20 Underrated Cabbage Recipes That Taste Like a Million Bucks

It's coming for the crown 👑

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
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Published January 28, 2026
Theodora Kaloudis
unstuffed cabbage rolls in a large pan at a table setting with a stack of plates, a small bowl of minced herbs, glasses of water, and a pepper cracker

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

On top of its low price tag, the humble cabbage can be transformed into a variety of showstopping meals. Crisp and peppery when raw, it becomes tender and silky with a nutty, slightly sweet flavor when braised, roasted, or sautéed. We've pulled together a collection of flavor-packed cabbage recipes to showcase this veggie's full potential. From Caramelized Cabbage Spaghetti to Roasted Cabbage Steaks with Garlic Breadcrumbs, these recipes will show you why we're crushing on this crunchy crucifer.

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  • Caramelized Cabbage Spaghetti

    A white bowl with caramelized cabbage spaghetti, garnished with chopped parsley

    Simply Recipes / Molly Adams

    "Cabbage is the type of vegetable I can always feed my kids. When cooked for a long time, it gets extra sweet and doesn’t send out any green vegetable red flags; it blends seamlessly into the spaghetti." —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

  • One-Pot Ground Beef and Cabbage

    Onepot ground beef and cabbage dish being cooked in a green Dutch oven with a wooden spoon

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle

    "Instead of waiting until I have a precious free afternoon to devote to boiling cabbage leaves, preparing a filling, shaping the rolls, and slowly cooking them, I just make a dish with most of the components of cabbage rolls—cabbage, ground beef, and something tomato-y—but that takes a fraction of the time." —Megan Scott, former Senior Editor

  • Braised Pork Roast and Sauerkraut

    Braised pork roast served over sauerkraut with a side of mashed potatoes in a bowl

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "Hands-down, mashed potatoes are the thing you must serve with pork and sauerkraut. Says who? My family. We love how they absorb the savory juice from the roasting pan. Egg noodles would be a decent alternative, as would boiled red potatoes. As for a vegetable side, come on! That wonderful kraut is all the side you need." —Sara Bir, former Senior Editor

  • Melting Cabbage

    Overhead view of 6 wedges of melting cabbage on a pink plate

    Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman

    "I’m always looking for new ways to enjoy this cruciferous veg, so I’ve tried many versions of what’s known as 'melting' or 'melted' cabbage—a silky, slow-cooked recipe that coaxes out every bit of flavor a head of cabbage has to offer." —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 20 below

  • Swamp Cabbage

    Angled view of a green dutch oven of swamp cabbage with a metal serving spoon

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

    "The resulting dish is rich, umami-forward, and just a bit spicy. The cabbage is tender but not mushy, and the liquid is perfectly reduced so that it clings to the vegetables. The hearts of palm are tangy and a little bit crunchy and offer a nice contrast to the cabbage. All of the vegetables soak up all the flavors from the sauce, making every bite delicious." —Afton Cyrus, Recipe Developer

  • Kimchi Avocado Quesadilla

    Elise Bauer

    "Wow, what a perfect combo! The spicy pickled cabbage goes great with buttery toasted flour tortillas and melted cheese." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Cabbage Casserole

    A serving of baked cabbage casserole with cheese and crispy toppings a yellow serving spoon in the dish

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Abby Armstrong

    "Sautéing the cabbage before baking makes it nice and tender and gives it a bit of browning that brings out its natural sweetness. The cooked cabbage is combined with cream of chicken soup and sour cream to make a thick, creamy sauce that clings to every bite." —Megan Scott, former Senior Editor

  • Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

    unstuffed cabbaged rolls in a large pan

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    "If you’re craving the flavors of these classic cabbage rolls but don't have the time and don’t require a super polished presentation, then this is the recipe for you. These unstuffed cabbage rolls use all of the same ingredients but are ready in a fraction of the time." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

    Continue to 9 of 20 below

  • Sweet and Sour Cabbage Soup

    Sweet and Sour Cabbage Soup in a Large Pot with Some Raised Up Using a Wooden Spoon, and Surrounding the Pot, a Kitchen Linen and a Stack of Bowls with Utensils

    Simply Recipes / Micah Siva

    "I prefer to use green cabbage in this sweet and sour cabbage soup. It’s hearty but breaks down without getting too soft or mushy. Red cabbage will leave you with an odd-colored soup, and napa cabbage doesn’t have the same texture or chew." —Micah Siva, Recipe Developer

  • Italian Sausage and Cabbage Stew

    Italian Sausage Cabbage Stew
    Elise Bauer

    "I'm so used to German treatments of cabbage, I'm surprised at how good this stew is with the Italian sausage and Parmesan. I don't usually think of Parmesan and cabbage paired together, but they really do work in this stew." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Haluski (Cabbage and Noodles)

    A bowl of haluski a noodle dish with cabbage and bacon served on a table with a yellow cloth

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "Haluski is a dish I return to when I miss my mom, and while it’s not the same as her serving up a plate, it always feels like a big, warm hug when I take a bite. It’s humble, simple, and satisfying." —Melissa Knific, Recipe Developer

  • Cabbage and Potato Soup

    4-Ingredient Cabbage and Potato Soup in a large pot with a ladel

    Simply Recipes / Stephanie Ganz

    “A quart of this soup lives, rent-free, in my fridge from September to March, and I’m always glad it’s there.” —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

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  • Kimchi and Spam Fried Rice

    Bowl of kimchi and spam fried rice at a table setting with another seving in a bowl, a plate with a fried egg, two spoons on the counter, and a blue kitchen linen

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "It is always best to use cold, day-old rice—or even rice leftover from takeout—to make fried rice, since it absorbs the seasonings better. Hot, fresh rice has too much moisture to absorb the seasonings and becomes gummy." —Cynthia Christensen, Recipe Developer

  • 5-Ingredient Braised Cabbage “Lasagna”

    Braised cabbage lasagna in a pot with a wooden spoon

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    "I love serving this meal with hunks of crusty bread, or slices of garlic bread would be great if you’re feeling ambitious. If you want to dress up your serving, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, grated parmesan cheese, or some freshly chopped parsley or basil are all delicious here." —Amanda Luchtel, Recipe Developer

  • Sweet and Sour Melting Cabbage

    Cooked wedges of cabbage arranged in a skillet

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "For the best sear, use a cast-iron skillet here, if you’ve got one. Sear the cabbage wedges in batches before braising them (rather than crowding them in the pan) to ensure each piece gets great char." —Frank Tiu, Recipe Developer

  • Reuben Casserole

    Alison Bickel

    "Making one sandwich after the other usually means that either I’m standing at the stove grilling the next sandwich or my husband is while everyone else eats. For nights when you want the flavor of a Reuben without spending your evening at the stove, this Reuben Casserole is here for you." —Summer Miller, former Senior Editor

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  • Roasted Cabbage Steaks with Garlic Breadcrumbs

    Forkful of crunchy garlic breadcrumbs over simply roasted cabbage on a black plate.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "For this recipe, the cabbage is cut into thick slabs to look like beef steaks, and while they aren’t exactly a replacement for meat, they do make a hearty vegetarian side dish or main fare." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Chicken and Corn Casserole

    Chicken, Corn, and Tangy Cabbage Casserole in a baking dish with a serving spoon

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer 

    "Fermented, pickle-y cabbage is a simple stir-in that adds umami depth, crisp-tender texture, and just the right touch of acidity to cut through the richness of the casserole. It’s the unexpected twist that transforms a classic casserole into something far more interesting." —Anne Wolf, Recipe Developer

  • Best Cabbage Soup

    A pot of cabbage soup with wooden a spoon in it and toast on the side

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Andrew Bui / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

    "Have you ever looked in your fridge and the only vegetable in good shape looking back at you is a single head of cabbage? Cabbage is like that; it can outlast almost any other vegetable. Now even if all you have in your fridge is some cabbage, there are only a few more pantry ingredients you need to make this easy, nourishing, and light cabbage soup." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Cabbage Au Gratin

    Angled view of a cast iron skillet of cabbage au gratin after baking

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "Here, green cabbage gets treated to a stunning glow-up by way of heavy cream, Gruyère, Parmesan cheese, and a buttery breadcrumb topping for a guaranteed showstopper: cabbage au gratin." —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

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