Slow Cooker Cabbage
51 Comments Feb 17, 2024
Updated 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.
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.
- 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:
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.
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.
Recipe Tips and 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.
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
Slow Cooker Cabbage
How to Video
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.
Sarah’s Notes
- 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
- Serve crockpot cabbage as is by simply transferring it to a serving dish or individual plates. You can garnish it 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 meatloaf, chicken thighs or ribs.
- It also pairs well with various sides such as mashed potatoes or cornbread, depending on your preference.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More crockpot cabbage recipes:
- Potatoes and cabbage together? Try this Slow Cooker Colcannon Potatoes recipe.
- A complete meal of chicken and cabbage! My recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken and Cabbage will be a hit!
- We love this easy Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe that is a one pot meal, great for St. Patricks day.
- If you are looking for a hearty dinner, this Crockpot Cabbage and Potatoes with Kielbasa won’t disappoint.
- Looking for something lighter? My Weight Loss Soup Recipe has plenty of cabbage!
I literally just had a dish full & put the rest in the fridge. This is without a doubt one of my all time favorites. It’s so easy & cheap to make.
Love it Love it Love it.
Not only easy and cheap but healthy and delicious.
I use kielbasa. Never thought I would like cooked cabbage whis much. Hubby and I both crave it.
I make alot also using smoked sausage its awesome.
This meal is much in demand around here. We love it!
Love the flavor and ease of cooking this recipe.
Fry the bacon whole then break or cut into pieces. Big time saver.
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!
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!
(Also, 4 hours on Low in my slow cooker was plenty. And refrigerating overnite makes it even better!)
Love this site!
What is the purpose of the apple cider vinegar> Is it just for flavor?
Yes, it goes great with the cabbage.
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……..
I think it will be soggy if frozen and thawed.
Can the leftovers be frozen?