Crunchy Quick Pickled Cabbage

Skip To Recipe

This foolproof pickled cabbage recipe requires just a few simple ingredients and can be prepared in just a few minutes and enjoyed after refrigerating (about 12-24 hours). By pouring the warm brine over sliced cabbage in a jar, you'll have a condiment that boasts a perfect balance of sweetness, zest, and tanginess.

The best part is that you can use any cabbage variety you prefer, be it green, savoy, or napa cabbage, making it adaptable to your tastes.

I use a little trick that I learned from my Ukrainian mom to make cabbage look beautifully pink, sweet, and flavorful. Read more in the ingredients section.

Add a zingy flavor and a pop of color to your meals by incorporating pickled cabbage to be served with hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken tacos (or swap the traditional slaw in our fish tacos with shrimp!), buddha bowls, and so much more.

Table Of Contents

Why It's Yummy

Simple recipe - This recipe takes just 10-15 minutes of active prep time, and in just 24 hours, you'll have a fantastic accompaniment or side dish to enjoy. Plus, you only need 4 simple base ingredients + spices.
Perfect condiment - This pickled red cabbage goes with almost anything! It's the perfect condiment to level up wraps, sandwiches, and grilled meat, giving your dishes a burst of zesty goodness.
Suitable for diets - Naturally vegan, plant-based, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free.

This cabbage is a delicious side dish recipe that the whole family will enjoy like my sauteed asparagus, zesty corn on the cob, and mayo free potato salad.

More Delicious Cabbage Recipes

If you have some remaining cabbage, you can make these readers' favorite recipes next:

What Type of Cabbage Can I Use?

You've got options! Whether you go with green or red cabbage, both varieties hold their crunch and soak up the pickling liquid, offering a delightful blend of subtly sweet and tangy flavors. Napa and savoy cabbage are excellent too!

Red Cabbage vs. Green Cabbage

I prefer using green cabbage varieties over red as green cabbage is softer and milder in flavor.

Red vs. Purple Cabbage

Red and purple cabbage are essentially the same type of cabbage. Confusion often arises due to regional differences in naming. In some places, it's referred to as "red cabbage" due to its deep purple hue, while in other regions, it's called "purple cabbage" for obvious reasons.

They both have a peppery flavor and are rich in nutrients. Both are great for salads, coleslaw, and this pickling recipe, adding even more color and taste to various dishes.

Ingredients

My few comments on the ingredients + don't forget to read the Tips section!

The full recipe and ingredients can be found in the recipe card below this post.

If you haven’t pickled vegetables yet, this recipe is a good start! You only need a couple of jars, vinegar, cabbage, beets, and spices. The recipe comes together in minutes and can be enjoyed the next day!

📋 JULIA'S TIP This recipe is versatile and can be used with any type of cabbage, like green, savoy, or napa cabbage.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Cabbage - My go-to is green cabbage because it's tender and complements the color of the beets beautifully. However, red cabbage works well too. When selecting, opt for a large head of cabbage (you need to look for a denser and not very loose cabbage head which won’t yield crunchy results) to ensure the best flavor and texture.
Beets - When pickled, beets bring a delightful, sweet, and juicy texture to the mix. For the best results, go for red beets as they tend to be sweeter. Alternatively, you can also experiment with carrots or other root vegetables if that's more to your liking. You can also make it just cabbage pickles, and leave the beet out entirely 9I just love the sweet flavor and color it adds).
Garlic - Garlic adds a punchy, zesty, and savory element to the pickled cabbage. For maximum flavor infusion, cut the garlic cloves into thick slices, allowing them to release their deliciousness into the brine.
Spices and seasonings - My personal favorites include pink or black peppercorns, bay leaves, and mustard seeds. This recipe is a simple base for you to start with and feel free to customize with more if you like. Read more about variations in this section. Just make sure to use whole spices for the best results, avoiding ground ones.
Sugar - Balances the tanginess of the vinegar. Alternatively, you can use honey or a more neutral option: agave nectar.
Salt - Opt for very fine salt or pickling salt. This type of salt not only tenderizes the ingredients but also imparts a savory flavor while balancing out the vinegar's acidity. Salt will soften your cabbage while still keeping it crisp. Unlike with red cabbage which is tougher, we don’t need to add too much salt here.
Pickling liquid - The best vinegar to use for pickles is anything with 5-6% acidity. Distilled white vinegar or milder versions like apple cider vinegar, rice wine vinegar, or you can also use red wine vinegar. All are great for quick pickles.

📋 As this is an old family recipe, I wanted to keep it the same and cut the cabbage into thicker slices rather than shredding it. This is how I’ve grown up enjoying it but you can go for a sauerkraut style by slicing the cabbage thinly (mandoline does the trick perfectly) or opt for store-bought cabbage or coleslaw mix.

crunchy pickled cabbage with beets in a black bowl.

How To Sterilize Jars For Pickling

Wash the mason jars and lids thoroughly with hot, soapy water, making sure to rinse off any soap residue.
Submerge the washed jars in a large pot of boiling water, ensuring they are fully immersed. Boil the jars for approximately 10 minutes to effectively sterilize them.
In a separate pot, boil the lids and bands (if using) for about 5 minutes.
Carefully remove the jars, lids, and bands from the boiling water using jar tongs or a clean towel. Place them on a clean, dry surface, allowing them to air dry completely before using for pickling.

Instructions

The best part is that this quick-pickled cabbage doesn't require fermentation and can be ready to eat in as little as 24 hours (though for optimal flavor, refrigerate for 2 days before serving).

Prepare the cabbage and beets. Remove the outer leaves and with a sharp knife cut out the core. Divide the cabbage into 4 wedges and chop each roughly into about 1 ½ inches slices.

If you like, you can also slice it like you would for a simple cabbage slaw.

For the beetroot, cut it in half and then into thin slices.

In sterilized jars place a layer of cabbage, beet, and garlic. Repeat the layers until the jar is full.

sliced garlic, sliced beets and cabbage.

cooking the pickling liquid in a saucepot.

Make the vinegar marinade. In a saucepot place sugar, salt, peppercorns, bay leaves. Pour 6 cups of water on top and take it to a boil over medium heat. Simmer for 3 minutes until salt and sugar have dissolved in the liquid.

Remove from heat and stir in the vinegar. Let cool slightly for 1 minute before pouring into the jars. Be careful when handling the hot pot with liquid!

cabbage and beets stuffed in jars with pickling brine.

Pour the liquid until all the cabbage is fully submerged leaving an inch on top to close the lid easily and let the cabbage marinate.

Refrigerate. Seal the lids tightly and let them fully cool at room temperature (it took me about 5 hours). After that refrigerate for 24 hours and enjoy! For more flavorful pickles, let marinate for 2 days.

For this recipe, I used 1 32-ounce and 1 x 64 ounce jars (thsi recipe makes about 3 litre of brine in total).

📋 TASTE & TEXTURE Once pickled, cabbage takes on a slightly softened texture while maintaining a delightful tangy crunch. The zesty brine, complemented by a hint of sweetness from the beets, is simply delicious.

pickled cabbage with beets in a black bowl.

Recommended Equipment

Large Mason Jars.
Medium or large saucepan.
Chef knife - for precise vegetable cutting.
Measuring cups and spoons
Mandoline slicer if you want it coleslaw style.

Tips

If you prefer a sweeter pickled purple cabbage, add a bit more sugar to the boiling liquid. But I didn’t find it necessary in this recipe to add more!
For your crunchy cabbage to last longer: allow the jars to cool to room temperature before refrigerating. Avoid putting them in the fridge while they are still hot.
While you can eat the cabbage after 12-24 hours, letting it sit longer in the fridge will intensify its delicious taste (2-3 days is even better).

Is Pickled Cabbage Healthy?

While raw cabbage itself is highly nutritious, quick pickled cabbage typically uses vinegar, sugar and salt as the pickling agents, which means it may have a higher sodium content due to the salt.

However, you can control the amount of salt used in the pickling process to make it more suitable for your dietary needs.

While it may not provide the same gut health and probiotic benefits as fermented sauerkraut, refrigerator pickles still retain many of the nutrients present in raw cabbage.

Additionally, just like with any pickles, for better digestion, it is best to stick to small quantities as a condiment or side dish, rather than a large serving.

Serving Suggestions

What To Do With Pickled Cabbage?

The pickled cabbage not only has a tangy flavor but also adds a beautiful bright red color to your plate. It's a delicious condiment or side dish that goes with almost any dish.

How and what to eat with cabbage:

As a topping - for hot dogs, burgers (try the cabbage instead of carrots in this chickpea burger), sandwiches, and lettuce wraps. You may need to slice it thinly if you want to add it as a topping.
Nutritious topping - for veggie Buddha bowls/grain bowls, udon or soba noodles, ramen.
As a filling - for spring Rolls and salads!
As a side dish - for main courses such as pork chops or tenderloin + mashed potatoes (my favorite combo), rump steak, mushroom chicken thighs.
For sharing - add it to Charcuterie Board, and epic taco boards.
For Breakfast - with scrambled eggs, poached eggs or frittata.
Pickled Cabbage for tacos - it's great ‘’slaw’’ for tacos! Our favorite tacos to serve pickled cabbage with cauliflower chickpea tacos, steak tacos, carnitas, and blackened fish tacos.

Freezing And Storing Instructions

For safe storage, always use glass jars rather than plastic containers or bowls without lids. Glass jars with tight-fitting lids will help preserve the pickled cabbage's quality.

To Store. Allow the jars of pickled cabbage to cool down to room temperature before placing them in the refrigerator. As we are using raw ingredients, especially garlic which can reduce the pickle's shelf life to 2-3 weeks. I stored the cabbage for 3 weeks and in the end, it still had a nice crunch to it!
Store the pickled cabbage in the middle of the fridge to avoid freezing in the back or shortening its lifespan in the doors. Keeping it in the optimal spot will help maintain its freshness for a longer period.

Variations

More veggies - you can add different vegetables to the cabbage, such as large grated carrots or thin sticks, thinly sliced bell peppers, sliced onions, shallots, or small cauliflower florets.
Pickled cabbage slaw Mexican style - try Curtido!
Korean pickled cabbage - try traditional napa cabbage Kimchi!
Japanese - try sweet and sour flavors of red cabbage.

More Condiments

Love Pickles?

Try my pickled daikon radish and pickled asparagus where I’ve used the same quick pickling method and these are ready to enjoy after 24 hours!

We also love this corn relish and pickled red onion and radish recipes.

Customize The Brine

Ingredients like cabbage, beets and vinegar + water can’t be changed but when it comes to spices and seasonings you have loads of options:

Use any vinegar you prefer, like apple cider vinegar for a tangy and fruity taste, or white, rice, or red wine vinegar for a softer flavor.
Add extra flavor with ingredients such as curry leaves, caraway seeds, mustard seeds, celery seeds, turmeric, coriander seeds, or lime/lemon juice. Or use a homemade or store-bought pickling spice.
To kick up the heat, incorporate chile peppers, jalapeno, red chili pepper, red pepper flakes, or sliced ginger for some spiciness.
For a herbal twist, throw in a few sprigs of oregano, dill, thyme, chives, or rosemary.

Is Pickled Cabbage Same as Sauerkraut?

While both use cabbage as a base, quick pickled cabbage and sauerkraut have significant differences.

Sauerkraut can be considered a type of pickled cabbage that relies on fermentation, providing more natural probiotics, and is typically served warm with a tender texture and a slightly sour taste.

Quick Pickle recipe is pickled with vinegar and salt, and is ready after 12-24 hours after refrigerating.

Pickled Cabbage vs Kimchi

Kimchi is spicy and is made by mixing chopped cabbage with chili peppers, garlic, ginger, and fish sauce, and then fermenting it.

Pickled cabbage, on the other hand, involves soaking thinly sliced cabbage in a brine of water, vinegar, and salt.

FAQs

Can I make pickling brine without sugar?

The addition of sugar to pickling brine is often used to add sweetness and balance out the acidity from the vinegar. However, if you prefer a brine without sugar or are looking to reduce your sugar intake, you can simply omit it from the recipe. But be ready for some soury pungent kick!

How long will pickled cabbage last for?

Because this is a quick pickled vegetable recipe and not processed or canned, and using fresh ingredients, it needs to be stored in the refrigerator. Unlike canned pickles, it won't have a long shelf life, but if kept in an airtight container, it can stay fresh for up to 2-3 weeks.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, double or triple it! But as it won’t last for too long and is best enjoyed in small quantities, make as much as you’d consume or share with family and friends!

Is sauerkraut pickled cabbage?

Sauerkraut is a type of pickled cabbage. It is made using fermenting process and is different from ‘’quick’’ pickled cabbage like this recipe.

Is pickled cabbage good for you?

While quick pickled cabbage doesn’t undergo a fermenting process where probiotics are formed like sauerkraut it still boosts some nutrition from the raw cabbage itself. I also want to draw your attention to the salt and sugar which plays an important role in our health and their quantities can vary greatly in different recipes. Feel free to customize these to your liking, but keep in mind that less salt you add the less softer cabbage will be.

Can dogs eat cabbage?

Whereas small quantities of cabbage can be okay for dogs, pickled cabbage can be unsafe for dogs.

Thinking About Dessert? Try These!

For all baking recipes, hop on to our Desserts collection.

I would appreciate it so much if you left a comment about this recipe below! Subscribe to join the TYB newsletter and receive free recipes straight to your inbox! Let's connect via Facebook, IG & Pinterest!

Recipe