Slow Cooker Cabbage & Smoked Sausage
This comforting Slow Cooker Cabbage and Sausage is an easy, hearty meal made with tender cabbage, smoky sausage, onions, and simple seasonings. Everything cooks slowly together until the cabbage is buttery-soft and absorbs all the savory flavor from the sausage. Perfect for a cozy family dinner!
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 large head green cabbage
- 1½ lbs smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½–1 teaspoon salt, to taste
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
👩🍳 Instructions
- Prepare the cabbage: Remove the outer leaves and cut the cabbage into large wedges. Remove the tough core, then cut the wedges into chunky pieces.
- Slice the sausage: Cut the smoked sausage into approximately ½-inch rounds.
- Layer the slow cooker: Place half of the cabbage in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add half of the sliced onion and sausage. Repeat with the remaining cabbage, onion, and sausage.
- Add the seasonings: Sprinkle the garlic, smoked paprika, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes over everything.
- Add the liquids: Pour the chicken broth and Worcestershire sauce over the cabbage and sausage. Dot the top with butter.
- Slow cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 5–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the cabbage is very tender and the sausage is heated through.
- Stir gently: About halfway through cooking, gently stir the ingredients if your slow cooker has enough room. This helps distribute the sausage juices and seasonings.
- Taste and adjust: Before serving, taste and add additional salt or pepper if needed.
- Garnish: Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve hot.
🍽️ Serving Ideas
Serve this hearty dish with:
- Warm cornbread
- Crusty bread
- Mashed potatoes
- Roasted potatoes
- Steamed rice
- Green beans
- Simple garden salad
💡 Tips
For extra flavor: Brown the sausage in a skillet for 3–4 minutes before adding it to the slow cooker.
For a richer dish: Add an extra tablespoon of butter during the final hour.
For some heat: Use spicy smoked sausage or add red pepper flakes.
For a complete one-pot meal: Add 2–3 diced potatoes and 1–2 sliced carrots before cooking.
Don’t add too much broth: Cabbage releases plenty of liquid as it cooks, so a small amount of broth is enough.
⏱️ Recipe Details
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5–7 hours on LOW
Total Time: About 5½–7½ hours
Servings: 6
Course: Dinner
Method: Slow Cooker
