Slow Cooker Cabbage
48 Comments Feb 17, 2024
Updated Jul 18, 2024
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This Slow Cooker Cabbage recipe will help you 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 crockpot butternut squash, slow cooker corn on the cob, and slow cooker collard greens!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Cabbage Recipe
In my younger years, I would have never dreamed of making anything with cabbage, let alone cooking it in a crock pot. Boy was I missing out! Cabbage is SO good as a side dish for just about any meal.
If you want to take the guesswork out of how to cook cabbage, this is going to be THE recipe for you. All you need are just a few ingredients like thick cut bacon, apple cider vinegar, and a couple of seasonings. The prep time is quick and the cooking time is just long enough to yield tender cabbage.
Delicious recipes like this make cooking a breeze and dinner simply delicious. It’s so good, even my kids enjoy it!
Recipe Ingredients
- Cabbage – One large head of cabbage, cut into square pieces. Have an abundance of cabbage? Try my Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls, or Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup.
- 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. (For added flavor, consider using chicken broth.)
- Seasonings – Salt and pepper is all I use. If you want a kick, add 1/8 teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – 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.
Step Two – Add the chopped cabbage wedges to the slow cooker.
Step Three – 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.
Step Four – 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.
Step Five – Cook on HIGH for 3 hours. If you want a crisper cabbage dish, only cook for 2.5 hours on HIGH. Stir, serve hot and enjoy.
How to Serve
- Serve crockpot cabbage as is by simply transferring it to a serving dish or individual plates. You can garnish it with fresh herbs like parsley or a sprinkle of black pepper or red pepper flakes for added flavor.
- This is the perfect vegetable to serve with main dishes such as slow cooker meatloaf, slow cooker chicken thighs, or a slow cooked pork roast.
- It also pairs well with various sides such as mashed potatoes, grilled sausages, or crusty bread, depending on your preference.
Recipe FAQs
Cut the cabbage down the middle, I do this through the stem. Remove the core by cutting a small triangle shape out of the cabbage. Turn the cabbage halves onto their flat side and cut into slices. Now, cut the opposite directions to make square pieces.
You can interchange red cabbage for the green in this recipe. Some say red cabbage is sweeter than green and has floral notes.
One cup cubed ham, 1-2 cups sliced kielbasa sausage, or leave out the meat and just add 1/4 cup butter for flavor.
Omit the bacon and bacon grease. Add two vegetarian bouillon cubes. Add 1/4 cup vegan butter.
To store leftover cooked cabbage, allow it to cool to room temperature, then add cabbage to an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, ensuring it is tightly sealed to maintain freshness.
More cabbage recipes for your slow cooker:
- Slow Cooker Colcannon Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls
- Slow Cooker Chicken and Cabbage
- Slow Cooker Potatoes, Cabbage and Kielbasa
- Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
- Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls
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Slow Cooker Cabbage
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)
- ¼ 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
- ¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper
- ⅛ tsp. red pepper flakes, (this is optional, only use if you want this zippy)
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
Sarah’s Notes
- 1 cup cubed ham
- 1-2 cups sliced kielbasa sausage
- Leave out the meat and just add ¼ cup butter for flavor.
- Omit bacon and bacon grease.
- Add two vegetarian bouillon cubes.
- Add ¼ cup vegan butter.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
First time cooking this.smells wonderful.still crispy.cant wait to try it.thanks.
Let me know how you like it!