Name: Sauteed Cabbage with Garlic
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 7 min
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)

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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!

Skillet filled with sauteed cabbage, with a pair of tongs sitting inside it.

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

Shredded cabbage in a mixing bowl with spices, garlic and butter sitting beside it.

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.

Shredded cabbage in a skillet with seasonings and garlic before cooking.

Step 2

Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until cabbage turns golden brown and garlic is fragrant. This will take just a few minutes.

Hand tossing cabbage in a skillet with a pair of tongs.

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.

Tongs holding up sauteed cabbage over a skillet.

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:

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