Fried cabbage is a simple, budget-friendly dish, but it doesn’t scrimp on flavor. It’s made by sautéing cabbage in butter along with spices like garlic, onion, paprika or caraway seeds. Bacon or sausage are common additions too.
Here are 16 delicious and easy-to-make side dishes that complement fried cabbage perfectly.
The best dishes to serve with fried cabbage are smothered pork steaks, baked chicken, hot water cornbread, and corned beef. You can also try pierogi, Shepherd’s pie, roasted kielbasa and potatoes, and BBQ meatloaf. You can also use fried cabbage for haluski.
Smothered pork steaks
Pork and cabbage are classic partners, so it’s a no-brainer to serve your fried cabbage with these pork steaks.
True to its name, this dish involves juicy, seared pork steaks cooked in a rich gravy loaded with mushrooms and onions.
The sweetness from your cabbage is an excellent contrast to these pork steaks’ savory flavors.
Why we love this recipe: it makes regular weeknight dinners extra special.
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Smothered pork steaks
Fire up the oven
Brown sugar dijon glazed pork loin
Light up the grill
Grilled pork chops
Mashed sweet potatoes
Forget everything you thought you knew about mashed potatoes. These creamy mashed sweet potatoes are a game-changer.
Infused with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, and, they offer a warm, comforting flavor. And then there’s some added ginger to balance out the sweetness. This side dish isn’t just food – it’s a hug in a bowl!
Psst… to make it vegan use coconut oil instead of butter.
Why we love this recipe: it’s perfect for fall or winter.
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Creamy mashed sweet potatoes
Add a savory twist
Cheesy mashed potatoes
Add some zing
Sour cream and chive mashed potatoes
Pierogies
If you think noodles or gnocchi are too plain, how about pairing your fried cabbage with pierogies instead?
They’re dumplings with an Eastern European twist – the classic version features a mashed potato and cheese filling.
But you can come up with your own filling too! A sauerkraut and mushroom combo is a great veggie option.
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Pierogies
Make it Italian-inspired
Homemade creamy mushroom ravioli
Make another favorite
Garlic butter tortellini
BBQ meatloaf
This meatloaf is just the ticket if you feel like going all out for dinner.
It’s made with a combination of ground beef and pork, so you’re guaranteed a tasty and juicy meatloaf.
And the cherry on top is the honey BBQ glaze – it makes this meatloaf more delicious with its sweet and rich flavor.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
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Honey BBQ meatloaf
Change the flavor
Jalapeno popper-stuffed meatloaf
Make it Italian-inspired
Baked meatballs with marinara
Hot water cornbread
This cornbread isn’t your typical recipe.
It requires fewer ingredients, and you won’t need to fire up your oven to make it – the magic happens over a skillet instead!
This version also has a lighter texture, but you still get that familiar corn flavor.
This cornbread is best enjoyed alongside vegetable soup and greens such as fried cabbage.
Why we love this recipe: it’s just like making pancakes.
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Hot water cornbread
Stick to the basics
Skillet cornbread
Make another classic
Southern buttermilk biscuits
Baked beans
Baked beans are a classic comfort food, but when you pair then with fried cabbage, they bring a whole new level of cozy to your meal.
British baked beans are really easy to make. The tomato sauce is simple, but you need to make sure you taste as you go so the sauce doesn’t end up too sweet. And fi you prefer American style baked beans, check out the alternative recipe below.
Why we love this recipe: you can use the leftovers for breakfast.
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Homemade baked beans
Lighten the load
Three-bean salad
Change the flavor
BBQ baked beans
Sautéed mushrooms
If you’re looking for another vegetable side to go with your fried cabbage, I recommend mushrooms.
They have an umami depth you won’t find in many other veggies and so bring some meatiness to the table. You can also take the juices and drizzle it over the cabbage for a burst of extra flavor.
Why we love this recipe: you can make extra and serve it on toast the next day.
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Sautéed mushrooms
Go gourmet
Creamy parmesan mushrooms
Keep it simple
Buttered mushrooms
Shepherd’s pie
In the mood for something indulgent? You can’t go wrong with this Shepherd’s pie.
This version kicks things up by topping the rich beef stew with cheesy mashed potatoes.
A helping of this Shepherd’s pie is a filling meal on its own, but I like serving fried cabbage on the side for a mildly sweet contrast.
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Shepherd’s pie
Make it lighter
Lightened-up Shepherd’s pie
Make it meatless
Lentil shepherd’s pie
Corned beef
If you’re not a fan of pork, corned beef is another protein that pairs superbly with fried cabbage.
This recipe cooks the corned beef brisket in an Instant Pot, making it unbelievably tender in just an hour and 15 minutes.
Corned beef brisket usually comes with a seasoning packet, but I like to stick with this recipe’s seasoning mix – it gives your brisket an incredibly deep and delicious flavor.
Why we love this recipe: the Instant Pot does most of the heavy lifting for you.
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Instant pot corned beef
Make it different
Corned beef hash
Make it plant-based
Vegan corned beef
Garlic butter rice
When simplicity meets flavor, you get garlic butter rice.
This dish combines the aromatic presence of garlic with the richness of butter, turning ordinary rice into a fragrant and savory side. It’s the perfect backdrop for the bolder flavors of fried cabbage.
And you can guarantee you’ll be full afterwards.
Why we love this recipe: it elevates a staple ingredient using minimal ingredients
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Garlic butter rice
Make it richer
Parmesan rice
Add some greenery
Spinach rice
Cauliflower steaks
You’d think thick cuts of cauliflower would be boring, but not with this recipe.
They’re dipped in a peppery batter, coated with panko breadcrumbs, and fried, making them a little spicy and oh-so-crispy.
The cherry on top of this plant-based dish is its umami-loaded mushroom gravy. It’ll be having you licking your fingers.
Enjoy with a side of fried cabbage (sans bacon) for a delicious, meatless meal.
Why we love this recipe: even non-vegans are guaranteed to love these faux steaks.
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Black pepper cauliflower steaks
Change the flavor
Cauliflower steaks with marinara
Skip the cauliflower
Grilled honey balsamic portobello mushrooms
Polish haluski
Want to have your fried cabbage as a main dish? Try making haluski!
It’s a dish popular in several Eastern European cuisines, so many variations exist.
Still, the base remains the same: fried cabbage and egg noodles (or gnocchi). Simply delicious. This recipe includes bacon, which brings a smoky, savory note to this no-frills classic.
Why we love this recipe: it transforms simple ingredients into a comforting dish.
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Polish haluski
Make it Asian-inspired
Stir-fried cabbage with glass noodles
Make it budget-friendly
Cabbage stir-fry
Roasted potatoes and kielbasa
These roasted potatoes and kielbasa are one of the easiest dishes you can put together.
Just cut up your kielbasa and potatoes, spread them on your sheet pan, season, and roast.
It’s that easy!
45 minutes later, you’ll have dinner ready to serve – all it needs is a leafy side dish, like fried cabbage, for a complete and nourishing meal.
Why we love this recipe: it’s so effortless. Quick and easy to prep – with virtually all of the recipe time in the oven.
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Roasted potatoes and kielbasa
Fire up the stove
Beer-broiled brats and onions
Make it decadent
Stuffed Italian sausage
Ham steak with honey mustard glaze
Love ham but know you can’t finish a full one?
Ham steaks are the next best option – you can easily buy them in your local grocery store.
This recipe recommends brushing them with a honey mustard glaze as they’re grilled, infusing them with a boatload of sweet and tangy notes.
Pro-tip: choose ham steaks with the bone in – they tend to be more tender with a fuller flavor.
Why we love this recipe: it includes instructions for making these steaks over the stove and in the oven.
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Ham steaks with honey mustard glaze
Add a fruity note
Pineapple glazed ham steaks
Make it different
Country-style pork ribs
Crawfish etouffee
If you’ve never had crawfish etouffee before, that has to change, stat!
What makes this dish stick out is its rich gravy coating the delicate crawfish.
It’s made with a simple roux, Cajun seasoning, and a medley of bell peppers, onion, and celery (dubbed the ‘Cajun trinity’).
Enjoy this decadent Southern dish over a bed of white rice and fried cabbage!
Why we love this recipe: it’s highly detailed, with helpful visuals and tips. Virtually foolproof!
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Crawfish etouffee
Make it more indulgent
Crawfish pie
Keep it simple
Garlic butter crawfish tails
Firecracker chicken
Boneless chicken breasts often get a bad rep for being bland and dry, but this recipe is sure to convince you otherwise!
As your seared chicken roasts in the oven, they’re basted with honey and chili sauce every five minutes, keeping them moist and infusing them with a sweet and spicy flavor.
This chicken dish is superb with a cup of rice, but if you want to keep it low-carb, go with fried cabbage.
Why we love this recipe: the chicken breasts are packed full of flavor and are surprisingly juicy and tender.
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Baked firecracker chicken
Make it effortless
Baked chicken thighs
Make a favorite
Homemade chicken tenders
What To Serve With Fried Cabbage [16 Side Dishes]
Ingredients
- 1 portion fried cabbage
Instructions
- Prepare your fried cabbage according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: smothered pork steaks, black pepper cauliflower steaks, baked firecracker chicken, hot water cornbread, salmon teriyaki donburi, shepherd’s pie, instant pot corned beef, polish haluski, roasted potatoes and kielbasa, ham steak with honey mustard glaze, crawfish etouffee, pierogies, and honey bbq meatloaf.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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