Cabbage and Sausage

Content… The Best Sausage Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage Instructions FAQs What to Serve More Crazy Good Cabbage Recipes to Try Conclusion Watch How to Make It

The Best Sausage for Cabbage and Sausage

Let me start by saying you can use any sausage you like for this recipe. Spicy Italian sausage, ground sausage, kielbasa, chorizo, or anything else works just fine. My go-to is kielbasa or another smoked sausage because the smoky flavor is so good with the Creole seasoning, bacon, and veggies.

Recipe Ingredients

• Sausage – You’ll need about 12 ounces of your favorite sausage.
• Cabbage – You’ll also need one whole medium to large head of cabbage. Remember, the cabbage will cook down quite a bit.
• Other Veggies –Bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, and minced garlic add complementary flavors without overpowering the cabbage and sausage.
• Seasonings –  Paprika, Creole seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, white pepper, and some pepper flakes give this dish depth of flavor and a little kick of heat. 💥
• Bacon – Is any recipe not improved by adding a couple of strips of bacon? I didn’t think so. 😜

How to Make Cabbage and Sausage

• Prep – Slice or chop cabbage and set aside. (Photos 1-2)
• Sauté – In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the bacon until it’s nice and browned and then set aside. Add the sausage, letting it brown for about 2 minutes, along with the onions, garlic, paprika, and Creole seasoning. Stir frequently to prevent any burning. (Photos 3-6)
• Cook – Next, add the tomatoes and green bell pepper to the pan and cook everything for another 5 minutes. (Photos 7-8)
• Simmer – Finally, add the cabbage, Worcestershire sauce, and white pepper. Bring everything to a simmer, cover the pan, and let it cook for about 10-14 minutes or until the cabbage reaches your desired tenderness. (Photos 9-10)
• Adjust – Taste test your cabbage and sausage and add more Creole seasoning, salt, and pepper flakes as needed.
• Serve – Plate cabbage and sausage piping hot and enjoy!

Recipe Variations

1. This dish is hearty, but add potatoes if you want to make it even heartier! You may need to add just a touch of water to the pan while the cabbage cooks after sauteing them so they become tender. 
2. You can leave out the spicy seasonings if you want a mild version of this recipe. (But I wouldn’t recommend it. 😜)
3. You can leave the bacon out for a leaner version, and this dish will still taste amazing.

Tips and Tricks

1. Be sure to stir everything frequently when sauteing. If you notice anything sticking or trying to burn, you can add another tablespoon of oil to the pan.
2. When you’re shopping for cabbage, pick a head that is firm and heavy. Choose a different head if it has blemishes, brown spots, or looks moldy. 

Make-Ahead Instructions

You can definitely make this dish a day or two ahead of when you plan to eat it. Just store it in the fridge in an airtight container and reheat it on the stovetop or microwave. I don’t recommend freezing it because the texture of the cabbage gets a little funny when you thaw it out.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serve cabbage and sausage fresh out of the skillet, piping hot. Store leftovers in airtight containers in the fridge.

When reheating leftovers, you’ll get the best texture if you warm them up on the stovetop over medium heat. You can microwave if you’d like, but I feel like it makes the cabbage a little soggy.

FAQs

What Goes With Cabbage and Sausage

You can serve cabbage and sausage over a bed of steamed rice if you’d like. Personally, I like serving it with other Southern specialties, such as hot water cornbread or Southern hoe cakes.

If you’re aiming for a full-on Southern feast, also consider making a couple of other sides. Southern baked mac and cheese and Southern black-eyed peas are two of my favorite sides for this! 😋

More Crazy Good Cabbage Recipes to Try

1. Southern Fried Cabbage
2. Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
3. Vegan Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
4. Cabbage Egusi Soup
5. Ethiopian Cabbage

Conclusion

Could it get any easier? No, I don’t think so! This is comfort food at its quickest in a simple, down-home one-skillet recipe. Have you tried this cabbage and sausage recipe? If so, let me know what you think in the comments below! ❤️

Watch How to Make It

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This blog post was originally published in March 2018 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.