This super easy to make Crockpot Cabbage combines crispy bacon, tender cabbage, onions, garlic, and broth then cooks to perfection in your crockpot or slow cooker! That tasty comfort food flavor that you grew up enjoying at your Grandma's house comes alive in this simple cabbage recipe!
Perfectly cooked cabbage is completely effortless in your crockpot - it's super tender and absolutely delicious!
Crockpot Cabbage Recipe
The ease and simplicity of this flavorful cabbage dish are amazing! It's a great part of so many weeknight dinners, and this versatile dish can be served as a side or main!
I totally had to bring Grandmas up in this post. This is one of those childhood memory recipes for me!
My Grandma and Great Grandma both made this cabbage with bacon. Whenever we had roasted chicken, this was a standard side dish. Served in double portion, maybe a touch of butter added. Yum!
Plus the kids have always loved it! So this is a family favorite recipe from way back that I hope you and your family enjoy as well!
How To Cook Cabbage in a Slow Cooker
This is an extremely easy recipe to make, as I have said, it is truly effortless. To use a full head of cabbage, I suggest using a 6-quart crockpot or slow cooker.
Anything smaller will be crowded and not cook as quickly. If you have a smaller crockpot, reduce the recipe in half including the cooking times.
Crockpot Cabbage with Bacon Ingredients
- Bacon - and lots of it, save some for topping the cabbage when serving up your meal! I prefer thick-sliced bacon and the better the quality, the better the flavor of your cabbage. Crisping the bacon before cooking with the cabbage is suggested, although not required. It does enhance the flavor, in my opinion.
- Cabbage - use a whole head of cabbage if your crockpot or slow cooker can accommodate it. Otherwise, use a half recipe for half a head of cabbage.
- Onion - to save time, and skip sautéing my onion I simply add dried minced onion. You can, of course, sauté your onion in the bacon grease after the bacon is crisped. Use half a large white or yellow onion, or a whole small onion. Baby pearl onions are also a delightful option that can be added without sautéing them first.
- Garlic - minced garlic adds to the flavor and should not be skipped. If you don't have garlic ( or onion ) on hand, use garlic powder ( or onion powder ) starting with 1 teaspoon of either or both. Add more after cooking and tasting, if needed.
- Broth - several cups of broth are needed to cook the cabbage and keep it from burning in your crockpot. I use chicken broth or stock, although vegetable broth works equally well.
- Seasoning - salt and pepper your crockpot cabbage to taste after cooking. The salt from the broth and bacon is usually almost enough for my tastes, but I do love a healthy amount of freshly ground pepper!
- Butter - ( optional ) the cabbage cooks up to have a wonderfully buttery taste already. However, on occasion, I do like to add a few tablespoon-size pats of butter. I stir these in before adding my seasoning to make my buttered cabbage with bacon.
*To make this a vegetarian dish, omit the bacon, use vegetable broth, and skip adding any butter. The cooked cabbage is still wonderfully tasty!
Cook the Cabbage
- Core the cabbage and chop it up, then add it to your crockpot.
- Add onion, garlic, crisped and chopped bacon, and broth or stock to the cabbage. Stir to combine.
- Cover and set your crockpot or slow cooker to high. Cook for 4 hours or until the cabbage is tender. On the low setting, cook your cabbage for 6 - 8 hours.
- Taste the cabbage when done and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately and top with additional crunchy bacon if desired.
Serve your cabbage over rice, with oven-roasted chicken, Parmesan crusted chicken, Parmesan-crusted pork chops, balsamic chicken, ham, or with kielbasa.
Storing Leftover Crockpot Cabbage
Store your remaining cooked cabbage in an airtight container. The cabbage will refrigerate for up to 3 - 5 days.
To reheat your cabbage simply microwave until warm, or pan fry in a non-stick skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the cabbage for 3 -5 minutes, or until completely heated.
More Great Crockpot Meals!
Crockpot Cabbage
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon (browned and chopped - or ½ cup of real bacon crumbles)
- 1 small cabbage (cored and chopped)
- 1 tablespoon garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoon dried minced onion (or ½ large white or yellow onion sauteed in bacon grease)
- 4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth - 1 32 oz carton)
- each, salt & pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Brown the bacon in a non-stick skillet or frying pan over medium heat by placing the bacon strips into the pan while cold. Bring to medium heat and allow the bacon to cook until it releases naturally from the pan. Turn the bacon and cook the other side until it releases again. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, then chop the cooked bacon into strips or pieces.
- Place the chopped cabbage into a 6 qt crockpot or slow cooker (reduce the recipe in half if you have a smaller crockpot).
- Add the onion, garlic, bacon, and broth, then combine with the cabbage.
- Cover and cook on high setting for 4 hours, or on low setting for 6-8 hours until the cabbage is tender. *If you are using a half head of cabbage, the cabbage is cooked in 2 hours at high heat and approximately 4-6 hours on low heat.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve using a slotted spoon. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
Anonymous says
All of my ER co-workers keep asking me to make this again so I’m making a triple batch for this New Year’s weekend at work! I like to add a few seasoned croutons on top of each cup for added texture! LOVE THIS!
Sam says
Angela;
Thank you for sharing your GraMa's cabbage recipe, it brings back such fabulous memories!! I almost forgot this favorite, I cannot wait to make it tomrw.
Looking forward to many more!