Smoked cabbage is a quick and easy side dish with hardly any work and all of the flavor! This smoked cabbage recipe is a unique, delicious way to sneak some veggies in. Yeah, it’s that good! Smoked cabbage is the perfect complementary dish to many proteins like beef brisket, chicken, or smoked corned beef. Making it an obvious choice most nights.

This tasty side is a perfect side to any backyard bbq or regular weeknight dinners! We make this at least once a week! The caramelized cabbage takes on a wonderfully sweet and mild smoke flavor and tender texture that isn’t soggy at all! Plus, with only 5 ingredients and a few steps, it’s the perfect low-effort recipe!

What is smoked cabbage?

Smoked cabbage is a head of cabbage, green cabbage specifically, prepared using a smoker and dry rub seasonings. The grilled cabbage leaves absorb the smoky flavor nicely without becoming overly smoked — making it a perfect bbq staple. Swap smoked cabbage for classic boiled and serve alongside traditional Irish dishes and other meat-based recipes. Alternatively, it can be chopped up and served in coleslaw for added zing.

We use this easy recipe weekly with sausage, steaks, chops, and chicken thighs. It’s our go-to low-carb super-filling staple, and it’s cheap!

I love any excuse to use the Traeger pellet grill, and it really takes this tasty side dish to the next level with the ease of oven baking it.

Smoked Cabbage Ingredients

• Cabbage – green or white cabbage will work. We use a medium size head just to manage the portions.
• Beef tallow, bacon fat, or oil
• Kosher Salt
• GirlCarnivore Over Easy Spice blend

To Serve

• Bacon crumbles – adds the perfect amount of salty crunch
• Parsley

How to Make Smoked Cabbage

Once you have all your ingredients ready, start by prepping the smoker at 375 degrees F.

Next, remove the outer leaves of your cabbage to dispose of any browning or cracked leaves.

Next, cut the cabbage in half and remove the cavity of the cabbage. Carefully create a triangle wedge slice, and cut into the top corners of the thick core using a sharp knife. Then wiggle the core out and discard it. Depending on the size of your cabbage, you want to cut it into quarters, leaving you with four wedges. If it’s smaller, just cut it in half. If the slices are too thin, the cabbage can get soggy when cooked.

Then, brush the top of the cabbage wedge with beef tallow and rub it with salt and seasoning blend. Lastly, arrange your seasoned cabbage wedges on a foil-lined baking tray and place them into the pellet smoker. Close the lid, and you’re good to go!

Once they are nice and tender, remove them from the smoker after about an hour, though cook time will vary depending on the size of the cabbage. They should appear golden brown on the outer edges when they’re ready.

Sprinkle the crispy bacon and parsley over top. Want a little more flavor, try freshly ground black pepper and parmesan cheese!

Storage

Smoked cabbage is best enjoyed fresh! If you want to store it, you can use an airtight container for up to 3-5 days.

Reheating/Leftovers

It’s probably best to enjoy your smoked cabbage fresh. Otherwise, it might become overdone or soggy. If you need to reheat it, pop it back in preheated oven just enough to reheat or on the air fryer to heat and crisp it up!

What to Serve With

The smoke flavor makes this cabbage recipe the perfect thing to serve at backyard BBQs, holiday meals, or on a regular weeknight dinner! Some of my favorite main courses to pair with are:

• Beef brisket or Ultimate Smoked Roast Beef
• Smoked Beef Ribs
• Sausage with Roasted Cabbage and Butternut Squash Puree
• And of course, it pairs great with other smoked or roasted vegetables as well! Think acorn or butternut squash, smoked brussels sprouts, or even paired with rajas con crema!

FAQs

Next time you’re looking for a vegetable to serve with dinner, give this smoked cabbage a try! With virtually no hassle, this simple side dish is a no-brainer! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! If you end up serving it, let me know how it turns out in the comments!

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