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! 

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.

Just Take Me To The Best Caramelized Cabbage and Onions Recipe Already! 

If you’d like to skip my helpful tips and tricks and additional recipe ideas, please scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find the easy printable caramelized cabbage and onions recipe. 

I get a lot of questions and requests for similar recipes on my posts, so I try to provide as much information as possible. If you’d rather skip it, please scroll to the end! 

The Perfect Saint Patricks Day Side Dish

When you think of Irish dishes to celebrate St. Patricks Day, does anything pop in to your mind before Corned Beef and Cabbage? Funny enough, the tradition of serving corned beef and cabbage for Saint Patricks Day is actually an American creation – adopted by Irish Immigrants to America (like my family) who wanted a taste of the homeland to celebrate the Emerald Isle’s patron saint.

Regardless of how corned beef and cabbage became synonymous with Ireland and the celebration of Saint Patrick, it is one of my favorite meals every year!

I always think of eating salty, delicious roasted beef paired with buttery, delicious cabbage when I start thinking all things green… but I know a lot of people aren’t huge fans of cabbage, because it can be so bitter.

Fear not, friends, because it’s actually really, incredibly easy to make caramelized cabbage that isn’t bitter, bland or boring. This easy and delicious Caramelized Cabbage and Onions recipe is perfect for a ton of hearty, comforting, and festive Irish meals, like:

-Salmon – glazed with Whiskey, baked with a creamy dill sauce, or slathered in Dijon Mustard

-Corned Beef

-Steak and Guinness Stew

-Shephards Pie

-Roast lamb

…and many other Irish main dishes to make a fun and festive Saint Patricks Day feast!

Other easy Homemade Irish Dishes

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

Why Pan Fried Cabbage Can Be A Healthy Diet Choice

Caramelized Cabbage and Onions Ingredient Alternatives

This easy caramelized cabbage and onions recipe is super simple – and easy to adapt to fit your nutritional needs or to incorporate other delicious ingredients into! Some of my favorite versions of this easy fried cabbage and onions recipe are below:

Vegan Pan Fried Cabbage and Onions

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.)

Pan Fried Cabbage and Onions with Bacon

To kick this recipe up with a meaty, salty bacon flavor everyone loves, skip the butter and instead fry 2-3 pieces of bacon in the pan, removing when they are crispy. Fry cabbage and onions in bacon fat instead of butter, and top with crumbled bacon bits when done.

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.

Whiskey Glazed Cabbage and Onions

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!

Yield: 6 people

Easy and Delicious Caramelized Cabbage and Onions Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

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! 

Print

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

1. Heat butter in large pan on medium-high heat until melted and foamy. 
2. Add diced onions to pan, cook until soft and transparent, about 4 minutes. Stir to prevent sticking or burning. 
3. Add garlic to pan, cook until fragrant and soft, about 3 minutes. 
4. Add cabbage to pan and toss well to coat in butter. 
5. Generously season with salt. 
6. Let cabbage reduce by half, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally as it cooks down to prevent burning and allow it to cook evenly. 
7. 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. 
8. Remove from heat and plate with your favorite meat, casserole, fish, or other main dish! 

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1
Amount Per ServingCalories 76 Total Fat 6g Saturated Fat 4g Trans Fat 0g Unsaturated Fat 2g Cholesterol 15mg Sodium 536mg Carbohydrates 6g Fiber 1g Sugar 2g Protein 1g