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Home » Side Dishes » Slow Cooker Cabbage

Slow Cooker Cabbage

by Sarah Olson on September 29, 2020 12 Comments

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2 photo collage of slow cooker cabbage with text overlay that says: Slow Cooker Cabbage and Bacon

Make the best side dish with a head of cabbage and your crockpot. The cabbage is perfectly tender and flavored with plenty of bacon.

We love vegetable side dishes in our slow cooker. We also make butternut squash, corn and collard greens!

cooked cabbage, bacon in a slow cooker with a wooden spoon in it.

In my younger years I would have never dreamed of making anything with cabbage. Boy was I missing out! Cabbage is SO good as a side dish for just about any meal.

large head cabbage, bacon, salt, pepper, and bacon in front of a slow cooker.

How to make cabbage in a crockpot:

  • Cabbage – One large head of cabbage, cut into square pieces.
  • Bacon -One entire package, sliced then cooked.
  • Bacon drippings (grease) – Save the drippings from the above bacon and add as much or little to your cabbage. This will give your cabbage extra flavor.
  • Water – I use only one cup. Other recipes suggest covering the cabbage in water but we are not making soup and adding too much water will make for bland cabbage.
  • Seasonings – Salt and pepper is all I use. If you want a kick add 1/8 teaspoon of red pepper flake.

How to cut a head cabbage:

  1. Cut the cabbage down the middle, I do this through the stem.
  2. Remove the core by cutting a small triangle shape out of the cabbage.
  3. Turn the cabbage halves onto their flat side and cut into slices.
  4. Now, cut the opposite directions to make square pieces.
2 photo collage, cabbage halved on a cutting board. Other photo cut cabbage.

How long do I cook?

  • Cook on HIGH for 3 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
  • If you want crisper cabbage only cook for 2.5 hours.

Can I use red (purple) cabbage instead of green?

  • You can interchange red cabbage for the green in this recipe.
  • Some say red cabbage is sweeter than green and has floral notes.
uncooked cabbage in a slow cooker with bacon and pepper on top.

What can I use instead of bacon?

  • 1 cup cubed ham
  • 1-2 cups sliced kielbasa sausage
  • Leave out the meat and just add 1/4 cup butter for flavor.
cut cooked cabbage with bacon in the slow cooker

How can I make this vegetarian?

  • Omit the bacon and bacon grease.
  • Add two vegetarian bouillon cubes.
  • Add 1/4 cup vegan butter.
close up of cooked cabbage in slow cooker with wooden spoon in it.

More cabbage recipes for your slow cooker:

  • Slow Cooker Colcannon Potatoes
  • Slow Cooker Potatoes, Cabbage and Kielbasa
  • Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
  • Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls – Recipe by Jo Cooks

Want to make more magic in your crockpot? Stay up to date and subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.

cabbage and bacon in slow cooker with a wooden spoon

Slow Cooker Cabbage

4.82 from 11 votes
Cabbage cooked to perfection in the slow cooker along with bacon!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: slow cooker cabbage
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 296kcal
Author: Sarah Olson

Equipment Needed:

  • Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger

Ingredients:

  • 1 head cabbage (large) this is about 8-10 cups but use it all if it fits in your slow cooker.
  • 12 oz. pkg. bacon (be sure to save the bacon drippings)
  • 1/4 cup bacon grease (from above bacon) use more or less if desired, this adds flavor to the cabbage
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
  • 1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes (this is optional, only use if you want this zippy)
US Customary – Metric

Instructions:

  • Cut the cabbage in half through the stem (core). Cut the core out by cutting a triangle shape out of both sides.
  • Lay the cabbage halves on its flat size. Cut the cabbage into 1-inch square pieces. Add to the slow cooker.
  • Cut the bacon before cooking into 1/2 inch pieces. Cook until browned in a skillet on the stove top, save the grease by pouring into a glass dish.
  • Add the bacon, bacon grease (I use 1/4 cup, use as little or as much as you prefer), apple cider vinegar, water, salt, and pepper. Stir. Add red pepper flake if you want it spicy.
  • Cook on high for 3 hours. If you want a crisper cabbage dish, only cook for 2.5 hours on high.
  • Stir, serve and enjoy.

How to Video:

Recipe Notes:

Can I use red cabbage instead of green?
Yes, red cabbage works perfectly fine in this recipe.
What can I use instead of bacon?
  • 1 cup cubed ham
  • 1-2 cups sliced kielbasa sausage
  • Leave out the meat and just add ¼ cup butter for flavor.
How can I make vegetarian cabbage? 
  • Omit bacon and bacon grease.
  • Add two vegetarian bouillon cubes.
  • Add ¼ cup vegan butter.

Nutrition:

Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 1003mg | Potassium: 407mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 136IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1mg
Made this recipe?I want to see your photos! Tag me on Instagram @themagicalslowcooker
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    Filed Under: Side Dishes Tagged With: bacon, cabbage, crockpot, slow cooker

    Comments

    1. Dee says

      January 9, 2021 at 12:41 pm

      5 stars
      This meal is much in demand around here. We love it!

      Reply
    2. Alice says

      January 7, 2021 at 7:16 am

      4 stars
      Love the flavor and ease of cooking this recipe.

      Reply
    3. Jesse says

      January 2, 2021 at 2:17 pm

      4 stars
      Fry the bacon whole then break or cut into pieces. Big time saver.

      Reply
    4. Pam says

      November 1, 2020 at 4:18 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this and it’s quite tasty! I put it in the slow cooker before the football game and it was ready after the end of the game. Will put this on my KEEPER list!

      Reply
      • John Paul Killinger says

        January 2, 2021 at 2:33 pm

        5 stars
        I admire the simplicity of your cabbage recipe, which is superb!

        In my (almost) vegan version I used bacon grease and butter, but one could substitute their favorite oil for the bacon flavor if desired.

        I also used 1-1/2 cups of chicken stock in lieu of water, and 2T powdered onion and 1T pwdrd garlic, being a disciple of the late Paul Prudhomme (“the more flavors the merrier”).

        Happy New Year, everyone!

        Reply
        • John Paul Killinger says

          January 2, 2021 at 2:46 pm

          (Also, 4 hours on Low in my slow cooker was plenty. And refrigerating overnite makes it even better!)

          Reply
    5. Carolyn says

      October 10, 2020 at 9:20 am

      5 stars
      Love this site!

      Reply
    6. CatW says

      October 4, 2020 at 12:42 am

      What is the purpose of the apple cider vinegar> Is it just for flavor?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        October 4, 2020 at 8:24 am

        Yes, it goes great with the cabbage.

        Reply
    7. PETER says

      October 3, 2020 at 11:28 pm

      I LIVE ON MY OWN & FRZ LOTZA STUFF FOR LATER….. – SO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF OK TO FRZ IN SMALL LOTS OR WILL IT BECOME SOGGY WHEN THAWED & HEATED……???
      – TKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ADVC……..

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        October 4, 2020 at 8:25 am

        I think it will be soggy if frozen and thawed.

        Reply
    8. Jerry says

      September 30, 2020 at 4:09 pm

      Can the leftovers be frozen?

      Reply

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