Sausage and Cabbage Stir Fry in 30-Minutes!

Name: Smothered Cabbage With Sausage Skillet
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: ½ pound sausage or medium breakfast 3-4 sausages (i used pork, thick slice); 3 1/2 cups green cabbage; salt and black pepper to taste; cooking oil; 1 teaspoon brown sugar; ½ cup water or beef broth; 2 teaspoon butter (salted or unsalted)

This smothered cabbage and sausage stir fry showcases the two main ingredients of this easy, tasty dish without adding too many other components.

The smothered cabbage with sausage can be a hearty main meal or a side dish.

The thick and juicy pork sausages are first browned before deglazing the skillet and sauteeing the cabbage until tender.

A delicious flavor in every bite.

If you love cabbage recipes, you should definitely try these readers' favorites: Ground Beef And Cabbage, Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls, and our cheesy Cabbage Pie, which is on permanent rotation in our family.

a wooden spoon in the cabbage with sausage skillet

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Easy Cabbage Recipes

If you have extra cabbage and need recipe ideas, check out this extensive roundup collection of the best cabbage recipes.

📋 You can find the full ingredient list in the Recipe Card below the article.

Ingredients

Sausage - I've used thick pork sausages, which I've sliced for this recipe. Regular pork sausages or medium breakfast sausages can also be used. You could also try this recipe with turkey sausage, andouille sausage, Bratwursts, Kielbasa, chorizo, and Italian sausage.
Green cabbage - I only recommend green cabbage for this dish as the flavor is milder and blends better with the sausage. You can also use sauerkraut instead of regular cabbage.
Salt and black pepper - To taste. The sausages are high in sodium, so be careful when adding the seasoning.)
Oil - You can use your regular cooking oil but ensure it has a neutral flavor so that it doesn't clash with the rest of the ingredients. Vegetable oil is perfect.
Sugar - Brown sugar is added for a subtle sweetness and to balance flavors. Light brown sugar is also suitable.
Water or beef/chicken broth - Once the sausages are browned, saute the cut cabbage in the skillet. Use filtered water for cooking. You could also deglaze the skillet using white wine or broth.
Butter - You can use salted or unsalted butter. When using salted butter, reduce the salt called for in the ingredients.
Serve with parsley and sour cream.

Gluten-free note: Whatever sausage you use, check the ingredients to make sure it is gluten-free, or use ground meat instead.

How To Make Cabbage and Sausage

We cut the cabbage into thicker slices for sautéing, or you can also cut it into larger cubes.

Cut the cabbage in half for thick slices, and remove the core. Take one half and slice about 1 ½ inches thick slices.

If the cabbage is too wide like I used, I cut the longer slices into half later.

Related: Braised Cabbage

Or cut it into thick cubes instead. Both sliced cabbage is suitable for sauteeing and frying.

Add some cooking oil to a medium skillet over medium heat, and brown the sausages. Remove to a side plate.

Related: Fried cabbage with bacon

pork sausage slices cooking in the skillet

In the same skillet add a splash of water to deglaze the pan, if too many browned bits, carefully remove them with a paper towel first.

Add the cabbage, ½ cup water, or broth for more flavor, salt, pepper, and sugar.

Stir through and simmer with a closed lid for 10-15 minutes over medium-low heat until the cabbage softens and most of the water evaporates.

We don't want the cabbage too soft, it needs to be slightly crunchy.

Add butter and stir through until melted. Return the sausages and simmer for a couple more minutes.

This recipe makes about 2 main course portions or 2-3 side dish servings. Enjoy it as is with steamed potatoes, mashed potatoes, or rice.

Or serve as a side dish with pretty much any meal at your dinner table.

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Cabbage benefits for weight loss

Cabbage is a great source of fiber which can greatly improve your digestion. Its fiber and water content helps with the prevention of constipation and maintaining an overall very healthy digestive system.

For folks who want to maintain a healthy gut on daily basis, eating cabbage in its fermented form (such as sauerkraut) will keep your digestion intact.

Tips

Add some minced garlic when browning the sausage for extra savory flavoring to this dish.
Add a slight kick of heat to this recipe by including some red pepper flakes in the seasoning.

When selecting your cabbage, choose a head that is heavy and firm without any blemishes or dark spots.
You can include other tasty vegetables, such as chopped onions and bell peppers.

It's better to underseason this dish and add more towards the end than too much at the start. This is especially true for the well-seasoned sausage (it will depend on which sausage you are using, of course). These are likely to have a high sodium content. Alternatively, choose ground meats or sausages with very little seasoning or none at all.

JULIA'S TIP: When preparing cabbage, don't cut it too thin. Otherwise, it will cook too quickly and become overly soft instead of deliciously crunchy. Cut it wider than thinner.

Freezing And Storing Instructions

To Store. Properly stored sautéed cabbage lasts in the fridge for 2-3 days. Let it cool, transfer it to an airtight container, seal it, and refrigerate.
To Reheat. Reheat on the stove, adding a splash of warm water or a bit of butter or ghee if it's dry.
To Freeze: You can freeze this dish for up to 2 months, but the cabbage will not be as crisp once thawed. Freezing cooked cabbage isn't ideal.
Make Ahead. Cook the sausage 1-2 days in advance, and you can chop the cabbage 3-4 days ahead for quick meal prep!

Easy Cabbage Recipes

ALL SIDE DISH and DINNER recipes.

At the Yummy Bowl you'll find more than one pork recipe, especially these popular pork recipes such as Sausage Dirty Rice and Pork Tenderloin.

And the best part is that they are very easy to make (like most of my recipes!) and all, are suitable for a total beginner.

Just here for the cabbage? I got you covered. You'll love how easy these cabbage recipes are:

If you love cabbage recipes, I have a delicious collection of 40+ Best Cabbage Recipes (featuring both green and red cabbage recipes).

You'll find very easy and trending Pork recipes below:

Before You Head Out

If you gave this recipe a try, I'd be so thankful if you could leave a ★★★★★ rating and review below. It helps other readers, supports my work, and means the world to me. Thank you for being part of The Yummy Bowl family. Happy cooking! ❤️

Recipe Card

Julia

Smothered Cabbage With Sausage Skillet

5 from 13 votes

This smothered cabbage with sausage skillet recipe showcases the two main ingredients of this easy and tasty dish without having to add too many other components into the mix.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings: 2 servings

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Calories: 419

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Video Notes

Ingredients

½ pound sausage or medium breakfast 3-4 sausages i used pork, thick slice
3 ½ cups green cabbage
salt and black pepper to taste about 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper, but be careful with seasoning as the sausages tend to be high sodium
cooking oil
1 teaspoon brown sugar
½ cup water or beef broth
2 teaspoon butter salted or unsalted

Equipment

Method

We cut the cabbage into thicker slices for sauteing or you can also cut the cabbage in larger cubes. For thick slices, cut the cabbage in half, and remove the core. Take one half and slice about 1 ½ inches thick slices. If the cabbage is too wide like I used, I cut the longer slices into half later.
In a medium skillet, over medium heat, add some cooking oil and brown the sausages. Remove to a side plate.
In the same skillet add a splash of water to deglaze the pan, if too many browned bits, carefully remove them with a paper towel first. Add the cabbage, ½ cup water or broth for more flavor, salt, pepper, sugar. Stir through and simmer with a closed lid for 10-15 minutes over medium-low heat until the cabbage softens and most of the water evaporated. We don't want the cabbage too soft, it needs to be slightly crunchy.
Add butter and stir through until melted. Return the sausages and simmer for a couple of minutes more. Serve hot as a main course with some potatoes, rice, or as a side dish. It makes about 2 good-sized side portions.

Nutrition

Calories: 419kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 19gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 92mgSodium: 779mgPotassium: 493mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 330IUVitamin C: 46mgCalcium: 64mgIron: 2mg

Video

Notes

This recipe makes about 2 main course portions or 2-3 side dish servings. Enjoy it as is with steamed potatoes or rice. Or serve as a side dish at your dinner table with pretty much any meal.
When selecting your cabbage, choose a head that is heavy and firm without any blemishes or dark spots.
The cabbage shouldn't be cut too thin, otherwise, it will cook too quickly and become overly soft instead of deliciously crunchy. Cut it wider than thinner when preparing the cabbage.
It's better to under season this dish and add more in towards the end than add too much at the start. This is especially due to the sausage being well seasoned (will depend on which sausage you are using, of course). These are likely to have a high sodium content. Alternatively, choose ground meats or sausages with very small seasoning or any at all.

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Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.

Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.

FAQs

Do you rinse off cabbage before cooking?

Always rinse cabbage before cooking or eating to remove any worms, insects, or grit.

Remove the outer leaves, cut the cabbage, and rinse the pieces in a colander under running water. The easiest method is to cut the cabbage first and then rinse the sliced pieces in a colander.

What meat goes with cabbage?

Cabbage has a mild flavor, especially green cabbage, making it a great pairing for various meats, including pork, beef, lamb, chicken, and even fish like salmon.

How do you cut cabbage for sauteing?

Place the head of the cabbage on a non-slip surface or cutting board and cut it in half from top to bottom. Remove the core and then place the cut side down. Slice the cabbage into thick pieces for this dish.

Can you overcook cabbage?

Yes, it's possible to overcook cabbage. If you do, it will become limp and can produce an unpleasant smell, which is caused by the release of sulfur compounds in the cabbage when it's cooked for too long.

Is cabbage healthy for weight loss?

Yes! Cabbage is low in calories, with just 33 calories in one cup. It's also low in fat and high in fiber.

Other health benefits of cabbage include improved complexion of the skin, richness in antioxidants, and vitamin C.

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Comments

5 from 13 votes (6 ratings without comment)

Easy Cabbage Recipes

Ingredients

How To Make Cabbage and Sausage