Meal Ideas for Cabbage (Easy, Good, and Cheap!)

What to make with cabbage that is easy, good, cheap, and good for you?

One of my favorite things to do is find a grocery deal and and then come up with a bunch of ways to use it that are satisfying, delicious, and distinct from each other. Cabbage is one of those ingredients consistently! It’s cheap (especially at certain times of year), versatile, and nutritious.

Why Put Cabbage in Your Cart

Recently, I saw cabbage on sale for 39¢ a pound at my local grocery store. What a bargain! The price varies these days, and most of the time I see it for 59¢ to 79¢ a pound. I hope it doesn’t become like kale and brisket. Those two ingredients used to be super-cheap – a staple of bargain shoppers like myself – and then they got fancy. Now I rarely see a deal on them. I guess you have to be of a certain age to remember when those were reliable grocery store bargains. But for now, cabbage is still underused and overlooked, which makes it a great affordable ingredient.

The reason it is gaining a little more popularity though is probably that it’s very good for you, according to nutritionists. I’ve seen recommendations that you should have at least one serving of a cruciferous veggie every single day. Add it to the shopping cart along with broccoli, and keep reading for some great ideas for how to use it.

Cabbage is also a really versatile veggie. You can eat it raw or cooked, use it in soups or as a side dish, mix it into salads, or make it the star of the show like in coleslaw. You can find it in all sorts of cuisines, including German, Asian, Irish, Southern, and others.

You might not want to cook cabbage on a fellowship night or another time when you’re having people over to your house, because it is rather pungent. 🙂 Totally worth it though if you’re inviting them to eat with you. But you can use it raw in a salad and that’s probably even healthier anyway.

Quick tip: If you want an even easier option, Sam’s Club sells big bags of pre-shredded coleslaw mix for about $2. That’s a huge bag that can make multiple meals and save you the chopping time! (See: How I Save Money at Sam’s Club)

My Favorite Cabbage Meal Ideas

Here are some of my favorite ways to use cabbage – whether you buy it whole or grab that convenient coleslaw mix:

• Cabbage and smoked sausage – One of our go-to dinners. Just sauté sliced sausage with cabbage, onions, and a little seasoning. So simple and so good! See: Meal Ideas for Smoked Sausage
• Cabbage soup – I also call it hamburger soup. This can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. Add ground beef, tomatoes, and vegetables for a hearty soup that stretches your grocery budget. (See: Hambuger Soup Recipe)
• Beef and cabbage skillet – You don’t have to be camping to enjoy my Campfire Beef, Cabbage, and Apple Skillet. That just happens to be where I first came up with the idea for what became one of our family’s favorite meals.
• Coleslaw – The classic! Perfect for barbecues, fish tacos, or as a side for pulled pork sandwiches. You can make traditional mayo-based slaw or vinegar-based for a lighter option.
• Fish tacos with cabbage slaw – Our daughter used to make us fish tacos with a cabbage slaw on top and it was delicious. The crunchy, cilantro-tangy slaw is the perfect complement to fish.
• Asian-style cabbage stir fry – This is where that bag of coleslaw mix really makes it quick. Add whatever protein and vegetables you have on hand. I usually serve it with brown rice too.
• Egg roll in a bowl – This is almost the same as the stir-fry, to be honest, but the veggies are less crisp, it’s usually made with ground pork or chicken, and often topped with won-ton strips.
• Salad mix-in – One meal we eat consistently in the warmer months is salad, and I try to give our salads a lot of variety to keep them from getting boring. I absolutely love mixing in shredded raw cabbage for extra nutrition and crunchiness. (Don’t tell anyone, but dill pickle slivered up and mixed in with the slaw is a good salad topper too!)
• Fried cabbage – Southern-style fried cabbage with bacon or ham is humble comfort food at its best. It isn’t hard to make. I don’t use a recipe for this.
• Cabbage in soup or stew – Add chopped cabbage to just about any vegetable soup or beef stew for extra nutrition and bulk.

More Things You Can Make With Cabbage

If you’re looking for even more ways to use cabbage, here are some recipes and ideas that are popular, even though I haven’t made them all myself yet:

• Cabbage rolls – These take a bit more time, but I love them because they’re filling and delicious. Stuff cabbage leaves with ground beef and rice, then simmer in tomato sauce.
• Bierocks – This is a Kansas classic. It’s like a dinner roll stuffed with ground beef and cabbage. It is so good, but the one time I made them I knew I would just get them premade from then on. Now that we moved out of state, I might need to try making them again because I don’t think you can get them just anywhere.
• Corned beef and cabbage – The traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal.
• Cabbage and noodles – Okay, I haven’t ever tried this, so make it when you’re feeling adventurous. It’s basically buttered noodles with sautéed cabbage. People also eat cabbage with mashed potatoes.
• Cabbage steaks – This was trendy on the Internet a while back. Pan-fry thick slices of cabbage in olive oil until they’re golden and caramelized. I have to say it does look pretty delicious.
• Red cabbage slaw – Use red cabbage for a beautiful, colorful slaw with apples and a tangy vinegar dressing. Red cabbage is usually priced higher than green, but it’s still an awesome option.

How Do YOU Cook With Cabbage?

Cabbage is one of those veggies I keep as a secret. (Except I’m writing about it here, lol.) It’s affordable, nutritious, and so versatile. Whether you’re making a quick weeknight stir fry, a hearty soup, or a classic coleslaw, it’s healthful and budget-friendly. Next time you see it on sale, grab a head (or two!) and try one of the cabbage meal ideas. You might be surprised how excellent meals made with cabbage can be.

Just don’t share it tooooo much. I don’t want it to get too fancy.

What is your favorite way to make cabbage? I’d love to hear in the comments.