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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}
Any pointers on doing this with bacon and potatoes as well?
If you are looking to add bacon and potatoes. I would suggest browning the bacon first and then sauteing your potatoes before adding the cabbage.
Very good recipe. I added a few things like a little bacon and baby carrots and a couple of baby potatoes it came out awesome.
Very nice, Fred.
Sooooo delicious!
I added shrimp and about a cup of chicken broth to make a soup.
My husband liked this and said this will be in the dinner rotation now
Thank you!!!!
That sounds delicious, Terri.
This is a very good recipe. I didn’t know if the red wine vinegar would be a good addition, but I added it and it made a huge difference in the flavor. I cubed and added 2 potatoes at the same time as the cabbage and had to add a little more oil than the recipe called for. It was very good.
Thank you, Julie. It is amazing what a difference just a little bit of red wine vinegar makes in this recipe.
Can you use balsamic vinegar instead of red wine vinegar?
I have not tried it with balsamic vinegar, Malcolm. If you do let me know how it turns out.
I’ve cooked this combination hundreds of times over a long life-time, especially when raising multiple kids in poverty. They liked it too. I usually added a bit of mustard and mayo instead of vinegar. Potatoes add to the appeal.
Thank you, Joanne. It is really is a good, flavorful, budget-friendly meal.
I followed the recipe with the exception of the full cooking time. Of 12 minutes for the cabbage. I prefer the cabbage to be al dente I cooked it covered for 6 minutes covered stirring occasionally. Then added the sausage and red wine vinigar cooked another 4 minutes uncovered. I also added a bit bore red wine vinegar to my bowl because I like that. Great recipe for low carb dinner or lunch. I’ll definitely make it again.
Sounds delicious, Jessie.
OMG, SOOOOOO GOOD!
I added some par-boiled potatoes at the end when I mixed everything together and it blended well. Although I didn’t have any red wine vinegar, you couldn’t even tell.
It got rave reviews and will def. be in my warm winter meals rotation.
Thank you!!
Perfect winter time comfort.
came out great!!
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe, Thomas.
This has become our family tradition for new year’s day with our black eyed peas and cornbread. Yum!
Yes! Get in all the New Year’s good luck requirements.
Made this yesterday as written… very good!! I also served with side dish of blackeyed peas w/snaps & cornbread!! I shared it with my next door neighbor! The dish was tasty, as well as, economical!!
Thank you for posting. It was my first time to your blog.
I’m so glad you like the recipe, Tricia.
So good! Didn’t take too long to prepare. With this recipe, I can make cabbage on a weeknight after work.
That is awesome, I am delighted you enjoyed it.
I love this dish….I make it about every 2 weeks or so if I’m in a hurry to get dinner on, but I grew up eating fried cabbage and have loved it all my life…
Me as well Donna! It is my go-to on a busy night meal.
Added potatoes and little brown sugar and used chicken sausage!!! OMG so good!
Perfect, Jennie!
I don’t know what went wrong. It was fine; we ate it but just didn’t have much flavor. I followed the recipe, didn’t add anything else and got so so. I liked that it was quick and easy but want more flavor before I do it again. HELP
Hi Sandra! What kind of sausage did you use? I’ve found that traditional brands of kielbasa tend towards having more flavor than some of the natural, organic, or unusual brands I’ve tried. I’ve also found that those brands do work fine, provided I add a tiny bit more salt to enhance the flavors. Did you include the splash of vinegar at the end of the recipe too? I hope that helps. I do love this recipe both for how easy it is and also for the great flavors.
Awesome recipe! This is so simple yet tastes like you worked really hard. Only thing I changed was the garlic. I didn’t realize I was out so improvised with garlic powder. Thanks for a new easy supper staple!
You are so welcome, Debbie.
Tried it tonight. Very quick, easy and tasty.
You nailed it, Karen. I couldn’t agree more.
This was great. I only added some garlic salt and butter. I only had cabbage and some Cajun sausage. Ate it with rice. I’ll definitely be adding this to my rotation of dinners! Super easy to make.
I love how you customized it for you tastes. Sounds delicious, Siu.
This was very easy and delicious.
Thank you, Jennifer. I am delighted you enjoyed it.
I used hot turkey sausage and added rice vinegar and sesame oil. Delicious! Thank you!
Sounds amazing!