This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Cabbage and sausage are truly a perfect match and never more so than when fried together in this Cabbage and Sausage Skillet.
I’ve made endless dishes combining these two ingredients, but when I saw this simple recipe inside my friend Gina’s new cookbook, One and Done, I knew it needed to happen soon.
This dish highlights everything delicious about these two ingredients without adding too much more to the dish. It’s cabbage and sausage in their simplest most flavorful state.
As a bonus, this skillet meal is easy to throw together without much notice making it perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.
Cabbage and Sausage Recipe
Nothing special is required to make this recipe. Start with cabbage and sausage, then chop an onion, add a little garlic, salt, pepper, and a tiny splash of vinegar.
You’ll be done cooking dinner in hardly any time at all it will be delicious too!
Cabbage and Sausage
What is it about the combination of cabbage and sausage? These two ingredients complement each other so wonderfully, that it hardly matters what else is combined with them.
Salty, smoky sausage, with tender sauteed cabbage, is a guaranteed win with my family. While raw cabbage has very little flavor on its own and can even be a little bitter or peppery, cooked cabbage tastes sweeter and it picks up additional flavors from the foods you cook with it–for example, sausage.
When these two ingredients are cooked together the result is a meal that everyone in my family requests again and again. I like it so much that I’ve lost count of all the recipes I’ve made that contain some combination of cabbage and sausage.
Fried Cabbage and Sausage
I love a good baked cabbage recipe like Layered Cabbage Rolls or Cabbage Roll Soup and you’ll never hear me complain about a soup with cabbage simmered to tender sweet perfection like in this Mexican White Bean and Cabbage Soup recipe.
But pan fried cabbage and sausage? That’s what I find myself craving most when I want to cook sausage and cabbage together.
This fried sausage and cabbage recipe starts by browning kielbasa sausage in a skillet with just a tiny bit of oil. Once the meat is cooked, onion and cabbage are pan fried with nothing more than salt, pepper and garlic.
A splash of red wine vinegar adds a tang to the meat and vegetables bringing the whole dish together.
If you’ve been reading here for any length of time you know that I’m not usually shy about adding spices and herbs to my recipes.
Sometimes, though, you just want the unadulterated taste of the cabbage and sausage without any extras. Kielbasa is plenty spicy all on its own and I can’t imagine a better combination for a simple skillet dinner.
Kielbasa Recipes
Kielbasa recipes are my go-to meals for quick and easy dinners. It’s a rare day when you won’t find a kielbasa sausage waiting to be used in my refrigerator. The convenience factor cannot be beaten.
I tend to pick up a few kielbasa sausages at a time and use them in our favorite recipes.
These Herbed Potatoes with Kielbasa and Corn have been one of my go-to easy dinner recipe for years. Try this Skillet Mexican Street Corn with Kielbasa or this Kielbasa Cabbage and Potato Skillet for something a little different.
Kielbasa and Shrimp Fried Rice is a hearty meal that my whole family enjoys. And if you have a green chile lover in your life, you’ll want to try this Garlicky Potato, Kielbasa, and Green Chile Skillet.
If you love sheet pan meals as much as I do, you’ll want to try this Kielbasa and Pierogies Sheet Pan Dinner. This Asparagus Kielbasa Bow Tie Pasta is another great way to use sausage for an easy dinner.
Juicy, salty kielbasa sausage, tender-crisp cabbage, some chopped onions, and flavorful garlic make this Sausage Stir Fry a simple one-pan dinner the whole family loves.
If you don’t already have it, I recommend picking up Gina’s One and Done cookbook!
Cabbage and Sausage Recipe
- Halve the kielbasa lengthwise and then slice it into 1/2-inch pieces.
- Heat a large deep skillet or dutch oven over medium heat. Add 1/2 tablespoon oil and the kielbasa. Toss to coat and then cook until browned, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the kielbasa to a plate.
- Return the pan to the stove and reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil and the onion. Cook, stirring occasionally until the onion has softened.
- Add the garlic, cabbage, salt, and pepper. Toss well to combine. Cover and cook, stirring every 4-5 minutes until the cabbage is wilted, about 12 minutes.
- Stir in the vinegar and return the kielbasa to the pot. Stir and cover for about 3 more minutes, until the cabbage is tender and the kielbasa is hot.
- Taste and add salt, if needed. Serve warm.
Cabbage and Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 lb kielbasa smoked sausage
- 1 1/2 tbsps olive oil, divided
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 medium head cabbage, cored and chopped into 1-inch pieces (about 2 lbs)
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar
Instructions
- Halve the kielbasa lengthwise and then slice it into 1/2-inch pieces. Heat a large deep skillet or dutch oven over medium heat. Add 1/2 tablespoon oil and the kielbasa. Toss to coat and then cook until browned, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the kielbasa to a plate.
- Return the pan to the stove and reduce the heat to medium low. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil and the onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion has softened. Add the garlic, cabbage, salt, and pepper. Toss well to combine. Cover and cook, stirring every 4-5 minutes until the cabbage is wilted, about 12 minutes.
- Stir in the vinegar and return the kielbasa to the pot. Stir and cover for about 3 more minutes, until the cabbage is tender and the kielbasa is hot. Taste and add salt, if needed. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 1/21/19 – recipe notes and photos updated 7/8/21}
Recipe is and reading is to long for 2 ingredients in my humble opinion. Looks good though.
Hi Sherm, there’s a handy jump to recipe link at the top of the post. It makes it super easy to see all eight ingredients at a glance.
I don’t like vinegar but notice every recipe with cabbage calls for it. Is that just a spice/taste preference or is there another reason for it?
You can absolutely skip it, Kathi. It does add a balance to the recipe, but if you are super sensitive to it (I get it, one of my brothers can spot vinegar in ANY dish, so he never uses it.) just skip it.
Made this with a smoked beef sausage I had on hand. Outstanding recipe, never tasted cabbage sooo good. Definitely a “do again”.
I’m so happy to hear that, Bill!
A Mazing! You will want to double this if you have a crew – it is so good. Added a little olive oil on the cabbe and a sprinkle of garlic salt. Fantastic
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it!
Soooo good! Thank you!
I’m so glad that you love the recipe, Paige!
Amazingly awesome, love the flavour!
I’m so glad that you love it, Corinne!
I made it more like a soup and added chicken stock and potatoes. Absolutely delicious 😋
I’m so glad that you like it, Tracy!
Good recipe. I added kale as well to add a little more vegetables to the meal.
I’m glad you enjoyed the dinner!
I fried up some bacon until crispy, cooked the sausage & onion in the leftover fat, it kicked up the flavor. I then added the crumbled bacon to the completed dish, I also omitted the the vinegar & replaced it with a little dry white wine.
That sounds delicious, Laurie!
This was deliciousss and easy. I don’t do a lot of cooking, I will prepare this again.
I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the recipe, Shara!
I tired this recipe, but I add some bacon to the mixture. It was delicious
I bet it was delicious with the bacon too, DeLoris!
This looks delicious!Would potatoes be a good side for this meal?
Potatoes will be delicious with this.
Is there a similar recipe like this over noodles?
Yes, I’ve added in cooked egg noodles at the end. It’s tasty that way too, Wendy!
I gave this recipe a 5 because it was wonderful as is, I added a few ingredients, a green pepper that I didn’t want to spoil and some chutney ( Mrs Ball’s , a South African chutney that for me brought it up a level) Thank you for this recipe which I certainly will make again and again.
I’m glad you like the recipe!
Love making different recipes
Perfect!
So glad to hear that you like the recipe, Patricia!
All I can say that it was delicious
Instead of kielbasa I used smoked sausage
I’m so glad that you like it, Anna!
So simple even a 72 year old Grandfather made a great meal for four, with a side of Mac & Cheese! Thanks!!
I love this, Ray. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Delicious! It was a huge hit with the family and teenage friends. I had to double the recipe to feed everyone.
That is awesome, Wendy.
Absolutely delicious. I used apple cider vinegar instead of red wine vinegar and was very happy with the results. Thanks for sharing, I will be making this regularly.😆
I’m thrilled that you like the recipe, Dee.