
Get the Air Fryer Egg Rolls recipe.
Perfect Bok Choy
Quick-cooking bok choy is one of our favorite veggie sides. Here we pair it with ginger and sesame oil for a light but flavorful plate of greens. Serve it alongside fish, meat, or your favorite rice dish. (We're partial to this pork fried rice.)
Get the Perfect Bok Choy recipe.
Soup Dumplings
We absolutely LOVE dumplings, and xiaolongbao, the Chinese version filled with ground pork, cabbage, and gelatinized pork broth are some of the best. Though traditionally pork bones are used to make the broth semi-solid, they can be hard to find, so we've subbed in gelatin and whatever broth you like. Trust us, once heated up, these dumplings are still just as heavenly.
Get the Soup Dumplings recipe.
Cabbage-Wrapped Burgers
We love sturdy cabbage as a bun replacement—just make sure you buy a large cabbage so your leaves are big enough to wrap around the entire burger. Then you can make bacon-wrapped cabbage with the core!
Get the Cabbage-Wrapped Burgers recipe.
Jjajangmyeon
Commonly ordered in noodle shops, and even more commonly devoured in the instant form of chappaghetti (or jjapaghetti), jajangmyeon is Korean comfort fare at its best. For our recipe, we use slightly less expensive pork belly, but if you want to splurge, by all means go off and use more traditional steak!
Get the Jajangmyeon recipe.
Philly Cheesesteak Cabbage Wraps
We’re kind of obsessed with Philly cheesesteaks. Thinly sliced beef, melty cheese, onions and peppers, all tucked into a hoagie roll—what’s not to love? Thanks to these cabbage wraps, even those who don't want the bun can get in on this fantastic flavor combo.
Vinegar Coleslaw
To make this a truly vegan-friendly slaw, there is neither mayonnaise nor honey in the mix. We use maple to bring out the veggies’ natural sweetness and Dijon mustard helps emulsify the oil and vinegar (while adding a delicious bit of a kick in the back of your throat).
Get the Vinegar Coleslaw recipe.
Cabbage Wrap Brats
These cabbage wraps are everything you love about beer brats, sans bun! One of the best parts? We cook our onions in the same pan as our brats—one, for less dirty dishes, and two, because it creates the most melt-in-your-mouth-delicious caramelized onions EVER.
Get the Cabbage Wrap Brats recipe.
Crunch Salad
We created this kale salad as an homage to crunch. Every ingredient has been chosen to amplify texture while also adding bold flavors. We included green apple, roasted peanuts, and cabbage, but go ahead and add any ingredient with crunch that you like.
Get the Crunch Salad recipe.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
