Easy and Delicious Caramelized Cabbage & Onions Recipe
Feb 22, 2018, Updated Dec 14, 2022
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Easy and Delicious Caramelized Cabbage and Onions are a rich, buttery and insanely addictive Easy Caramelized Cabbage and Onions recipe! The best pan fried cabbage ever with simple ingredients that anyone can make!
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Browned Cabbage with Onions
This recipe originally appeared on Sweet C’s in 2011 as one of the first recipes I ever shared – and has continued to be one of my favorite easy side dishes ever since!
Of all of the countries I have visited, there is one that calls me more and more every time I think of it – my family’s homeland, Ireland is at the top of my favorite countries to visit.
Ireland is gorgeous, calm, steeped in tradition and incredible history – and despite the stereotype of terribly bland food, Irish cuisine is actually bursting with flavor and full of fresh, beautiful ingredients. I swear, everything in Ireland just tastes better – it has to be all the rain and green!
One of my favorite things to order when in Ireland is always cabbage. It’s everywhere, it’s fresh, it goes well with almost anything – and it is sooooo delicious.
I used to avoid cabbage, but have really come to love it, especially when it is pan-fried and caramelized to bring out the buttery rich and slightly sweet cabbage flavor that comes from letting it wilt and brown so the sugars can break down and caramelize.
Not only is the best pan fried cabbage super easy to make, but this side dish is PACKED with tons of nutrients – making it a delicious way to celebrate Irish food that won’t break your keto diet, paleo diet, low carb diet, Weight Watchers diet – and other healthy eating plans!
Tips and Tricks to Caramelized Cabbage & FAQs
Cabbage is healthy. Cabbage is extremely good for you, and something I try to incorporate more into our diets.
Make it keto. Use ghee to keep this recipe keto!
Make it vegan. Making this Easy Caramelized Cabbage and Onions side dish Vegan is easy – simply nix the butter in the recipe and opt instead for a high smoke point oil (I suggest avocado, rapeseed oil, walnut oil, or coconut oil – make sure your coconut oil is refined and doesn’t taste too much like actual coconut – this varies from brand to brand.)
Baked Buttery Cabbage and Onions. If you’re looking for a set it and forget it recipe for caramelized cabbage and onions, you can add the ingredients in a glass casserole dish and bake at 350 until golden brown. Be sure to stir often, checking the cabbage after 30 minutes to prevent burning or sticking to the dish, and help it cook evenly. Depending on the size of your cabbage, how thickly you slice it, and your oven, this will take anywhere between 40 minutes to an hour to get lovely, buttery, wilted and caramelized cabbage and onions.
Glaze with whiskey. When your cabbage and onions have started to reduce in the pan (about 5-10 minutes after cooking on medium high), add 1/2 cup Irish whiskey to the pan (making sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan), and bring to a rapid boil. Carefully light whiskey on fire (use a long match to be safe), and let Whiskey burn down and turn into a rich, sweet, and smoky glaze for your fried cabbage and onions!
What to Serve With Caramelized Cabbage and Onions
- Some of my favorite Irish inspired dishes – if you love this cabbage and onions recipe, you’re going to love these other dishes inspired by Irish cuisine and my trips to the emerald isle:
- The Best Easy Irish Brown Soda Bread Recipe
- One Pot Irish Whiskey Glazed Salmon Recipe
- The Best Irish Potato Pancakes Ever
- Easy Cabbage and Sausage Soup Recipe
- Cheesy Sausage Potatoes and Cabbage
- The Best Pan Fried Cabbage and Sausage Recipe
Caramelized Cabbage and Onions Recipe
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Easy and Delicious Caramelized Cabbage and Onions Recipe
Perfect Saint Patrick's Day side dish - Easy and Delicious Caramelized Cabbage and Onions are a rich, buttery and insanely addictive Irish cabbage recipe! The best pan fried cabbage ever with simple ingredients that anyone can make!
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter, grassfed preferably
- 1 white onion, diced
- 1/4 cup garlic, whole or crushed cloves, skin off
- 1 cabbage, (use half if very large cabbage - whole head if small) sliced into thin strips
- 1 tsp salt, celtic sea salt preferred
Instructions
- Heat butter in large pan on medium-high heat until melted and foamy.
- Add diced onions to pan, cook until soft and transparent, about 4 minutes. Stir to prevent sticking or burning.
- Add garlic to pan, cook until fragrant and soft, about 3 minutes.
- Add cabbage to pan and toss well to coat in butter.
- Generously season with salt.
- Let cabbage reduce by half, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally as it cooks down to prevent burning and allow it to cook evenly.
- When cabbage has lost much of it's volume and started to turn shiny, slightly translucent, and has lovely browned bits, it is ready to serve.
- Remove from heat and plate with your favorite meat, casserole, fish, or other main dish!
Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 76Total Fat 6gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 15mgSodium 536mgCarbohydrates 6gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 1g
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This page seems to have everything– tips and tricks, dishes to pair, ideas to enhance– EXCEPT the actual recipe? Completely insane.
oh wow your right, thank you so much for letting me know, I have updated the page to have the recipe. This happens sometimes with old recipes when software updates happen, thank you for letting us know!
I’m trying this tonight, substituting duck fat for bacon. Thanks for the recipe!
sounds awesome!
Turned out perfect! So good!!
Too much garlic. Otherwise very good! ?