Looking for a simple vegetable side dish? Try this slow cooker red cabbage. Sliced cabbage is cooked to perfection, and the result is an excellent side to serve with roast meat dishes.
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Red cabbage is a traditional British side dish, commonly served with a roast dinner, and particularly during Christmas.
This slow cooker red cabbage recipe is the easiest red cabbage dish I've ever made. It's so convenient to make it in your Crockpot, as it leaves your other appliances free to work on other sides as well as your entree.
As it's naturally vegetarian, vegan (if not using honey), dairy free, gluten free, nut free and soy free, red cabbage is typically a dish that all of your guests can enjoy!
Ingredients
Red cabbage: Raw red cabbage is the main ingredient in this dish.
Onions: Add a lovely flavor. I prefer to use red onions, but any onions will do.
Honey or maple syrup: Added to sweeten the dish slightly. You can also use brown sugar or agave nectar instead.
Apple cider vinegar: A little dash of vinegar adds a lot of flavor to the dish. It also allows the red cabbage to keep its amazing color.
Cinnamon: I love to add this to give the dish an autumnal flavor. Can be omitted.
Instructions
Slice the red cabbage into thick slices, then add it to a slow cooker along with sliced onion, apple cider vinegar, honey and cinnamon.
Leave the dish to cook for 3-4 hours on high, or 6-8 hours on low. Add any seasoning such as salt and pepper to taste.
Serve the Crockpot red cabbage immediately, or keep it on warm for up to a few hours until you're ready to serve it.
Top tips
Here is all of my best advice to succeed with this recipe:
- Slice your cabbage in thick, bite-sized slices. Really thin slices tend to cook much faster and turn a bit mushy.
- If you're hesitant about the vinegar flavor, you can use a smaller amount, however I highly recommend keeping vinegar in the dish. Red cabbage typically turns blue unless it's cooked with vinegar.
- Don't remove the lid from the slow cooker as the cabbage cooks. If you do, a good amount of heat is removed from the slow cooker, and the cooking time is typically increased significantly.
Serving suggestions
Here are some of my favorite dishes that I love to serve with my slow cooked red cabbage:
- Honey Roasted Potatoes - These roasted potatoes are a great side dish which pairs well with the red cabbage.
- Honey Glazed Roast Chicken - A simple but delicious entree.
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken - You can easily cook a whole chicken in your air fryer. The result is a tender and juicy chicken with perfect crispy skin.
- Gammon Steaks - Gammon steaks are really easy to cook, and make for a quick and easy dinner.
- Roasted Green Beans - Crispy roasted green beans are such a great side dish, and it goes with anything!
Variations
Other spices: Feel free to add any other spices or seasoning that you like, such as caraway seeds.
Vegan: Substitute maple syrup or agave nectar for the honey if you want the red cabbage to be vegan.
With juice: Scandinavians often cook their red cabbage in currant juice, elderberry juice or cranberry juice. This adds a little extra flavor, and also sweetens the dish. If you want to give it a go, add ½ cup juice (150 ml) to the slow cooker.
Mixed cabbage: You can easily mix white and red cabbage. This is a fantastic way to use any leftover cabbage. The white cabbage often takes on the color of the red cabbage, so it's hard to tell the difference between the two anyway.
Extra fruit or veg: Some people add grated apples, cranberries or carrots to their cabbage. This makes the dish a little more interesting, and also makes it a little sweeter.
Leftovers
Leftover red cabbage can be stored in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can reheat the leftovers in a microwave or pot, and serve them as a side dish.
You can also re-use the leftover cabbage in other dishes, such as Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet, stir fries, soups and more.
Frequently asked questions
Red cabbage should always be cooked with a little vinegar, as it preserved the color of the vegetable. Without it, the color usually fades to blue.
You can slice red cabbage with a knife or a mandolin.
You might also like these recipes
- Slow Cooker Ratatouille
- Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
- Sauteed Red Cabbage
- Sauteed Spinach with Garlic
- Honey Roasted Parsnips
- Air Fryer Carrots
- Spiralized Potatoes
Recipe
Slow Cooker Red Cabbage
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Slice the red cabbage into thick slices, then add it to a slow cooker along with sliced onion, apple cider vinegar, honey and cinnamon.
- Leave the dish to cook for 3-4 hours on high, or 6-8 hours on low. Add any seasoning such as salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve the Crockpot red cabbage immediately, or keep it on warm for up to a few hours until you’re ready to serve it.
Video
Notes
- Slice your cabbage in thick, bite-sized slices. Really thin slices tend to cook much faster and turn a bit mushy.
- If you’re hesitant about the vinegar flavor, you can use a smaller amount, however I highly recommend keeping vinegar in the dish. Red cabbage typically turns blue unless it’s cooked with vinegar.
- Don’t remove the lid from the slow cooker as the cabbage cooks. If you do, a good amount of heat is removed from the slow cooker, and the cooking time is typically increased significantly.
- Leftover red cabbage can be stored in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can reheat the leftovers in a microwave or pot, and serve them as a side dish.
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