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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}
This was a great easy recipe. The first time I made it, I added in shredded carrots, mushrooms, cut up bacon, and green peppers along with sausage onions and obviously cabbage. My son even liked it but today we tried your recipe without any added ingredients and it was just as good. Mmmmm…mmmmm…good.
I’m so happy to hear it was a hit both ways!
Made this today and added just a drip of Tabasco sauce (I also have to add hot sauce to something) and it was delicious!
ooh! I bet that was a great addition.
Great recipe and very simple. I used jalapeno venison sausage and I lt was delicious!
I bet that was fantastic!
Terrific recipe – easy and tasty. I also included shaved carrots which added sweetness to the salty sausage and left out the salt. Thanks for this!
I’m looking forward to trying your dill chicken salad too!
I’m glad you liked it, Wren!
This is so good and it’s comforting! I did it just as instructed. Simple and delicious!
I’m happy to hear that you’re enjoying the recipe, Jen.
Great Trick-or-Treat night meal! Both kids and adults love it and it’s easy for self serving throughout the night.
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe, Christian!
Added red and orange sliced peppers, chopped celery, and left out vinegar. My son loved it and suggested adding more peppers and slivers of carrots. Anyone else have suggestion for more veggies?
I’ve added mushrooms and carrots as well. Bell peppers add a distinct flavor, but we like them in there too.
I add red potatoes to cabbage and sausage.
Some times chopped tomatoes.
I love adding potatoes to this dish. It’s great that way.
Really enjoyed this dish. Simple and easy. A great way to use up the remaining cabbage after making slaw. Bookmarking- thanks so much
I’m thrilled it’s a hit!
Added a grated carrot and a bit more red wine vinegar. Made a great meal!
I’m so happy to hear that it’s a hit!
Would this go well with black eyed peas as a side?
Sure.
That’s exactly what I’m cooking right now!!! Also baking some sweet potatoes and cornbread!
The cabbage is delicious!
I’m so glad you like the dish!
I make this regularly but add cooked noodles to it. Delicious 😋
I love this with pasta too!
Making kielbasa and cabbage as I am typically this note, kitchen smells really good!
I am pretty sure I will like it!
Thanks for your recipes!
P.S. in bare feet as usual! Writing from South Carolina!
I’m so glad you are enjoying the recipes!
Great job love all your recipes
I’m glad you like the recipe!
I have bratwursts, will that work? Thank you.
Sure, I don’t know why not. Enjoy!
Loved it! Feeling kinda healthy eating the cabbage too.
Love it, Alli!
I accidentally made this without the red wine vinegar and it was amazing. I had a head of cabage and some kielbasa to use up. I browned my sausage never removed it from the pan i then added my onions with the meat still in the pot. my temp was pretty high so I had to constantly stir in between me chopping the cabage. I didn’t want my onions and sausage to burn so I added some chicken bullion and water knocked the heat down and simmered with a lid on. when I got my cabage chopped I cranked the heat and added cabage little by little. I like spice so I added cayne pepper and crush red pepper flakes. along with some garlic danos salt and pepper. served over rice but could eat it plain. 10 out of 10
I’m thrilled you like it so much!
made this last night,my husband and I loved it. luckily there were leftovers so that’s tonight’s dinner as well.
I’m thrilled that you like it!
I made this, it was fantastic. I added 2 peeled apples when I added the cabbage. Will definitely make again.
oh! I bet it was great with the apples added to it as well. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I tried this a few months back. my wife loved it we’ve made it up couple times since. cabbage is inexpensive and very good for you it has a lot of vitamins minerals etc. easy to cook one pan. thank you where they are
I’m glad you like it so much!