17 Easy Red Cabbage Recipes for Colorful Meals

Try these red cabbage recipes for tasty and exciting dishes!

Not only will red cabbage dress up any plate, it’s also nutritious! It’s an antioxidant, a detoxifier, and boosts immunity.

In fact, red cabbage has more health benefits than green cabbage. Cabbage is infamous for being lathered in mayo as a coleslaw side.

But with innovation, red cabbage can easily be the main star of any entree.

Its stiff texture gives it the flexibility to be enjoyed crunchy or on the more tender side.

The mild flavor allows it to be transformed with any flavor combination.

Here are 17 ways to truly appreciate its versatility.

Red Cabbage Recipes That Are Anything but Boring

1. Sweet and Sour German Red Cabbage 

This sweet and sour recipe makes for the perfect topping for sausages and burgers!

Its tangy taste is fresh and vibrant and adds a beautiful bite to any sandwich.

Make this with staple ingredients like sugar, balsamic vinegar, and butter for a quick and easy lunch.

2. Braised Red Cabbage and Apples with Maple and Thyme 

This is the perfect fall dish for this year’s Friendsgiving. It’s a tasty and light side dish to go along with turkey, which means more room for spiked apple cider!

Using thinly sliced apples, maple syrup, and fresh thyme, this braised red cabbage is aromatic, warm, and quick to whip up!

3. Easy Cabbage and Sausage Soup 

This is basically a deconstructed sausage roll in a bowl!

This dish is a one-pot meal, and it’s low carb! Adhere to your diet without sacrificing a hearty meal packed with flavor.

This soup is brimming with red cabbage and Polish sausage in a tomato-based broth. It’s a truly scrumptious experience perfect for winter.

4. Healthy Red Cabbage Slaw 

Elevate your traditional coleslaw with this spicy red cabbage recipe!

This dish brings the heat with the use of fresh jalepeño and cayenne.

It has shredded carrots, spring onions, and parsley in addition to the red cabbage.

Pair it with a cold glass of kombucha and peanut chicken to cut the spice.

5. Red Cabbage and Corn Salad 

This creamy cabbage and corn salad isn’t just a good meal, it has a stunning presentation, too.

I can’t think of a more delicious side dish to pair with grilled veggies and burgers on the barbecue. 

It’s packed with chicken, red cabbage, corn, and mayo, and you can even use leftover cabbage to make edible cups.

6. Red Cabbage Juice 3 Ways 

If you told me people juiced their cabbage, I’d think you’re lying.

This recipe provides not one, not two, but three ways to enjoy your red cabbage in a tall glass instead!

The first blend is red cabbage, cucumber, and pear. The second is cabbage, beet, and orange, and the final is cabbage, carrot, and apple.

Enjoy this green juice for breakfast or a mid-day pick-me-up!

7. Vegan Cabbage Rolls  

One of my favorite childhood meals is stuffed cabbage.

This recipe utilizes lentils, which not only makes it the ultimate comfort meal, but it’s also vegan and guilt-free.

Paired with brown rice, the lentils are stuffed in red cabbage covered with tomato sauce, and baked in the oven.

Serve with a traditional salad for a meat-free Monday!

8. Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Cabbage Slaw 

Let’s get real, shrimp and fish tacos are nothing without the slaw.

These grilled shrimp tacos are more than meets the eye, with a zesty red cabbage slaw on top. 

This recipe keeps it simple with shredded veggies that are marinated in olive oil, lime juice, and salt and pepper, allowing its natural flavors to shine.

9. Asian Red Cabbage Slaw 

This is a side dish I would make to go with homemade (okay, store-bought) dumplings I keep in the freezer for an easy Asian-inspired weeknight dinner.

Enjoy the red cabbage with carrots, green onion, poblano, and jalepeño peppers, and roasted cashews coated in ginger, soy, and honey dressing.

10. Easy Pickled Red Cabbage 

I’ve been in a long-term relationship with pickled onions, but this pickled cabbage recipe has my head turning!

Consider it a sister to kimchi, except this rendition isn’t fermented and instead is jarred and kept in the fridge.

Add sugar, vinegar, and garlic with cabbage, and you have a tasty topping for 2-3 weeks!

11. Irresistible Potato Red Cabbage Tikki – Cutlet 

Indian-inspired potato cakes? Count me in. If you are a fan of the traditional aloo tikki, you’ll absolutely adore this version with red cabbage.

Blend potato and cabbage with cumin and coriander seeds, along with Indian spices.

The result is a delicious cutlet that is amazing with fresh green chutney and hot tea.

12. Roasted Red Cabbage Steaks Recipe with Balsamic Vinaigrette and Goat Cheese 

Cauliflower steaks are so yesterday. These red cabbage steaks are where it’s at!

It’s visually stunning, surprisingly nutritious, and done in under 30 minutes. 

Roasted in the oven and marinated in a balsamic dressing and goat cheese, this steak will be the centerpiece of any dinner spread!

13. Asian Chicken Slaw 

It’s time that coleslaw gets promoted from a side dish to the main entree – and this recipe is a winner.

This Asian chicken slaw is the crunchy bowl of your I-hate-soggy-salad dreams. 

Packed with veggies like red and napa cabbage, bell peppers, carrot, and avocado, the chicken is barely the front contender in this dish of champions.

14. Red Cabbage Soup 

How pretty is this vibrant red cabbage soup?

It’s flavored with garlic, apples, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce. And the thick and creamy texture is thanks to the potatoes and cream in the mix.

You’ll need an immersion blender to get the right texture. Then, serve it with something crunchy, like these air fryer zucchini chips.

15. Thai Red Cabbage Slaw  

I could chug this lime sriracha mayo. This is the dish you bring to a friend’s barbecue and hear everyone ask, “Who made this?”

If you’re looking to be the life of the party, this recipe will definitely get people talking.

This slaw keeps it minimal with red cabbage, shredded carrots, and cashews soaked in a creamy dressing that will not last long on the table!

16. Red Cabbage Orange Salad 

Looking for a way to get more raw greens in your diet? This salad is as fresh as it gets!

In this dish, it’s all about the red cabbage, and a few ingredients to really bring out its nutty and delectable flavor.

Throw in pomegranate seeds and fresh slices of orange and toss in an orange vinaigrette for an incredible salad.

17. Apple ‘n Cabbage Slaw with a Light Vinaigrette 

Pulled pork sliders are okay on their own, but they aren’t anything special without the slaw on top.

This recipe is the perfect topping for that slow cooker pulled pork!

This dish calls for red and green cabbage, sliced apples, carrots, and green onions.

Mix it all together with a honey-lime vinaigrette and enjoy a tangy crunch with that melt-in-your-mouth sandwich.