Braised Red Cabbage

$2.66 recipe / $0.53 serving
by Beth Moncel
4.74 from 23 votes
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You guys know how I feel about cabbage, right? It’s like, the best thing ever. It’s super cheap, doesn’t spoil quickly, is super healthful, and can easily bulk out a meal. Braised Red Cabbage is one of those super simple side dishes that takes very little effort and can work as a side to a variety of meals. In the summer you have coleslaw, in the winter you have braised cabbage.

Braised Red Cabbage on a Plate with Roasted Chicken and Mashed Potatoes

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(pictured above with Pressure Cooker Chicken and mashed potatoes)

I love serving Braised Red Cabbage with savory dishes like roasted meat and mashed potatoes and find that it’s light, tangy flavor helps lighten the sometimes heavy feel of fall and winter meals.

Plus the color! OMG the color. It’s like have a pile of jewels on your plate. If you want to enhance the color even more and happen to be opening a bottle of red wine to serve with your dinner, try adding a splash of the wine to the liquid during the braising. 👌

Side view of Braised Red Cabbage in a large pot with a wooden spoon.
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Braised Red Cabbage

4.74 from 23 votes
Braised Red Cabbage is an easy, cost efficient, and healthful side for your comforting winter meals. 
Braised Red Cabbage is an easy, cost efficient, and healthful side for your comforting winter meals. BudgetBytes.com
Servings 5 1 cup each
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Total 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp butter ($0.26)
  • 1 yellow onion ($0.32)
  • 2 lbs red cabbage (about 6-8 cups shredded) ($1.09)
  • 1 granny smith apple ($0.70)
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar ($0.24)
  • 1/4 cup water (or more as needed) ($0.00)
  • 1/2 tsp salt ($0.02)
  • Freshly cracked pepper ($0.03)
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Instructions 

  • Finely dice the onion and add it to a large pot along with the butter. Sauté over medium to medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, or until the onions are soft and transparent.
  • While the onions are sautéing, finely shred the cabbage and thinly slice the apple. Add the cabbage, apple, vinegar, water, and salt to the pot. Turn the heat to medium, place a lid on the pot, and let the cabbage cook, stirring occasionally, until very tender (20-30 minutes, depending on your desired texture). If the bottom of the pot begins to dry up, add another 1/4 cup water.
  • Taste the cabbage and season with freshly cracked pepper or more salt or vinegar if desired.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 128.6kcalCarbohydrates: 20.94gProtein: 3.1gFat: 4.8gSodium: 370.76mgFiber: 5.3g
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How to Make Braised Red Cabbage – Step by Step Photos

Onions and Butter

Finely dice a yellow onion and add it to a large pot with 2 Tbsp butter. Sauté over medium to medium-low heat for about five minutes, or until the onions are tender and transparent.

Shredded Cabbage and Sliced Apple

While the onions are sautéing, finely shred one head of red cabbage (about 2 lbs. or 6-8 cups shredded) and thinly slice one granny smith apple. Add them to the pot along with 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 tsp and 1/2 tsp salt.

Braised Red Cabbage is an easy, cost efficient, and healthful side for your comforting winter meals. BudgetBytes.com

Place the lid on the pot, turn the heat to medium (if not already) and cook the cabbage, stirring every few minutes or so, until it’s wilted. Depending on how soft you like it, you’ll want to cook the cabbage for about 20-30 minutes. If the bottom of the pot begins to dry up, add another 1/4 cup water. Once finished, taste the cabbage and add some freshly cracked pepper, and more salt or vinegar if desired.

Braised Red Cabbage on a plate with a roasted chicken leg and mashed potatoes.

SO GOOD. (and so cheap.) ;)

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  1. I cook it longer, about 45 minutes and like it softer and chopped finer. I was shocked at how much my family liked it and now want to have it very often. I remember being in Germany for a couple of months fifty years ago and it seemed this was on about every

  2. I’d never had anything like this before, but I really enjoyed it! The apple is vital, and I might even add a second apple next time.

  3. A great, easy recipe that re-introduced me to an old favorite and makes a LOT of food. Thanks, Beth!

  4. Yummy. We used the apples we had on-hand (gala) and added approx 2 tbsp of fennel seeds. We also made this a day ahea, as my German mother recommends. Was soo good! Thank you! No sugar needed as other recipes suggest!