Black Folks Soul Food Cabbage Recipe
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Let’s talk about a Black folks’ soul food cabbage recipe. It’s not just what it tastes like, but what it feels like when it hits your soul! Because this isn’t just cabbage—this is soul food cabbage! The kind that shows up steaming hot at Sunday dinner, seasoned by generations and stirred with love.
The soul food cabbage difference
The soul food cabbage difference is all in the legacy, the layers, and the love. Regular fried cabbage is just… cabbage. But Black folks’ cabbage? That’s comfort, culture, and collard greens’ close cousin all wrapped into one well-seasoned, soulful side dish!
It’s rooted in tradition, passed down through generations of Black Southern cooks. A dish with history and heart. In contrast, regular cabbage is more neutral, with fewer ties to cultural rituals or family gatherings.
My soul food cabbage recipe is cooked low and slow, allowing the seasonings and spices to really shine. Think onion, garlic, salt, black pepper, and even a shake of Old Bay! Regular cabbage is usually sautéed quickly in oil, with a simple sprinkle of salt, pepper, and maybe a pinch of sugar. But soul food cabbage? It’s steeped in its own juices, butter, and a flavorful broth, almost like a savory cabbage stew. Regular cabbage tends to stay drier, closer to a stir-fry.
Ingredients
This cabbage recipe features all the traditional seasonings you’d expect from a classic soul food dish, plus onion, broth, butter, salt, and black pepper. To give it an extra flavor boost, my soul food cabbage recipe includes a splash of vinegar and a pinch of red pepper flakes for added tang and a touch of heat (but not enough to make it spicy).
🥄 Shaunda says: My surprise twist? A dash of Old Bay Seasoning adds a savory, unexpected kick that sets my recipe apart from the rest! This dish is simple but honors tradition with every savory, satisfying bite, just like my mom and grandma used to make it the Coastal Virginia and Carolina way.
How many servings will one head of cabbage make?
This recipe calls for one chopped head of cabbage and generously serves six people.
How to make soul food cabbage
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and versatility, making it easy for anyone to master the art of cooking cabbage. Just chop your cabbage, add all the ingredients to a large frying pan or cast-iron skillet, and let it simmer low and slow. The result? A flavorful Southern cabbage dish that’s both comfort food and a side dish staple in many Black homes and Southern kitchens.
- Chop the cabbage, removing the core and coarsely chopping the leaves.
- Melt the butter in the skillet, then add the chopped cabbage and all other ingredients.
- Cover the pan with a lid and let it simmer.
- Afterward, cook uncovered, serve, and enjoy!
Southern-style cabbage can be cooked much faster using a pressure cooker. Get my Instant Pot quick-to-cook cabbage recipe HERE!
🎙Listen to the recipe on the Soul Food Pod episode: Best Southern Cabbage Recipes
How to know when cabbage is done
The cabbage is ready when the simmering has softened both the leaves and the onions to tender perfection. To check for doneness, carefully taste a bite. (Be careful, it’ll be hot!) If the cabbage is melt-in-your-mouth tender, it’s done and ready for you to savor the flavor!
Equipment
- Large cast iron skillet or frying pan with a lid
Ingredients
- 4 pound cabbage 3-4 pound cabbage, chopped
- 1 cup yellow onion chopped
- 1 cup chicken broth or use vegetable broth to make this dish vegetarian
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup butter unsalted or vegan butter
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning or Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cut out the cabbage's core and coarsely chop the leaves using a food processor or knife. (I remove the outer layer of cabbage leaves first and discard them before chopping.)
- Turn the stovetop on medium and add the butter to the cast iron frying pan skillet.
- Once the butter has melted, add the chopped cabbage, onion, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, Old Bay or Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to the skillet.
- Cover the pan with a lid and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the lid from the skillet and cook the cabbage uncovered for about 15 minutes, careful not to let all the broth evaporate so the cabbage is not dry.
- When cooking is finished, serve this Southern dish right away and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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Absolutely delicious. Great cabbage recipe. I grew up with cabbage cooked with bacon. My husband does not eat pork and in this recipe, I didn’t miss it. I added 1/2 teaspoon of liquid smoke and 1 teaspoon of sugar. I cooked this on top of the stove though next time I will try it in my hot pot.
Thanks so much, Crystal! I also cook it this way because my husband doesn’t eat pork – and you’re right – you won’t even miss it!
Wow! I’m planning to try this on weekend. What can I substitute for Old Bay Seasoning or Cajun Seasoning?
Celery salt and paprika are two of the main ingredients in Old Bay seasoning. So if you have these two spices, then you’ll have a good substitute!
Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe.my family loved it.will be sharing this recipe with my friends.they will like it.
I’m so happy to hear you love this Southern cabbage recipe!
I made this tonight, but in a deep skillet & added spicy chicken sausage. It was amazing. Great recipe to make a whole dish just based off a head of cabbage.
I’m so happy you love this Southern soul food cabbage recipe! Even better that you added sausage and made it your own!;-)
Loved this recipe for Cabbage! The flavor is awesome and no extra bacon fat.
Hi Shaunda! I don’t have an InstaPot but I have a crock pot/slow cooker. Do you know if I can do this recipe in that? And for how long? This looks amazing!
Great question! In the Crockpot, all the same ingredients in the pot would cook for 2-2.5 hours on high. Alternatively, you can use the stovetop method for cooking Southern cabbage here: https://thesoulfoodpot.com/southern-cabbage/
Planning on trying this with your Tuna Steak recipe as well. But I’m wondering how you might solve cooking 2 dishes, both requiring an IP and yet have only one. Do you cook the cabbage first and somehow keep it warm, or the fish? What would be your suggestion?
Just made this yesterday, except I use a dutch oven since I don’t (yet) have an Instant Pot. One of my favorite dishes!
Love that this can be made in an instant pot. Thanks for recipe.
Thank you for the recipe!!!
this is SOOOOOOOO good! You have the BEST recipes….thank you so much for sharing your cooking ..
I needed a good cabbage recipe and this one hit the spot! Thank you 😊
Thank you for this recipe
Thank You for this recipe!
I loved this recipe! I don’t have the instapot yet but I did use my cast iron skillet. Butter and Old Bay I’d never used in my cabbage but dang! I was truly missing it! For me, that did it. This recipe is
My kids really didn’t like cabbage until i tried this recipe. Thank you.
I’ve never cared much for cabbage except for stuffed cabbage rolls. Now I can’t wait to try some! Thank you for this recipe
Thank You for this recipe!
Yum!!!
Thanks for the recipe.