I’ve been a little cabbage obsessed since discovering Beef & Cabbage Stir Fry and I always seem to have either a half or whole head of leftover cabbage in my fridge waiting to be used. Cabbage is one of those triple threat ingredients—cheap, super healthy, AND filling. But the problem I’ve always had with cabbage is that even just half a head of cabbage yields SO MUCH food that it’s hard to use the whole thing in one recipe. Luckily, cabbage is super hearty and the other half can sit in your fridge for a few days until you’re ready to use it for something else.
But what will your next cabbage recipe be?? That’s where I hope to help with these 20 recipes for cabbage leftovers. I’ve pulled awesome looking cabbage recipes from Budget Bytes and some of my favorite bloggers around the web to help you make the most of your leftover cabbage cache. Cabbage is a great way to bulk up your diet while simultaneously cutting costs, so let’s do it!
#teamcabbage
20 Recipes for Leftover Cabbage
Green Cabbage Recipes
Beef & Cabbage Stir Fry – This is the recipe that kick started my obsession, so I’m just going to list it first in case there are any people left who haven’t tried it. Go try it. Immediately!
Homemade Sauerkraut – One of the more obvious, but rarely utilized ways to use your leftover cabbage is homemade sauerkraut! Home fermentation is becoming more popular and this is a great starter recipe. Once you taste how good homemade is you’ll be putting it on everything.
Chicken Yakisoba – This is a fast and easy stir fry with a tangy sauce and plenty of vegetables. Cabbage is great for stir fry because it’s sturdy form stays pleasantly crisp, giving the dish plenty of texture.
Italian Vegetable Soup – Cabbage also works great in soup for the same reason! It’s hearty texture stays strong and doesn’t disintegrate in the hot soup like more delicate vegetables. This soup features a medley of vegetables and is a great way to “sweep the fridge” of any vegetables that are on their way out!
Cumin Lime Coleslaw – And of course there is always coleslaw… Coleslaw makes a great side to go along with dinner, but you can also pile it onto tacos, nachos, sandwiches, or even stuff it into burritos. This Cumin Lime Slaw is a nice light and fresh tasting alternative to heavy classic coleslaws.
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls – I love love LOVE stuffed cabbage rolls, which is funny because I have a distinct memory of thinking they were some sort of alien pods when my mother made them when I was a child. Funny how your tastes can change, huh? If you haven’t tried these in a while, they’re a MUST. And there’s a quick video to show you how in the link above!
Pork Gyoza – In classic cabbage style, green cabbage is used to bulk out the filling on these cute little gyoza and balance the cost of the meat. Gyoza are so much fun to make and they’re freezable, so if you have a free afternoon I highly suggest making some to stash in your freezer for weeknights!
Cabbage and Pea Salad – Cabbage is inexpensive, peas are inexpensive, and cucumbers are inexpensive. Add a simple homemade vinaigrette and you’ve got an amazingly crunchy and flavorful salad that will help you hit your daily vegetable intake goals. This salad would be a great choice for potlucks as well!
Savory Cabbage Pancakes – These simple savory cabbage pancakes are anything but boring. They’re a breeze to pull together and are a great comfort food. Go crazy with fun toppings or just keep it simple with sriracha mayo. You won’t be sorry.
Red Cabbage
Vegetable Stir Fry with Noodles – This colorful vegetarian stir fry has gotten me through a lot of lean times! It makes a huge batch, so you’ll have leftovers for daaaayyyyys. But that’s never a bad thing.
Roasted Vegetable Salad – And guess what? Cabbage roasts just as good as the rest. This Roasted Vegetable Salad is the perfect example. Toss your leftover vegetables in the oven, add a simple dressing, and you’ve completely repurposed your leftovers. #winning
Vinaigrette Slaw with Feta – This simple four-ingredient salad will always be one of my favorites. The best part is that it gets better with time in the fridge, so I can happily munch on the leftovers for DAYS.
Red Cabbage and Carrot Slaw – When it comes to red cabbage there are no shortage of yummy and crunchy salads to use it in. This one combines the cabbage with carrot, both of which will stay crunchy in your fridge for days, and finishes with a delicious honey dijon dressing.
Apple Cabbage Slaw – This version combines cabbage, carrots, AND apples! A few sugary sweet raisins highlight the sweetness of the apples and a creamy but light dressing pulls everything together. Perfecto!
Mean Green Detox Salad – And if you’re looking to eat more salads, cabbage is the perfect base for amazing salads, as demonstrated with this gorgeous bowl of goodness! Build your salads on hearty greens like cabbage and kale and you’re less likely to reach into your fridge to find slimy wilted greens a few days after you get home from the store.
Hot and Sour Vegetable Soup with Tofu – Red cabbage CAN be used in soups as well! But be aware, you probably want to sprinkle it on top just before serving to keep the deep purple color from bleeding out into the soup and taking over. But that fresh cabbage adds a wonderful color and textural dimension to soup that you don’t get from cooked cabbage.
Nappa Cabbage
Honey Sriracha Chicken Noodle Bowls – Nappa cabbage is slightly more delicate than green cabbage, but it still works great in stir fries and noodle bowls. This one has a sweet and spicy dressing that looks to-die-for! Totally a take-out fake-out.
Mango Chicken Salad – That delicate texture of Napa cabbage also makes it great for salads and helps it balance with other textures, like juicy mangoes or thinly slivered almonds. (excuse me for droolin’ as I type) This is what I like to refer to as a “meal salad.”
Crunchy Asian Salad – Okay, I’ll admit, the cabbage in this recipe is purely a cheap vehicle for my yummy homemade sesame ginger dressing. But there’s no shame in that. Sometimes that’s all you need, a good cheap vehicle. Cabbage FTW!
I hope these recipes help you find delicious and creative ways to make the most of your leftover cabbage! If you have a favorite cabbage recipe that you’d love to share, I’d love to see it! Drop a link in the comments below (if you’ve never commented before, your comment will be held in moderation until I can approve it. Thank the spambots!).