How to Cook Cabbage
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Learn how to cook cabbage in the Instant Pot! It is the easiest and most delicious recipe for sautéed cabbage. Cooked to tender, savory perfection, this easy recipe is paired with onion, garlic, and best of all, bacon. A healthy and simple side dish.
Instant Pot Cabbage Recipe
Sautéed cabbage recipes can be hit or miss. There are a lot of cooking methods out there that will give you soggy cabbage leaves, some that produce tender cabbage, and others that seemingly leave you with raw cabbage!
That’s why I made it my mission to learn how to make cabbage in the Instant Pot. This incredibly simple recipe only has 5 ingredients, yet it is packed with plenty of flavors. So if you are constantly having your sauteed cabbage end up flopping, you’ve got to try this recipe.
My life saving Instant Pot!
Buy Now → My Instant Pot has come to the rescue more times than I can count. This simple pressure cooker makes the most amazing pork chops, chicken fajitas and even crab legs. And now, with this recipe, you can make the best cabbage side dish.
The best part? This healthy recipe is Keto and Paleo friendly. You can finally stop eating flavorless low carb recipes, and eat something like this — one of my favorite cabbage recipes. This veggies gets a bad reputation sometimes, but if you learn how to cook cabbage properly it can be irresistibly tasty!
So let’s get started and make this great recipe.
Why We Love It
Sautéed cabbage is a staple on St. Patrick’s Day, but it’s so good you’ll end up making it year-round! And this Instant Pot version is made super fast!
- Using the Instant Pot means the entire cooking process, from prep to serving, will only take about a half hour. You only need 1 minute of cook time with high pressure!
- The tasty bacon is what separates this recipe from all the other cabbage dishes. It gives this whole dish a big oomph in the flavor department.
- The cabbage comes out perfectly tender and not mushy. If you hate cabbage, it’s likely because you’ve never had it when it was cooked well.
- Cabbage is very budget friendly and you can make a large amount all at once. Great if you need an easy way to make a large side dish.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. It’s my favorite way to prepare cabbage, and I know you’re going to love it too. Here’s what you’ll need:
- cabbage
- bacon
- onion
- garlic
- broth
Substitutions and Variations
You can substitute turkey bacon if you prefer. However, you’ll need to add 2-3 tablespoons of butter or bit of olive oil because it doesn’t render nearly as much fat. Coconut oil would work too.
I don’t recommend using pre-cut cabbage, because it’s usually shredded into very tiny pieces that will get mushy. Grab a whole head of cabbage and chop it up yourself. It only adds a few more minutes, and it isn’t difficult to do.
You can use either chicken or vegetable broth. I make my own vegetable broth In the Instant Pot! Just make sure to use a flavorful broth so that the cabbage has flavor too.
Traditionally the Irish dish is cooked with butter, so feel free to substitute butter for the rendered bacon fat.
There are many different cabbage varieties, but I like to use green cabbage in this recipe. I do not recommend using red cabbage.
Because the bacon imparts a lot of salty flavor to the cabbage, I normally add little or no salt. Wait until tasting the finished dish before seasoning with salt, if desired.
How to Cook Cabbage
The great thing about learning how to cook cabbage is that it is really easy! So even if this is your first time making it, you have a great chance at success. Here’s how to make cabbage:
Prep the Cabbage Leaves
Remove the outer leaves of the cabbage. Then cut the raw cabbage into 4 quarters (wedges), and then cut away the core. Roughly chop the wedges into small pieces, about 1 inch in size.
Then dice the onion, mince the garlic, and dice the uncooked bacon into small pieces.
Cook Bacon
Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode and then add the diced bacon and cook. Stir occasionally, until the bacon is crispy.
Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon and set it aside. Do not pour out the bacon grease.
The best Whole30 compliant bacon!
Buy Now → If you aren’t going to immediately continue on to the next step and add the vegetables, then turn off the Instant Pot. This will keep the bacon grease from splattering everywhere.
Sauté and Deglaze
Add the cabbage, onion, and minced garlic to the Instant Pot. Saute them in the bacon grease for 3-5 minutes, stirring often.
Pour chicken broth or vegetable broth onto the sautéed cabbage and then use a wooden spoon to deglaze the bottom of the pan by scraping the brown bits from the bottom. This is where the flavor is at!!
Pressure Cook
Close the lid to the Instant Pot and then turn it to high pressure. Then set the time for 1 minute. It will take about 15 minutes for it to get up to pressure and begin counting down, which is just the right amount of time to cook the cabbage perfectly!
As soon as the cooking time is done, very carefully turn or press the steam release valve to allow to steam to release. This is called a Quick Pressure Release or QPR.
Once all the steam has been released, carefully open the lid. Then comes the best part!
Transfer the cabbage to a serving bowl or dish and sprinkle it with a little pepper to tast.
Just before you’re ready to serve, top the cabbage with the crispy bacon bits and toss everything together. This will help keep the bacon nice and crispy. Serve and enjoy!
How to Store Leftover Instant Pot Cabbage
Allow leftovers to cool completely, and then transfer to an airtight container or plastic bag. Store the cabbage in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. I do not recommend freezing leftover sautéed cabbage.
My favorite way to reheat this cabbage is in a skillet. You don’t need to add oil to the pan. Simply saute the leftovers over medium heat for 4-5 minutes, until heated through.
What to Serve with Sautéed Cabbage
The cabbage comes out ultra savory, tender, and buttery, and it pairs beautifully with mains like oven baked brats, Kielbasa, pork loin, or roasted chicken. It even goes great with my Irish farmhouse vegetable soup! These air fryer pork chops are also perfect to pair with cabbage!
Get adventurous, and pair anything hearty alongside this yummy cabbage.
Tips for Success
- For crispy bacon, wait until just before serving to add the crispy bacon.
- To keep this recipe Keto, low carb, and whole 30, use sugar-free, nitrate-free bacon, like Porter Road Bacon.
- Make this ahead of time by chopping all the vegetables and bacon up to 2 days in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook.
FAQ
It is not absolutely necessary to soak cabbage before cooking it. However, many people like to use this method because it can help take some of the pungent flavor away and keep the cabbage crispy. In this recipe, however, you do not need to soak the cabbage before cooking it!
Cabbage has loads health benefits! It is low in calories and rich in vitamin K, folate, vitamin c, and B6. It’s a dish you can feel good about serving up.
More Irish Instant Pot Recipes
I’d love to hear about your experience making this recipe! Please leave a comment and rating below!
Instant Pot Cabbage
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 cups diced green cabbage about 1/2 large cabbage
- 8 oz. bacon
- 1 onion
- 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 3 cloves garlic
- black pepper to taste, optional
Instructions
- Remove the outer leaves and core from the cabbage. Roughly chop into 1 inch pieces. Dice the onion. Mince the garlic. Dice the bacon into bite sized pieces.
- Set the Instant Pot to Saute mode. Add the bacon and stir occasionally until the bacon is crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon and set it aside. Do not pour out the bacon grease.
- Add the cabbage, onion, and garlic to the Instant Pot. Saute for about 5 minutes, stirring often. Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth. Deglaze the bottom of the pan, by using a wooden spoon to scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Turn the Instant Pot to High Pressure for 1 minute. Once the timer is done, turn or press the steam release valve to allow to steam to release (Quick Pressure Release/QPR).
- Carefully open the lid. Transfer the cabbage to a bowl and sprinkle with pepper. To keep the bacon crispy, top with the bacon and gently toss together just before serving.
Notes
- Make ahead: Chop all the vegetables and bacon up to 2 days in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook.
- Store leftovers: Transfer the cooled leftover cabbage to an airtight container or bag. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, per USDA.
- Reheat leftovers: Saute the leftovers over medium for 4-5 minutes, until heated through. No oil is needed.
- You may substitute turkey bacon, but add 2-3 Tablespoons of butter or oil because it doesn’t render nearly as much fat.
- Because the bacon imparts a lot of salty flavor to the cabbage, I normally add little or no salt. Wait until tasting the finished dish before seasoning with salt, if desired.
