This Sautéed Cabbage with Garlic is a simple, flavorful side dish made with just five ingredients and ready in only ten minutes. The buttery garlic flavor enhances the natural taste of the cabbage, creating a dish that’s both delicious and versatile. Quick to prepare and always a family favorite, this easy side will elevate any meal with minimal time investment!
Original post: March 2019 | Updated: February 2023
Why This Recipe Works
- Five ingredients + ten minutes of your time = this delicious side dish is done!
- One of my favorite things in the entire world is when a handful of super simple ingredients work together to create a magically delicious and versatile recipe. This sautéed cabbage with garlic recipe fits the bill!
- This wonderful side dish comes with big flavor and a low time investment.
- You will be blown away by the flavor in this simple cabbage recipe, which is greatly enhanced by the garlic.
- The buttery flavor makes your tastebuds sing.
- This easy side dish is a family favorite that is both easy to make and easy to enjoy.
Recipe Ingredients for This Sautéed Cabbage Recipe
Cabbage – Find a firm head of cabbage that’s not over sized but that is heavy. Crisp leaves attached to the ball are another sign that it’s a good vegetable. Green cabbage, napa cabbage, savoy cabbage or red cabbage work great and can be used interchangeably.
Butter – Replace with equal amounts of extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil to make this recipe Whole30 compliant.
Garlic – Use fresh minced garlic or up to 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
Cayenne Pepper – This ingredient is optional, but highly recommended for an extra kick! The small amount called for in the recipe adds just enough zing to make the final dish sing.
Salt and black pepper – Cater these amounts to your liking and feel free to spruce up the dish even more by adding garlic powder, onion powder or other fresh or dried herbs.
How To Make Sauteed Cabbage with Garlic
Step 1
Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large pan or skillet over medium heat. Add the cabbage, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (optional). Season with salt and pepper.
Step 2
Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until cabbage turns golden brown and garlic is fragrant. This will take just a few minutes.
How To Make Caramelized Cabbage
When you saute green cabbage it transforms into delicious caramelized cabbage. Follow these instructions:
Step 1
Heat the butter in a large skillet, cast iron skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, shredded cabbage and seasonings to the hot skillet.
Step 2
Cook, stirring frequently, until it is tender and lightly browned and the garlic is fragrant (this will take 5-7 minutes).
Recipe Notes
- Throw in a couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or soy sauce to add extra flavor.
- Use 1 head green cabbage (or red) to double the batch.
- Caraway seeds are a great addition to this easy low-carb side dish.
- You can serve this dish as a main course when you bulk it up with your meat protein of choice.
- Spice up the recipe by adding red pepper flakes, a dash or two of hot sauce or additional cayenne pepper.
- For a meaty side, chop a few strips of bacon (use turkey bacon for a leaner option!) and add them to the pan while frying. The salty bacon will add such great flavor to the dish.
- You can also toss cooked shredded chicken thighs or breasts into the mix. Cook until heated through.
- Add dried or fresh herbs of your choice to season this side dish just the way you want it. Add thyme, fresh parsley, cumin, chives, oregano or whatever your heart desires!
- Sprinkle fresh lemon juice over the top just before serving!
How To Cut Cabbage
Using a sharp knife, remove and discard the outermost leaves and cut the very bottom of the stem off on a cutting board. Place the head of cabbage on its end where you cut and slice down the center vertically. Cut each half lengthwise.
Remove the core and stem by cutting a wedge out of each quarter. Place each cabbage quarter onto a flat portion so it is lying flat and slice 1/4-inch strips, creating shredded cabbage.
Best Seasonings For Cabbage
I tend to stick with the simplest-is-best philosophy when it comes to seasoning vegetables. I love adding salt, pepper, garlic and cayenne pepper for an added kick.
However, there are many other spices to explore in this delicious world of ours, so here are a few other flavors that will taste great with sauteed cabbage:
- Thyme
- Parsley
- Cumin
- Ginger
- Celery Seed
- Red pepper flakes
Can You Freeze Cooked Cabbage
You can freeze cabbage for 1-2 months when stored in an airtight container. However, if you want it to last longer in your freezer, your best bet is to blanch it first, giving it a longer life in the freezer.
What Goes With This Sauteed Cabbage Recipe
- Chicken breasts or chicken rice bake pair perfectly with this low carb side
- Pork loin or pork chops taste great alongside this super easy recipe
- Ground beef is my favorite cabbage pairing, like with this Runza casserole
- Reuben sandwiches
- Corned beef
- Potatoes
- Tacos
- Read on for more great ideas about what to serve with cabbage.
Healthy Cabbage Recipes
Here is a small sampling of my favorite cabbage recipes:
- Coleslaw
- Red Cabbage Sauerkraut
- Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup
- Cabbage Steaks
- Runza Casserole
- Shrimp Tacos
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Sauteed Cabbage with Garlic
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1/2 head cabbage shredded, red or green
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper optional
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cabbage, garlic, cayenne pepper (if using), salt and pepper.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until cabbage has softened and garlic is fragrant. Serve warm!
Notes
- Throw in a couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or soy sauce to add extra flavor.
- Use 1 head green cabbage (or red) to double the batch.
- Caraway seeds are a great addition to this easy low-carb side dish.
- You can serve this dish as a main course when you bulk it up with your meat protein of choice.
- Spice up the recipe by adding red pepper flakes, a dash or two of hot sauce or additional cayenne pepper.
- For a meaty side, chop a few strips of bacon (use turkey bacon for a leaner option!) and add them to the pan while frying. The salty bacon will add such great flavor to the dish.
- You can also toss cooked shredded chicken thighs or breasts into the mix. Cook until heated through.
- Add dried or fresh herbs of your choice to season this side dish just the way you want it. Add thyme, fresh parsley, cumin, chives, oregano or whatever your heart desires!
- Sprinkle fresh lemon juice over the top just before serving!
This dish was absolutely deliciousness. I loved the two together. I added some andouille sausage… Yummy!
That’s a great addition – so glad you enjoyed it Toya! Thanks for sharing.
This was a super simple recipe, and perfect for my family that likes a quick cabbage side.
So glad it was enjoyed Taryn!
I, too, add shredded carrots plus a teaspoon or so of sugar.
Yay, glad it was enjoyed! Carrots are perfect addition.
Love, Love, Love this cabbage recipe! It will be a staple in my house; thank you for sharing!
That’s wonderful to hear! You’re very welcome.
I tried this last night for dinner and it was good..:my husband loved it! I will be making this again. Thank you for sharing!!
That’s great to hear!
I made this tonight with just the calorie free butter flavor cooking spray, garlic and salt and pepper and it was so so good. Two thumbs up. I will be making this probably nightly!!!
Yes, those sound like perfect changes for some! So many recipes can be tweaked for a family – thanks for sharing!
So simple, but so much tasty goodness! Why have I not done thus before? Will definitely become a new go to side dish! I’m so glad I had a half a head of cabbage and looked on Pinterest for something simple to do with it. Thank you! (I also like some of the suggestions of sesame oil and cumin and ghee….can’t wait to try them all!) ?
Try adding cumin to taste!
Even better!!!
Cumin, brilliant! Thanks for the recommendation!
Megan
Hmm, sesame oil, I’ll have to try that and see the difference. I think it would be good with kielbasa added.
It’s great, I also add a couple of potatoes, cooked & I quarter them. Let them finish cooking in the skillet with the polish sausage & cooked cabbage & you’ve got a great 1 skillet meal. I just precook my potatoes a little in the microwave 1st, add to my skillet to absorb the flavors. Delicious.
Thank you for sharing that version. Sounds great!
I do it in homemade Ghee . . . soooo decadent.
That sounds delicious!!
Megan
I make this often. Instead of butter, I use some sesame oil. I just love sesame oil and it gives it just a slightly different tast
Hi Katy! I LOVE that you use sesame oil. Doing this next time! Thanks for the great idea!
Megan
We love this side dish..
Had it last night with slow cooker boneless pork ribs.. Delicious combination..
I had not use cayenne pepper before.. Great flavor addition..
What I do use every time is bacon… Bacon makes everything better… ;o)
You are so right. Bacon does make everything better! Great idea to add it here!
Megan
i have used coleslaw to do this…already to go shredded with carrots
Hi Ashley! Served over grilled chicken would be SO GOOD! Yum!
Megan
I love sauteed cabbage! I actually eat it very often with a nice piece of grilled chicken served over it. I need to try this recipe next time. Love the addition of the cayenne pepper!
I do the same minus the cayenne pepper but sometimes I shred up some carrots for some
Color:)