Cabbage and Sausage Skillet

Name: Cabbage and Sausage
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 14 ounces smoked sausage (sliced into 1/4 inch rounds); 1 tablespoon butter; 1 cup sweet onion (chopped); 1 small head cabbage (8 cups) (cored, chopped into 1 inch pieces ); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon kosher salt (more to taste); fresh cracked pepper (to taste)

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Cabbage and Sausage is a quick and simple dish all made in one skillet. The buttery tender cabbage and onions is the perfect pair to smoked sausage. Serve it with a side of rice or potatoes for a complete and satisfying meal!

Cabbage and Sausage in a large white bowl with a spoon in the side.

Cabbage is great raw in salads but it’s also delicious cooked like in this Cabbage and Sausage dish. It is so good when cooked until tender in a bit of butter, onions, and garlic. For more dishes with cooked cabbage, try Chicken Cabbage Potato Tacos with Apple Pico de Gallo, 3- Ingredient Kalua Pork, and Weight Loss Cabbage Soup.

Smoked kielbasa and cooked cabbage in a skillet.

Kielbasa and Cabbage

One pot dishes like this one are the best! It’s got great flavor, comes together in 30 minutes, and there’s just one pan to clean! #winning!

Cabbage and Sausage on a plate with crispy potatoes.

Ingredients for Cabbage and Sausage:

Oil-Just a little oil is needed to brown the sausage. Browning the sausage not only makes it pretty but adds so much flavor.
Smoked Sausage– Any variety of smoked sausage will work. My family prefers Polska Kielbasa. For more heat and a Cajun take to this dish, use andouille sausage.
Butter– This prevents the cabbage from sticking to the pan but it also adds flavor.
Cabbage– This simple vegetable holds a lot of flavor and health benefits. The recipe calls for 8 cups which seems like a lot but it really cooks down.
Garlic– This adds delicious flavor to the dish. Stick with fresh minced garlic.
Salt– I like to add the salt at the beginning to help draw the water out quickly and cook faster. Remember that if using table salt instead, you’ll just need 1/2 teaspoon fine table salt instead of 1 teaspoon kosher salt.

Ingredients on a marble surface- onions, butter, oil, sausage, garlic, and cabbage.

How to make Cabbage and Sausage:

Time needed: 20 minutes.

Brown the Meat
Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add sausage and cook for 2-3 minutes (until browned), flip, and cook another 2-3 minutes until browned. Remove and set aside on a paper towel lined plate. Cover to keep warm.
Cook the Cabbage
Reduce heat to medium-low and add butter to the pan. Once melted, add the onion and cook until soft (about 5 minutes). Stir in the cabbage, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is wilted and almost tender.
Assemble
Add the sausage back to the pan. Toss together and cook until cabbage is tender and sausage is warm.

Close up shot of browned smoked sausage.

FAQs

Can I add more spices?

Of course! This dish is simple but still has great flavor from the sausage, onion, and garlic. Feel free to make it your own by adding additional spices. For more of a Cajun version, add 1 teaspoon Homemade Cajun Seasoning. For Italian, add 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning.

What else should I serve with it?

I like to serve potatoes or rice with this dish. Try Garlic Roasted Red Potatoes, Easy Twice Baked Potatoes, Shredded Cream Potatoes or Garlic Mashed Potatoes with it.

Cabbage and smoked sausage in a skillet with a wooden spoon in the side.

TOOLS USED TO MAKE THIS MEAL:

Knife Set– I got this when I got married almost 11 years ago. I use them multiple times a day and they’re still going strong!
Cutting Board– I love having various sizes of cutting boards and these are awesome because they won’t slip and slide around on the counter.
Pot & Skillet Set– These are the skillets and pots I use. They have a heavy bottom making them sturdy and cook the food evenly. I use these multiple times a day.
Cast Iron Skillet– A cast iron skillet is a kitchen must have! It heats evenly and gives meats a nice crust. I love browning smoked sausage and ground meats in this pan.

Close up shot of kielbasa and cooked cabbage.

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