Slow Cooker Cabbage

This incredible Slow Cooker Cabbage recipe is perfect for cabbage lovers! The sliced cabbage becomes so incredibly tender with just the right amount of crispy texture. It’s heavenly!

This is one of the best cabbage recipes I’ve ever made! It’s soft, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and bursting with bold flavors. The sweet onion and smokey bacon are a perfect match. They add a salty and sweet touch to the cabbage.

I include apple cider vinegar for a refreshing zing. It adds a subtle sour note that balances out the entire dish. If you have never had slow cooker red cabbage with bacon, now is your chance!

If you are searching for similar recipes to this one, we have you covered! Crockpot Corn on the Cob, Brussels Sprouts in the Slow Cooker, and Crockpot Collard Greens are just as magical.

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Cabbage Recipe

• It goes with any meal. You can serve literally anything alongside this delectable cabbage.
• Family favorite. To my surprise, even kids loved this recipe! Cabbage takes on other flavors so well.
• Easy prep. The preparation for this slow cooker cabbage is so incredibly simple!

Ingredients in Sweet and Sour Cabbage

The ingredients used to make this recipe for cabbage in the slow cooker include salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and spice! A little of everything to make a deliciously balanced veggie side dish.

• Purple cabbage: I love the flavor and texture of purple cabbage. Cooked cabbage takes on the flavors of what it is cooked with and takes off the bitter edge. Green cabbage can be used in this recipe as well. 
• Oil: I use vegetable oil but you can also use canola oil.
• Seasoning: For this recipe, we use a mixture of fresh and dried spices. The fresh thyme adds herbaceous flavor while the fennel seeds have a slightly spicy flavor with a hint of licorice. The cinnamon and allspice add warmth while the salt and pepper add depth and bring all the flavors together.
• Bacon: Any variety of pork bacon will work great. The bacon fat helps to soften and caramelize the onions before they go into the slow cooker.
• Onion: One of my favorite ingredients is fresh onion. I use a sweet yellow onion. It adds a wonderful texture to any dish.
• Apple cider: Adding apple cider balances the sweet and sour flavor of the cabbage while also adding a touch of moisture while it cooks.
• Brown sugar: The rich flavor of brown sugar is perfect for this crockpot cabbage recipe.
• Apple cider vinegar: This is an important ingredient because it adds a touch of acid 
• Bay leaves: Not only do bay leaves add a delightful aroma to dishes, but in this case, they also ensure all of the ingredients are perfectly balanced.

⭐️ Hint: Don’t drain the bacon grease. This will add extra fat and flavor to the cabbage as well as help to par-cook the onions.

Look at the recipe card below for the measurements and any additional details.

Variations

• Crockpot cabbage with apples: Add sliced or diced apples to the slow cooker with the cabbage for added sweetness and freshness. The flavor pairs great with cabbage and onions.
• Asian-Inspired: Cook the cabbage in soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and a splash of sesame oil. You can even use rice vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar.
• Butter and herb: Add a few slabs of butter, chopped thyme, and rosemary to the crockpot. Garnish with fresh parsley for more depth and freshness.

How to Make Slow Cooker Cabbage

Here are the instructions on how to make cabbage in the crockpot.

Step 1: Microwave the cabbage. Combine cabbage, oil, salt, and pepper. Cook for 15 minutes in the microwave. Drain the excess liquid and pour the cabbage into the slow cooker. 

Step 2: Cook the bacon. Add the bacon pieces to a medium-high skillet and cook for 5 minutes. Add the onion to the bacon and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Combine with all of the seasonings and cook for another minute.

Step 3: Deglaze the pan. Add ½ cup of the apple cider to deglaze the pan.

Step 4: Getting it in the slow cooker. Add the bacon mixture on top of the cabbage in the slow cooker. Pour in the remaining cider and top with bay leaves. 

Step 5: Cook. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours.

Step 6: Serve. Stir in brown sugar and apple cider vinegar right before serving. Enjoy as a side dish to your favorite meal.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this Old Fashioned Cabbage Recipe or Roasted Red Cabbage Steaks.

Serving Suggestions

• Corned beef and cabbage are always a winning combination! Serve this slow cooker cabbage with Air Fryer Corned Beef or Instant Pot Corned Beef and Veggies.
• I love cabbage with a delicious roast recipe like Mom’s Easy Stovetop Pot Roast.
• Try Easy Sweet and Sour Pork Chops or Crunchy Parmesan Pork Chops with this cabbage recipe. I love serving the cabbage over pork chops!
• Need a tasty veggie to join a starch? Try making Supreme Mashed Potato Casserole or Air Fryer Frozen Biscuits to go along with the cabbage.

Tips

• Make it ahead: Prep your cabbage in the crockpot in the morning or the night before. It will take several hours to cook so it will be ready in time for dinner.
• Don’t add raw cabbage to the slow cooker. I found that the cabbage was cooked perfectly after softening it in the microwave. It’s a very important step that you shouldn’t skip.
• Remove the core. The center of the cabbage is tougher than the leaves so be sure to cut it out when slicing it.
• Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or until warm. I recommend against freezing cooked cabbage to preserve its texture.

Recipe FAQs

More Delicious Cabbage Recipes

Do you like cabbage? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.

Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

Sweet and Sour Cabbage (Slow Cooker)

Karin and Ken

This incredible Slow Cooker Cabbage recipe is perfect for cabbage lovers! The sliced cabbage becomes so incredibly tender with just the right amount of crispy texture. It’s heavenly!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4 -6 servings

Calories 358 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 medium head purple cabbage cored and thinly sliced (about 2 ½ lbs)
• 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 6 slices bacon chopped
• 2 cups sweet onion thinly sliced
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme divided
• ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon allspice
• 2 cups apple cider
• 1 Tablespoon packed light brown sugar
• 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 3 bay leaves

Instructions

 

• In an extra large microwave safe bowl, combine the cabbage, oil, salt and pepper.
• Cook for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
• Once the cabbage is tender, drain the liquid and transfer cabbage to the slow cooker.
• In a 12 inch skillet over medium high heat, cook the bacon for 5 minutes, then add onion and cook for an additional 3 minutes or until tender.
• Add 1 teaspoon of the thyme, fennel seeds, cinnamon and allspice. Cook for 1 additional minute.
• Pour ½ cup of apple cider into the hot skillet and deglaze the pan then pour over the cabbage in the slow cooker.
• Pour the remaining apple cider (1 ½ cups) over the mixture and top with 3 bay leaves.
• Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6. Stir in brown sugar and apple cider vinegar right before serving.

Notes

• Make it ahead: Prep your cabbage in the crockpot in the morning or the night before. It will take several hours to cook so it will be ready in time for dinner.
• Don’t add raw cabbage to the slow cooker. I found that the cabbage was cooked perfectly after softening it in the microwave. It’s a very important step that you shouldn’t skip.
• Remove the core. The center of the cabbage is tougher than the leaves so be sure to cut it out when slicing it.
• Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or until warm. I recommend against freezing cooked cabbage to preserve its texture.

Nutrition

Calories: 358kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 8gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 869mgPotassium: 812mgFiber: 6gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 2410IUVitamin C: 126mgCalcium: 135mgIron: 2mg

Keyword slow cooker cabbage, sweet and sour cabbage

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