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Home » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes

Braised Red Cabbage with Apples

Published: Feb 26, 2022 · Modified: Feb 26, 2022 by Colleen 26 Comments

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Two white bowls of slow cooked cabbage & apples.
Two white bowls of slow cooked cabbage & apples.

If you're looking for an easy and delicious side dish, Braised Red Cabbage with Apples is a must try. This delicious recipe is a sweet & sour treat which is great on its own or served with roasted meats and veggies.

Braised red cabbage with apples in a white dish.

Cabbage in general, and red cabbage in particular, is extremely nutritious. This cruciferous vegetable, also called purple cabbage, is packed with antioxidants and high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, many minerals. And it's a good source of fiber.

Jump to:
  • What's to Love
  • Ingredient Notes
  • How To Make It
  •  How to Slice Cabbage
  • Common Questions
  • Are You a Cabbage Fan? Try These:
  • Recipe
  • Comments

What's to Love

  • Braised red cabbage with apples is a great side dish for pork, chicken, turkey or roast beef. We love it with Pork Chops or Pork Tenderloin, Air Fryer Flank Steak, and Whole Roast Chicken.
  • Braising using the slow cooker is so easy. All you have to do is throw everything in and let it cook itself.
  • Red cabbage is super healthy, as mentioned above.
  • All you need is a handful of ingredients to make this easy recipe.
  • This delicious recipe is gluten-free and refined sugar free.

Braised red cabbage in two white bowls with two silver forks.

Ingredient Notes

  • Red Cabbage 1 medium sized head of cabbage will be about 8 cups, sliced.
  • Apples Any tart apple variety works. If your apples are smaller, use an extra one. There is no need to peel them, because the apple peels will break down and soften during the long cooking time.
  • Onion A medium yellow onion.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar Vinegar gives the dish the "sour" in the sweet & sour. Try red wine vinegar if you don't have apple cider vinegar.
  • Honey Liquid honey is "sweet" part of sweet & sour. Substitute a vegan sweetener or brown sugar and this recipe is vegan.
  • Caraway seeds Caraway seeds are peppery with a hint of licorice and are very aromatic. You can leave them out if you prefer, but they add a nice extra flavor note.

All of the ingredients for this recipe on a wooden board.
The ingredients

How To Make It

  1. After slicing the cabbage, onion and apples, simply put all the ingredients in the slow cooker.
All of the recipe ingredients in the slow cooker.
  1. Combine well, cover and cook 5-6 hours.

The ingredients being tossed together in the slow cooker with tongs.

 How to Slice Cabbage

You can use a food processor to slice cabbage, but it's really easy to do by hand and saves on cleanup.

  1. To slice a cabbage, first remove the tough outer leaves and discard them. With a sharp knife, slice the cabbage in half.
  2. Then slice into quarters.
  3. Use the knife to remove the tough white core from each quarter.
  4. With cut side down, slice each quarter into thin strips.
Step by step photos showing how to slice cabbage.
How to slice cabbage

Common Questions

Can I make braised red cabbage in the oven?

Yes. To make this recipe in the oven, preheat the oven to 300°. Put all of the ingredients in a large casserole dish or Dutch oven with a lid. Cook for 2-3 hours, covered, stirring occasionally.

Can I use a pressure cooker?

To make this recipe in an instant pot or pressure cooker, start with the sauté function and add a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add the onion and sauté for a minute or two until it begins to soften. Add the remaining ingredients and lock the lid. Turn the steam release valve to "sealing". Press the "manual" button and the time to 5 minutes. Wait 10 minutes before releasing the pressure manually.

Can I make this recipe on the stovetop?

To make braised cabbage on the stovetop, put all ingredients plus ½ cup water in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium low until reduced to a simmer. Cover and cook for 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.

How long will the cooked cabbage keep?

Store leftover braised cabbage in the fridge, covered for 2-3 days.

Can I freeze braised cabbage & apples?

Yes, this recipe freezes well. Cool completely before packing into freezer bags or containers. Freeze for up to two months.

Braised cabbage in a white bowl.

Are You a Cabbage Fan? Try These:

  • Red Cabbage Soup
  • Quick Pickled Red Cabbage
  • Fennel Cabbage Slaw
  • Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls
  • Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
  • Cabbage Stir-Fry Recipe

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a rating in the comments below and let us know how it turned out. Did you make any changes? We would love for you to share and your feedback is important!

Recipe

Braised red cabbage in a white bowl.

Braised Red Cabbage & Apples

Braised red cabbage & apples cooked in the slow cooker for a delicious sweet & sour side dish.
4.95 from 60 votes
Print Pin Rate
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Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: European
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 89kcal
Author: Colleen Milne

Ingredients

  • 1 head red cabbage cored and sliced
  • 1 onion thinly sliced
  • 2-3 apples cored and sliced
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • salt and pepper to taste
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Put all ingredients into the slow cooker, and stir to combine. Cook on low 5-6 hours or until cabbage is tender. (times will vary with different slow cookers)
  • Taste and season with salt and pepper if necessary.
  • Serve hot or cold

Notes

To make this recipe in the oven, preheat the oven to 300°. Put all of the ingredients in a large casserole dish or Dutch oven with a lid. Cook for 2-3 hours, covered, stirring occasionally.
To make this recipe in an instant pot or pressure cooker, start with the sauté function and add a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add the onion and sauté for a minute or two until it begins to soften. Add the remaining ingredients and lock the lid. Turn the steam release valve to "sealing". Press the "manual" button and the time to 5 minutes. Wait 10 minutes before releasing the pressure manually.
To make braised cabbage on the stovetop, put all ingredients plus ½ cup water in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium low until reduced to a simmer. Cover and cook for 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Make this recipe vegan by replacing the honey with a vegan sweetener.
Store leftover braised cabbage in the fridge, covered for 2-3 days.
This recipe freezes well. Cool completely before packing into freezer bags or containers. Freeze for up to two months.
 
 
 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 89kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 30mg | Potassium: 334mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 1195IU | Vitamin C: 62.9mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 1mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anjali

    March 07, 2022 at 11:55 pm

    This was such a simple side dish but it turned out to be so flavorful! Even my kids loved it!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      March 08, 2022 at 3:03 pm

      This is wonderful to hear, Anjali! Thanks for the feedback.

      Reply
  2. Sara Welch

    March 07, 2022 at 9:19 pm

    Enjoyed this with dinner and it was a hit all around the table! Quick, easy and flavorful!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      March 08, 2022 at 3:03 pm

      So happy to hear this, Sara! Thanks for commenting.

      Reply
  3. veenaazmanov

    March 07, 2022 at 5:42 pm

    Such an interesting combination and a perfect side dish too. Would definitely love to try this exciting sweet and sour flavors.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      March 08, 2022 at 3:02 pm

      Do give this recipe a go, Veena. I know you'll love the sweet & sour cabbage.

      Reply
  4. Mirlene

    March 07, 2022 at 4:32 pm

    This is a perfect side dish with my pork chops. Love the vinegary tang idea on the cabbages and apples!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      March 08, 2022 at 2:41 pm

      Hi Mirlene, we love this cabbage with pork chops! Enjoy!

      Reply
  5. Emily

    October 18, 2017 at 5:25 am

    I love the sound of this and can't wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      October 18, 2017 at 9:07 am

      Hey Emily. I hope you try it, its so simple and really delicious, too.

      Reply
  6. Jane

    October 17, 2017 at 3:52 am

    I'm pinning this one for later - it looks just fabulous!
    Jane x

    Reply
    • Colleen

      October 17, 2017 at 10:29 am

      Thanks Jane! It's delicious and so simple.

      Reply
  7. Tiffany

    October 16, 2017 at 12:36 pm

    I have got to make this in my slow cooker! I love cabbage and this would be great with a roasted chicken on Sunday.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      October 16, 2017 at 2:35 pm

      Hi Tiffany! This is perfect with a roast chicken!

      Reply
  8. Amy

    October 16, 2017 at 11:20 am

    Oh my goodness, you are speaking to my heart. I love this dish so much and have only made it a few times at home. But I need to make it more often! We always eat it at Christmas when we do a full German dinner as one of our traditions!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      October 16, 2017 at 12:34 pm

      Thanks Amy! I love it too, and it's such a comfort food for fall and winter.

      Reply
  9. Helene D'Souza

    October 15, 2017 at 10:39 am

    That's a way we make it too in Austria. I love red cabbage as a side with deer, and potato dumplings. So good! I know I would be addicted to your slow cooker version too!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      October 15, 2017 at 2:38 pm

      Hi Helene, potato dumplings sound delicious, too!

      Reply
  10. Dana Sandonato

    September 13, 2017 at 9:50 am

    I really really love the use of apples in savory dishes come fall, and I swear I can taste this just by reading the ingredients. This reminds me of a side dish I had years ago at a German family Christmas, but I don't know the name of the dish!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 15, 2017 at 10:35 am

      Hi Dana, I love apples in any dish in the fall. This dish is a nice addition to a Thanksgiving feast, too.

      Reply
  11. Nicoletta @sugarlovespices

    September 13, 2017 at 9:12 am

    We make something similar but sauteed in the pan. I love how tender and juicy this version in the slow cooker gets, and it doesn't need any fat to cook. Pinned it!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 13, 2017 at 9:47 am

      Hi Nicoletta, I've done this in the oven, & in a pan, but the slow cooker is now my favourite way! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Gabrielle @ eyecandypopper

    September 13, 2017 at 9:00 am

    Very cool! I'm half German, so red cabbage and apple has been part of my childhood, always served with a roasted chicken and mashed potatoes! I still occasionally make it. It's very similar to your recipe. I just simmer mine on the stove for a few hours, but it's interesting to know I could try it in the slow cooker!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      September 13, 2017 at 9:44 am

      Hi Gabby, its a delicious classic, and I love how the slow cooker frees up stove space for big feasts.

      Reply
  13. Dina Honke

    October 16, 2016 at 5:04 pm

    Another "my kind of food" recipe. Thanks for posting. I have been experimenting with a pressure cooker, mostly with beans, I may try this one next in that shiny stainless steel German made gadget I bought. Never enough gadgets..

    Reply
    • Colleen

      October 17, 2016 at 7:54 am

      Dina, I totally get it with the gadgets! I have to do more with the pressure cooker, too.

      Reply

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