Best Southern Cabbage Recipe With Soul Food Flavor

A Southern cabbage recipe is the perfect comfort food for folks who appreciate down-home cooking. Perfectly spiced with a blend of savory soul food seasonings, this dish is ideal for any occasion. 

This seasoned cabbage recipe is traditionally cooked over the stovetop by frying (or sautéing) the cabbage in a large skillet. 

But today, it doesn’t have to be cooked that way!

 

 

 

 

How to make the best Southern cabbage

People have asked, “Do you still cook 4 hours in a crock pot before adding cabbage?”

The answer is easy – you can retire the Crockpot for this recipe!

An invention in the kitchen, the Instant Pot has transformed the way we cook! With this incredible cooking appliance, you can cook a Southern fried cabbage recipe quickly and easily, without having to stand and stew over a hot stove. 

Instant Pot assures no long cooking hours in the kitchen with the additional benefit of mess-free meal preparation.

 

 

What is a Southern cabbage recipe?

Southern fried cabbage is a delicious and healthy way to enjoy one of Southern America’s favorite side dishes. This Southern cabbage recipe has all the sweet, savory flavors of Southern culture bubbling in butter and smothered in chicken stock with a dash of vinegar for mighty flavorful warmth. 

No matter if you’re planning to cook a weeknight meal or a soul food Sunday dinner, this dish is sure to satisfy! 

 

What does Southern fried cabbage taste like?

A Southern cabbage recipe, sautéed, pressure cooked, or fried in a skillet frying pan, tastes like a big bowl of comfort and Southern hospitality!

Warm, sweet, and savory soul food seasonings and flavors combine for a softened, buttery-rich leafy greens vegetable dish.

A recipe so good that you’ll forget cabbage is good for you!

 

 

How do you make Southern cabbage?

Simply place the cabbage and all ingredients into a pressure cooker. In less than 5 minutes (4 minutes to be exact), you’ll have super soul food flavorful Southern cabbage, by way of what I call Magical Meals in Minutes! 

 

 

How do you make this recipe in an Instant Pot?

Southern style cabbage can be prepared in 4 minutes (Wowza!) in the Instant Pot – fully cooked and infused with lots of flavors! 

 

Don’t tell grandma – but you won’t even need the heavy pork ingredients or the ham hocks long cook times. And no more draining the bacon fat, bacon drippings, or bacon grease! 

 

So why not try something new today? 

 

Add this flavorful dish to your menu and enjoy a taste of the South.

 

 

What do you need to make fried cabbage?

This recipe has instructions for Southern cabbage using the Instant Pot pressure cooker or a cast iron skillet on the stovetop.

Check out the kitchen equipment and Southern fried cabbage ingredients listed below.

 

Kitchen equipment for a Southern cabbage recipe

• Instant Pot electric pressure cooker 
• Or, 12″ cast iron skillet with lid

 

Shop my kitchenware!

Instant Pot Duo Nova  |  The Pioneer Woman Instant Pot  | 12″ cast iron skillet with lid |  The Pioneer Woman measuring bowls  |  Kate Aspen heart-shaped measuring spoons  |  Pyrex measuring glass  |  Anthropologie dish towel  |  Amazon similar serving bowl with handles  |  Amazon cutting board  |  Diamond kitchen knives  |  Amazon small rubber spatula  | The Pioneer Woman plates  |

 

 

Ingredients for a Southern cabbage recipe

• (1) 3-4 pound cabbage, shredded
• 1 cup of chopped onion
• 1 cup of chicken broth (or vegetable broth to make this dish vegetarian)
• 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar 
• ½ a cup of butter, or Vegan butter
• ½ teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning (or Cajun seasoning)
• ½ teaspoon of garlic powder 
• ¼ a teaspoon of red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon of salt
• ½ teaspoon of black pepper 

 

 

Instructions for a Southern cabbage recipe in the Instant Pot

1. 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.)
2. Add the shredded cabbage and all the ingredients (onion, chicken apple cider vinegar, butter, Old Bay or Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper) into the Instant Pot stainless steel inner pot.
3. Sink the chopped cabbage as much as you can into the liquid broth.
4. Close the Instant Pot lid (ensure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 4 minutes.
5. When cooking is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 4 minutes.
6. To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
7. Serve this Southern cabbage recipe warm right out of the Pot, or transfer to your favorite skillet for tabletop serving, and enjoy!

 

 

Instructions for a Southern cabbage recipe on the stovetop

1. 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.)
2. Turn the stovetop on medium and add the butter to the cast iron frying pan skillet.
3. 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.  
4. Cover the pan with a lid and simmer for about 10 minutes, removing the lid to stir occasionally.
5. Remove the lid from the skillet and cook the cabbage uncovered for about 15 minutes. Be careful not to let all the broth evaporate so the cabbage does not turn out dry.
6. When cooking is finished, serve this Southern dish right away and enjoy!

Pro tip: How can you tell when the cabbage is cooked?

Carefully taste a bite of the cabbage leaves. (Caution: They will be hot!) If the leaves are very tender, the cabbage is done!

 

 

What would be good sides or other dishes to go with this?

What can you serve with this quick and easy Southern fried cabbage recipe?

Fried cabbage is an iconic Southern recipe that can be served with a variety of different dishes like corned beef and cabbage, candied yams, or baked macaroni and cheese.

 

What meat goes well with Southern cabbage?

Ham hock, smoked turkey, smoked sausage, or beef sausage. The following are just a few suggestions, but there are many more for you to explore with this fine Southern meal!

 

 

Southern cabbage recipe FAQs

Do you wash cabbage before frying it?

It’s not necessary to wash the whole cabbage before cooking. 

Instead, you can remove the outer layer of cabbage leaves first and discard them before chopping.

 

How do you cut cabbage for Southern cabbage?

Cut out the cabbage’s core and coarsely chop the leaves using a food processor or knife. 

 

Can cooked cabbage be frozen?

Cooked cabbage can be frozen, but not for an extended period. It’s best to freeze cooked cabbage and other leafy vegetables in an airtight container or freezer-safe zip-lock bag so they do not get freezer burn. 

Wrapping the zip-lock bag in foil helps to preserve the freshness. Cooked cabbage should only be frozen for up to 3 months before it will start to lose its nutritional value and flavor.

 

How long does it take to cook cabbage?

It’s important to note that Southern-style cabbage can be cooked way quicker in an Instant Pot. For example, suppose you’re following a traditional stovetop recipe for this side dish. In that case, boiled cabbage takes about 20 minutes to cook when the lid comes off after boiling.

 

Quick to cook cabbage recipe

In contrast, with your Instant Pot, you only need to cook this Southern cabbage for 4 minutes on the high-pressure cook setting. Then, followed by natural pressure release for an additional four minutes. That’s it!

 

 

Does fried cabbage have carbs?

Carbs can be a touchy subject, but one thing is true. Carbs are essential for our bodies to function correctly. So if you’ve been wondering if fried cabbage has carbs, then the answer is yes. All vegetables do!

You’ll find that most of your favorite veggies are low in carbohydrates and high in fiber. For example, one serving of cabbage only has about 2 grams of total carbohydrates – not bad at all! 

In addition, cabbage is high in vitamins C and K.

 

Can you have cabbage on a keto diet?

There’s no need to feel deprived when you’re eating cabbage on a keto diet! Cabbage is high in fiber and low in calories, making it an excellent food for those who follow this diet.

 

What can you add to cabbage for flavor?

Cabbage is a vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked, and it is often served as a side dish; if you are looking for ways to add flavor to your cabbage, look no further! 

 

This Southern cabbage recipe promises no more bland leafy vegetables with soul food flavor additions like chicken stock or broth, butter, crushed red pepper, garlic powder or minced garlic, and Cajun or Creole seasoning. 

Some folks also include Worcestershire sauce or hot sauce for an extra kick!

 

 

What meat is used to season Black folks’ Southern cabbage?

Wondering if you need ham flavoring for this recipe? Or what meat goes into the fried cabbage?

It’s not required at all, but if you’re cooking with a soul food cabbage recipe, you may season with the addition of meat. The most commonly used is a ham hock, smoked turkey leg, smoked sausage, cooked bacon, and turkey bacon.

 

Should the water cover the cabbage?

Yes, the water should cover cabbage while cooking in the Instant Pot to make the cabbage more palatable and easier to chew. Otherwise, it’d be like eating coleslaw instead of tender cabbage!

 

What do you think about substituting red for green cabbage?

Should you use green cabbage or red cabbage?

Wonder how this would taste using purple cabbage?

Despite having different colors, red cabbages and green cabbages, for the most part, have the same flavor. So they can be a substitute for one another in recipes! 

Though more nutritious, red has disadvantages like discoloring other foods in salads or cooked dishes when combined with it for an extended time.

 

 

What is better, white vinegar or apple cider vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is less acidic than white, which means it has a more mellow taste. It also contains healthy bacteria and enzymes that promote good digestion and overall health benefits for the body. 

Due to its acidity, apple cider vinegar is an excellent dressing additive for Southern cabbage because it has less tang.

 

Can vegetable broth be used in place of the chicken broth, and if so, does it taste just as good?

Many people wonder whether or not they can swap vegetable broth for chicken broth in their favorite recipes. The answer is yes, and it tastes just as good! 

Vegetable broths are made from various vegetables such as celery, carrots, onions, garlic, bell pepper, and tomatoes. Even though the flavor will slightly differ from chicken broth, it has many benefits nonetheless.

 

 

Can you use chicken bouillon instead of chicken broth for Southern cabbage?

For this easy cabbage recipe, you can use 1 teaspoon of chicken bouillon with 1 cup of water if you don’t have 1 cup of chicken broth, and the flavor profile will not change.

 

How many servings will one head of cabbage make?

Some people might say that one head of cabbage can make 8-10 servings. Others may say it makes more like 6-7, depending on the size of cabbage and how you prepare it.

 

What did you think about this recipe?

Are you looking for a hearty and comforting dish to add to your meal rotation? Look no further than this easy Southern cabbage recipe! 

 

 

 

Love cabbage? 

This sliced cabbage recipe is easy to follow, flavorful, and perfect for satisfying your hunger. Plus, it doesn’t require any prepping ahead of time, so you can enjoy a delicious meal even on your busiest days!

 

 

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