Crockpot Cabbage

Crockpot Cabbage is an easy side dish made with fresh cabbage, vegetable broth, butter, and spices slow cooked and topped with crispy bacon!

Cabbage is a staple in this house because it tastes good, and it’s a really cost effective side dish. For more ideas, check out this Instant Pot Cabbage, Crockpot Cabbage Rolls, and Instant Pot Cabbage Soup. 

Crockpot Cabbage is a simple cabbage recipe to throw together for weekend dinners, and a delicious side dish for a big get-together. It’s really cost effective and has a lot of servings from just one head of cabbage. 

This goes great with Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage, so everyone has an extra serving for leftovers. Or, you can mix it in with your favorite colcannon recipe for St. Patrick’s Day dinner.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Cabbage. For this crockpot cabbage recipe you want to use a large head of regular green cabbage, because the texture will hold up well in the heat and has a great flavor. You can also use savoy cabbage, which has wavy leaves. 

If you use red cabbage, it will also work but the dish will turn out very purple. Avoid Napa cabbage, because it will wilt too much in the slow cooker. 

Broth. I use gluten free vegetable broth, but you can also use a few cups chicken broth or beef broth. This depends on your preference. If you’re serving this to a crowd for St. Patrick’s day, then beef broth would be ideal. If you’re serving it with chicken, go with chicken broth. 

Butter. Butter helps add flavor to the cabbage. I like to use unsalted butter, so I can add my own amount of salt later. 

You can also use olive oil if you don’t care for buttered cabbage. 

Spices. The spices here are optional, but I like to add a little more flavor. I’m using regular black pepper and kosher salt, with garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. 

If you want to add a little kick, include some red pepper flakes or cayenne. 

Bacon. You can cook the bacon in the slow cooker, but I like it to be crispy. The crispy bacon texture is a really nice contrast to the soft cabbage. I recommend making the bacon at the very end and topping the cabbage with it. 

If you want the flavor of the bacon like it cooked with the cabbage, pour some of the bacon grease into the cabbage and stir after the bacon is fully cooked. 

How to Make Crockpot Cabbage

1. Remove the outer leaves of the cabbage. Cut the cabbage in half, then into 1-inch pieces. Place the cabbage into the slow cooker. 
2. In a small bowl, mix together the spices, then add to the slow cooker. Pour the broth directly over the cabbage, then place the butter in pieces on top.
3. Cook on high for 3 hours. In the last 20 minutes, cook the bacon until crispy.
4. Remove the cabbage with a slotted spoon and place it in a separate bowl. Discard the liquid in the slow cooker. Optionally, you can pour some of the bacon grease onto the cabbage, and stir everything together. Top with crispy bacon and serve. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Storage

Refrigerate leftover crockpot cabbage in an airtight container for 3-4 days. 

Freeze leftover cooked cabbage in an airtight container for 3-4 months. It may be a little less crispy when it’s defrosted and warmed, but it will still be good. 

More Slow Cooker Recipes

• Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
• Slow Cooker Potatoes
• Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes
• Slow Cooker Pork Chops and Potatoes

Recipe Variations

• Add a can of tomato soup or tomato sauce to this crockpot cabbage for a flavor that’s more like cabbage rolls. Serve with a protein like sausage or chicken and gluten free crusty bread.
• You can also make this with a few bags of shredded cabbage. The cook time may be less, check it around the two hour mark, or until it cooks down to a tender cabbage texture. 
• Add a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar for a tangy flavor. 
• Use leftover slow cooker cabbage for other dishes like colcannon, or in stir fry dishes. 

Cooking Tips

• Make sure to cut the cabbage pieces small enough, to make sure they cook in time. 
• You can use your favorite spice blend to add flavor to this slow cooker cabbage, like Italian seasoning. Try my homemade Ranch seasoning, or Taco Seasoning. Or just stick with plain black pepper and kosher salt. 
• You can increase or decrease the cooking time, depending on how crunchy you like your cabbage. 
• If you have fresh garlic, you can dice it and add it instead of the garlic powder. 
• For more flavor, you can add a sliced yellow onion in with the cabbage to cook. You can also serve this slow cooker cabbage with sautéed onion on the side. 
• For a full dinner, serve the cabbage with white rice or potatoes, and Italian sausage or Kielbasa sausage (make sure it’s gluten free). 

If you loved this recipe, be sure to leave a 5 Star review below, and tag me with a photo of your finished recipe on Instagram @Jacqui_DishingDelish!

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