If you haven't made a whole head of cabbage in slow cooker it's so easy! Gets it tender to the core in a few hours. one healthy side dish on our list of easy cabbage recipes.

Like our Grandmother did, we love this green (or red) vegetable! There are tons of ways to saute, steam and cook it with ham or bacon. For this one we are keeping it simple and cooking a whole cabbage in a Crockpot this time. OMG it was so easy y'all. (affiliate links present)

Slow Cooker Whole Cabbage

Ok so we started this journey with our pressure cooker, that worked fabulous as well. You can find those instructions in our how to cook a whole cabbage post. We thought we would add to that in case you didn't have that machine and wanted to share the “old fashioned” method too. You don't need much.

That is right, you are essentially steaming cabbage with this pot and it only takes a few hours. We have two so many times we will make a main dish in one and this in the other. Unlike proteins you will want to start this around 3pm so everything is done at the same time for dinner.

Let's talk a little bit about slow cooking shall we?? First off we have a few different varieties and we love them all. Each one has an occasion to be used like….

This is our favorite 6 quart programmable one with a locking lid so it's great for bringing to a potluck too.
We prefer not to use liners, but rather spray olive oil inside before adding our food for easier cleanups.

Let us give you a peek of our pretty thang we bought recently. It goes with our kitchen so we can leave it out on the countertop all the time.

A floral design slow cooker with a white base and lid sits on a kitchen countertop, solid for whipping up a 5 ingredient crockpot chili recipe.

A whole head of cabbage in a slow cooker, delightfully topped with fragrant minced garlic.

Whole Cabbage and Ham in Slow Cooker

If you wanted to make everything all at once this makes a great leftover ham recipe sprinkled around it too. Since that is precooked and essentially you are warming it up it will only need 3 hours as well so you'll be good to go. Then slice the head into 4-6 pieces and serve up the meat and BAM, your meal is served.

Now if you wanted it all mixed together we would dice and add ham next to your whole head. Then use the timing in our slow cooker cabbage recipe that is buttered and all the flavors will meld together. This go around we are going to explain the basics, you can take it from there.

We used minced garlic, salt and pepper but you could definitely add what you wanted from there. Chicken broth is what we had on hand but vegetable broth would work great too. Water is effective but won't add flavor to the dish. Decide for yourself.

A whole head of cabbage, slowly cooked to perfection in a white dish, is beautifully topped with minced garlic and herbs nestled in a savory broth.

What is a good seasoning for cooked cabbage?

Ok so like we said we are sure you have a few of your favorites that you add to vegetables in general. The first isn't out of a bottle but a must for us, salted butter. That will add a lot of flavor and make it super tender. Beyond that salt and pepper are a given and we always add some sort of onion and/or garlic whether it be minced, powder or garlic salt.

Some swear by bacon grease drizzled on top Especially when chopped we will sprinkle on some Old Bay. That is right, this isn't for seafood, we use it for all the things, all the time. We will add some at the beginning but you will want more once you slice it because it won't seep into the middle at all.

How Long to Cook a Whole Red Cabbage in Slow Cooker

You could follow the same instructions here for red or cooking a whole purple cabbage. You may want a bit more time for this type since it is a bit more firm but that is subjective. That goes for both of these really. Some love it soft where we like a little “bite” to it. SO timing will vary from 3-4 hours depending on your preference.

Ingredients

Whole head of cabbage
Chicken broth
Salt and pepperany other seasonings you like
Garlic is a nice touch

Does cabbage need a lot of water to cook?

No. Whether you cut into small chunks or cook it whole you only need a bit to help it steam. Too much will make the leaves soggy and soften too much. You will need some but we suggest you don't submerge and the texture will not be pleasing.

How do you cook cabbage without it getting mushy?

Do not submerge it in water or broth, steam it instead. When it sits in liquid the leaves will soften quite a bit and in a short amount of time it may get too soft and mushy.

Ok so let's get to talking about how to cook cabbage and what we think works best. We always prefer low vs. high setting because foods tenderize better that way.

How to Cook a Whole Head of Cabbage in Crockpot

Cut the bottom of the cabbage head flat so it sits nicely on the bottom of the pot.
Put into pot with your broth.
Sprinkle garlic and seasonings on the top.
Cover and cook on low for 3 -4 hours cook time (give or take depending on how tender you want it) or until you think it is the right texture to your liking.
Remove and slice into wedges, small bits, or slices.

If you wanted a vegetarian meal and have more than one pot you should make our slow cooker rolls with this too. Cheap, simple, and always a favorite with everyone in our house.

If you wanted it to fall apart and be limp in the same time then yes you could cook on high for 3 hours instead. We don't like it that texture but to each their own right? Now jump to recipe and see what you think! What is the solid timing for your family? Have another favorite seasoning you love that we should try on our next go around? Let us know below!

Close-up of a sliced cabbage on a plate, its layered texture and light yellow color beautifully contrasted against a colorful floral background, reminiscent of the tenderness achieved from cooking a whole head of cabbage in a slow cooker.

Whole Head of Cabbage in Slow Cooker

By If you haven't made a whole head of cabbage in slow cooker it's so easy! Gets it tender to the core in a few hours. Healthy side dish. Prep: 10 minutes minsCook: 3 hours hrsServings: 8 Save Recipe Saved! Pin Recipe Comment Print Recipe

Equipment

Ingredients

1 whole cabbage
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
3/4 c chicken broth

Instructions

Cut the bottom of the cabbage head flat so it sits nicely. Put into pot with broth. Sprinkle garlic and seasonings on the top.
Cover and cook on low for 3 – 4 hours or until you think it is tender enough to your liking. (3 will be tender but still a bit firmer in the center, our preference)
Remove and slice into wedges or cubed. Put a pat of butter and salt and pepper on to each serving and enjoy.