Slow Cooker Cabbage

Feb 17, 2024Updated May 19, 2025

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This Slow Cooker Cabbage recipe takes a humble head of cabbage and turns it into a tender, flavorful side dish with minimal effort. Slow-cooked to perfection in your crockpot, each bite is infused with the rich, smoky goodness of bacon.

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

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. You may also like my slow cooker red cabbage!

What you need

You don’t need too many ingredients to enhance this cabbage. Find the full recipe in the recipe card below the images.

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

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: I use only Salt and pepper. If you want a kick, add 1/8 teaspoon of red pepper flakes.

Variations

Other options besides bacon are: one cup cubed ham, 1-2 cups sliced kielbasa sausage, or leave out the meat and just add 1/4 cup butter for flavor.
You can interchange red cabbage for the green in this recipe. Some say red cabbage is sweeter than green and has floral notes.
To make vegetarian: omit the bacon and grease, add two vegetarian bouillon cubes, and mix in ¼ cup of vegan butter for flavor.
Other vegetables that can be added are onions, carrots or potatoes.

How to make Cabbage in the Crockpot:

A split head of cabbage on a cutting board.

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.

Step Two – Cut the cabbage into 1-inch square pieces.

Step Three – Add the chopped cabbage wedges 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 hot and enjoy.

cut cooked cabbage with bacon in the slow cooker

My Serving Ideas

Serve the cabbage as is by transferring it to a serving dish or individual plates. Garnish with black pepper or Parmesan cheese.
You can toss the buttery cabbage with egg noodles.
This is the perfect vegetable to serve with main dishes such as slow cooker meatloaf, slow cooker chicken thighs, or a slow cooker pork roast.
It also pairs well with various sides such as mashed potatoes or cornbread, depending on your preference.

close up of cooked cabbage in slow cooker with wooden spoon in it.

Recipe Tips and FAQs

What is the best way to prepare the cabbage?

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.

How do I store leftover cabbage?

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.

Featured Comment

“Fabulous recipe. So easy and delicious. It is absolutely the best way to cook cabbage.”
– Amy

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