Southern Soul Food Cooked Cabbage Recipe

This Southern-Style Cabbage is the ultimate comfort food—tender, buttery cabbage simmered with smoky sausage or bacon and simple seasonings for a flavorful, soul-food side dish. It’s an easy, one-pot recipe that pairs perfectly with just about anything, from fried chicken to cornbread. Whether you grew up eating Southern cabbage for holidays and Sunday dinners, or you’re trying it for the first time, this recipe brings all the down-home cooking, you’ll love!

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There are so many ways to cook cabbage. You can fry it, steam, boil it, etc. This Black folks’ style method is simmered on the stove along with some amazing spices and broth.

Key Ingredients

You will need a handful of simple ingredients you probably already have at home.

• Cabbage
• Butter
• Garlic
• Broth
• Smoked Sausage or Bacon
• Salt and Pepper

What Makes it Southern

Southern-style cabbage gets its signature flavor from a few key ingredients and cooking techniques that are common in Southern cuisine:

• Smoky, Savory Flavor – It’s often cooked with sausage, bacon, ham hocks, or smoked turkey, adding a deep, smoky richness. Bacon grease or butter also enhances the flavor.
• Slow Simmering – Instead of quickly sautéing, the cabbage is simmered low and slow until it’s ultra-tender and infused with seasoning.
• Simple, Bold Seasonings – Southern cabbage isn’t bland! It’s typically seasoned with onion, garlic, salt, black pepper, and sometimes a little spice from red pepper flakes or Creole seasoning.
• A Buttery, Comforting Finish – My mama always used butter! It adds richness, making it extra silky and satisfying.

How To Cut Cabbage?

Ensure you have a quality knife. Slicing cabbage definitely needs one. I have always found chopping the cabbage into quarters works best.

1. Remove Outer Leaves – Peel off any wilted or damaged outer leaves.
2. Cut the Cabbage in Half – Place the cabbage on a cutting board, stem-side down. Use a sharp knife to slice it in half from top to bottom.
3. Cut into Quarters – Slice each half in half again, making four wedges.
4. Remove the Core – Lay each wedge flat and cut off the tough, white core at an angle.
5. Chop – into strips so they cook down evenly.

What Type of Seasoning to Use

A few things I like to add for flavor: chicken broth, onions, garlic, andouille sausage, and butter. A lot of people will cook their cabbage in water. I add broth to just about anything (including collard greens) because it enhances the flavor, especially while simmering on the stove.

Onions and garlic are staples because they are so aromatic. Andouille sausage is a Southern staple. It’s often associated with Louisiana cuisine. It’s smoked sausage that is double smoked. You can even find andouille chicken sausage at Trader Joe’s.

Butter is used for obvious flavor and texture. When cooked in butter this cabbage will glide right off your fork.

How to Make Southern Cooked Cabbage

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Slice the cabbage in half to create 2 portions. Slice the core/stem out of both. Then slice each piece in half. You should have 4 smaller chunks of cabbage. From there, slice each into smaller strips.
2. Place a Dutch oven or large pot on medium-high heat.
3. Add butter and sliced sausage. Cook for 3-4 minutes until both sides are cooked through.
4. Add in the garlic and stir.
5. Add the sliced cabbage and broth.
6. Cover the pot and cook.

Cook Time/How Long to Cook

The cook time will vary based on how tender you like your cabbage. I like mine really tender, but not mushy. This takes 25-30 minutes. If you like for the cabbage to have some firmness and a bite, you can cook it for 15 minutes. Check in on it often (if it’s your first time making the recipe) and adjust accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions/FAQs

Variations/Substitutions/Add-ins

• Red Pepper Flakes
• Bacon
• Ham Hocks or Smoked Turkey
• Creole or Cajun Seasoning
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Brown Sugar or Honey
• Bell Peppers
• Tomatoes

You must pair cabbage with classic soul food sides like Cornbread Muffins, Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread, or Homemade Blueberry Cornbread.

What to Serve With Southern Cabbage

Southern Mustard Greens
Southern Collard Greens
Southern Okra and Tomatoes
Southern Style Green Beans
Southern Baked Beans
Cornbread Casserole
Southern Black Eyed Peas
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar
Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas

Main Dishes to Pair

Stuffed Turkey Legs
Baked Crab Legs
Slow Cooker Turkey Legs
Baked Turkey Wings
Smothered Turkey Wings
Cajun Roasted Turkey
Smothered Chicken
Air Fryer Honey Glazed Ham
Southern Baked Ham With Pineapple

Freezer Tips

You can freeze the cabbage for up to 8-9 months. Thaw the frozen cabbage overnight in the fridge.

You may also enjoy my Southern Fried Cabbage, Instant Pot Southern Cabbage, and Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage recipes.

Watch step by step video instructions here on Youtube.

Southern Soul Food Cooked Cabbage Recipe

Brandi Crawford

This Southern-Style Cabbage is the ultimate comfort food—tender, buttery cabbage simmered with smoky sausage or bacon and simple seasonings for a flavorful, soul-food side dish. It’s an easy, one-pot recipe that pairs perfectly with just about anything, from fried chicken to cornbread. Whether you grew up eating Southern cabbage for holidays and Sunday dinners, or you're trying it for the first time, this recipe brings all the down-home cooking, you’ll love!

5 from 7 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course dinner, lunch

Cuisine soul food, Southern

Servings 6 servings

Calories 179 kcal

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Equipment

• Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 head fresh cabbage Mine weighed about 3 pounds
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 6-7 ounces smoked sausage Sliced into rounds I use andouille.
• 2 garlic cloves Minced
• 1 1/2 cups broth Chicken, beef, or vegetable is fine. I used chicken.
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Slice the cabbage in half to create 2 portions. Slice the core/stem out of both. Then slice each piece in half. You should have 4 smaller chunks of cabbage. From there, slice each into smaller strips.
• Place a Dutch oven or large pot on medium-high heat.
• Add the butter and sliced sausage. Cook for 3-4 minutes until both sides are cooked through.
• Add in the garlic and stir.
• Add the sliced cabbage and broth. The cabbage will take up most of the room of the pot. It will wilt down when it cooks.
• Cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 15-30 minutes. The cook time will vary based on how tender you like your cabbage. I like mine really tender, but not mushy. This takes 25-30 minutes. If you like for the cabbage to have some firmness and a bite, you can cook it for 15 minutes. Check in on it often (if it’s your first time making the recipe) and adjust accordingly.
• Open the pot. Season with salt and pepper. Taste repeatedly and adjust as necessary. Serve when cool.

Video

Notes

• I like to use chicken sausage in this recipe. Use whatever you prefer.
• You can omit the sausage or substitute it for bacon, turkey bacon, etc if you wish.
• You can double or triple the recipe by doubling, tripling the ingredients. You may need to adjust the cook time. Check in frequently and use your judgment.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 179kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 6gFat: 15g

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Nutrition Data

Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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