Have a hunk of cabbage you need to use up? Put it to work in this delicious cabbage recipe! They include easy sides, slaws, sandwiches, and more.
Choosing to make a cabbage recipe can seem like a commitment. You are going to buy one Whole whole cabbage to add one It’s a little bit To some tacos? What on earth are you going to do with the rest?!
My hope is that the cabbage recipes below answer that question. There are many ways to cook cabbage—this humble veggie is nothing if not versatile. It can complete a sandwich with a pop of color and crunch. It can be transformed into a crisp, refreshing slaw or a silky, sweet saute. You can add it to soup or a bowl of noodles, a sushi roll or a slider. So please, don’t be afraid to cook cabbage recipes! I promise, you can always find a way to use a whole head, including the hunk you’ll inevitably forget about in the back of your fridge for a week (just me?). These recipes are a great place to start!
Essential Cabbage Recipes
If you’re a cabbage lover—or even if you’re not!—you need these two cabbage recipes in your rotation. One, my Cabbage Soup, perfect comfort food on a cold day, the other, Easy Roasted CabbageA vegetable aspect that is as simple as it gets.
Cabbage soup
Want to stop a head of green cabbage at once? This recipe is the way to do it! Silky cabbage leaves melt into a flavorful tomato broth alongside beans, vegetables, and potatoes.
Roasted Cabbage (recipe below)
This stir-fried cabbage recipe is another easy way to use up a large amount of cabbage. It’s seasoned with just apple cider vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper, but it’s still amazingly flavorful. The entire pan will be gone before you know it!
4 Must Try Slaws
No better collection of cabbage recipes includes coleslaw! Here, I offer four fun variations, all crunchy, colorful and packed with flavor.
Creamy coleslaw
Perfect for any BBQ or picnic! A creamy, tangy homemade dressing coats a refreshing medley of red cabbage, green cabbage, carrot ribbons and scallions.
Vinegar coleslaw
This slaw has the same mix of greens—cabbage, carrots, and scallions—as my classic coleslaw does, but I replace the creamy dressing with a sweet and tangy apple cider vinegar. I add sunflower seeds for a nut!
Broccoli Slaw
Dried cranberries add a sweet pop of flavor to this creamy slaw.
Easy Vegan Coleslaw
Like classic coleslaw, but 100% plant-based. Great alongside any vegan hot dog or veggie burger!
Cabbage Taco Recipe
If you ask me, no taco bar is complete without shredded cabbage. Colorful and crispy, it tops any taco!
Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos
Turn your favorite game day snack into dinner! These epic veggie tacos are packed with crispy buffalo cauliflower, avocado, cilantro, cabbage and a big dollop of creamy vegan ranch. Tip: Cook cauliflower in an air fryer if you have one. It comes out with an extra-crispy texture.
Spicy Mango, Black Bean and Avocado Tacos
These no-cook tacos are a breeze to put together on a busy weeknight. I love how the crunchy cabbage fills the tender black beans, sweet, juicy mango and spicy mayo. Serve with a big squeeze of lime juice!
Roasted Cauliflower Tacos
These tacos contain roasted cabbage instead of raw, which gives them a depth of caramelized flavor. Afraid you’ll miss the raw crunch? Don’t worry about it. Take care of that with fresh fixings like radishes and chopped serrano peppers!
Healthy Taco Salad
All the taste of a taco, but in salad form! Shredded red cabbage and shredded romaine create a fresh, crunchy base, while vegan taco “meat,” black beans, and tortilla strips perfect the taco vibe. A zingy cilantro lime dressing ties it all together.
Cabbage-y noodles and rice bowls
No matter what kind of cabbage you have on hand—Napa cabbage, soy cabbage, red or green—you can find a home for it in a bowl with noodles or rice.
Mango Ginger Rice Bowl
I love this recipe because it’s a) super delicious and b) super flexible. Use any type of cabbage you like and feel free to change the other ingredients as well. Sub in baked tofu for black beans, use brown rice instead of white, or toss in whatever veggies you have on hand. Just don’t skip pickled ginger. It adds such a fresh kick to this recipe!
Adzuki Bean Bowl
These energizing bowls are filled with a simple sesame slaw, brown rice, and nutty adzuki beans. Can’t find Adzukis? Black beans work too!
Sesame Noodle Bowl
These vibrant bowls are a deliciously easy dinner or make-ahead lunch. Firm cabbage, meaty mushrooms and crispy snap peas hold up beautifully under a tangy miso dressing.
Cabbage Sandwich Recipe
Is that sandwich missing something? Just like in a taco, a little cabbage will add color and crunch.
BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich
A quick cabbage slaw adds the perfect crunch to these saucy vegan sliders. These are great for game day or summer cookouts!
Butternut Apple Cranberry Sandwiches
Filled with roasted squash, apples, dried cranberries, and cheddar cheese, this hearty sandwich basically falls into bread! The lightly pickled cabbage gives it a pop of tangy flavor.
Japanese-inspired cabbage recipe
This cabbage recipe is my homemade twist on two of our favorite Japanese dishes: okonomiyaki and sushi. If you’re tired of making the same old cabbage recipes, like coleslaw and cabbage soup, these dishes are a great way to change things up!
Okonomiyaki
These delicious cabbage pancakes are a popular Japanese street food. I can’t say my recipe is completely authentic, but it’s quick, satisfying, and flavorful, and you can make it with just a handful of pantry ingredients. Tip: Don’t skimp on the toppings! They are half the fun here.
Homemade maki sushi
This veggie sushi is anything but traditional, but it’s a blast to make (and eat!) at home. Roasted shiitake mushrooms add rich flavor to the filling, while red cabbage and cucumber provide a refreshing crunch. Serve the rolls with my carrot ginger sauce for dipping.
Want more cabbage recipes?
Check out my new cookbook, Good food with love and lemon feeling simple!
It includes a 3-day meal plan specifically designed to help you consume whole cabbage. Plan recipes are some of my favorites in the book:
- Cabbage wedges with green harissa
- Loaded Pita Nachos (pictured below)
- Chickpea Tacos with Pickled Cabbage (pictured below)
Best Cabbage Recipe: Roasted Cabbage
serves 4 to 6
This easy roasted cabbage is one of our favorite cabbage recipes! This is a delicious, quick and easy veggie side dish.
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Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds or until fragrant but not browned.
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Add the cabbage, salt and several grinds of pepper, toss and cook for 2 minutes or until the cabbage is tender.
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Add the vinegar, toss, and cook, tossing, until most of the liquid has cooked off and the cabbage is tender and browned, about 6 minutes. Season to taste and serve.