5 Cheap and Easy Cabbage Recipes That Are a Step up From the Usual

See how to turn everyday cabbage into tasty, inexpensive dishes.

When's the last time you got excited about cabbage? I don't blame you if you drew a blank, because cabbage is often overlooked in favor of other members of the cruciferous family that hog the headlines. (Looking at you, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower!) But Nicole McLaughlin, aka NicoleMcmom, is here help you gain a new appreciation for this modest but mighty vegetable by showing you five of her favorite ways to use cabbage in easy, inexpensive recipes. Watch the video up top and scroll down to get the recipes and tips.

1. Cabbage Soup

close up of beef and cabbage soup with tomatoes and onions
paula

This filling and flavorful soup takes just minutes to prep before it goes for a two-hour simmer to let all the ingredients get to know each other. You can use a small to medium head of cabbage — it might look like a lot when you chop it up but cabbage cooks down to a fraction of its original volume. Top servings with sour cream to balance the flavors. Get the recipe for Low-Carb Beef Cabbage Stew

2. Stuffed Cabbage

two stuffed cabbage rolls topped with tomato sauce
Allrecipes

This is Nicole's own recipe for her favorite way to use cabbage. You'll want to be sure to watch the video to get her tips for blanching and prepping the cabbage leaves so they're easy to roll up around the savory beef and rice filling before baking with the sauce. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice over the top to give the dish an extra punch of flavor. Get the recipe for Best Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

3. Cabbage Slaw

close up of cabbage slaw with green cabbage, carrots, scallions, cashews, and vinegar based dressing
jenniferlstout.

Coleslaw meets salad in what Nicole is calling a "slaw-lad." This fresh and crunchy dish is a twist on a mayo-less coleslaw with a sweet/savory/tangy soy sauce and vinegar dressing. You can customize it with whatever crispy vegetables you like, and serve it as a side dish or add some shredded chicken to make it a main dish. Get the recipe for Chinese Cabbage Salad I

4. Cabbage and Noodles

close up of cabbage and noodles with bacon
karen k

Using only five everyday ingredients, you'll make a whole lot of food with a very tiny price tag. Tender noodles are combined with cabbage cooked with bacon to make a comforting fried cabbage and noodles dinner. Get the recipe for Cabbage and Noodles

5. Cabbage Pancakes

cabbage pancakes on a serving tray topped with sriracha mayonnaise and scallions
Allrecipes

Also known in Japan as okonomiyaki. If you've never had this popular street food before, you can think of them as a cabbage-y twist on latkes. Finely shredded cabbage is mixed with eggs, flour, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper, formed into patties, and fried until golden brown. And that colorful sauce? It's a spicy homemade sriracha mayonnaise. A sprinkling of scallions and quick dipping sauce of honey, rice vinegar, sriracha, sesame oil, and soy sauce completes the dish. Get the recipe for Cabbage Pancakes

Related

You can connect with Nicole as NicoleMcmom on Allrecipes and on Instagram @nicolemcmom.

More tips, tricks, and ideas from Nicole:

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