• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Foodie Eats

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Dessert
    • Drinks
    • Entrée
    • Gluten-Free
    • Holiday Favorites
    • Instant Pot
    • Recipes
    • Sides
    • Soups
    • Slow Cooker
    • Vegan
    • Whole30
  • How To
  • About
    • About
    • Our Story
    • Disclosure
    • Contact
    • Privacy Ploicy
  • Subscribe
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Air Fryer
  • All Recipes
  • Dessert
  • Drinks
  • Entrée
  • Fall Favorites
  • Gluten-Free
  • Holiday Favorites
  • Instant Pot
  • Low Carb
  • Sides
  • Slow Cooker
  • Soups
  • Vegan
  • Whole30
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Cabbage with Southern Style

    Published June 4, 2024. Last modified June 4, 2024 By Rachael

    6.8K shares
    • Share
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    Instant Pot cabbage image for Pinterest.
    Instant Pot cabbage image for Pinterest.

    Cabbage is a staple in many cuisines worldwide, but achieving the perfect texture and flavor can be challenging. With this Instant Pot cabbage recipe, you can get it just right every time while capturing that undeniable southern flavor.

    Instant Pot cabbage in white bowl with basket in background.

    (Originally posted on October 9, 2018; Updated on June 4, 2024.)

    Cabbage is one of those foods that people eat all over the world. I believe it's part of nearly every cuisine on planet Earth. But I really dislike one thing: sad, mushy, bland cabbage! Well, I am from the South, so that's the lens through which I see food, and in my opinion, southern-style cabbage should be evenly cooked without being overly mushy. This Instant Pot cabbage takes all the guesswork out of getting the texture just right! And the flavor is undeniably southern in the best way.

    Why This Recipe Works

    • Consistent Texture: The Instant Pot ensures your cabbage is cooked evenly, avoiding the dreaded mushy texture.
    • Hands-Free Cooking: Using the Instant Pot frees up your stove and hands, making this recipe more efficient than stove-top versions.
    • Quick and Easy: This recipe takes minimal effort and time, perfect for busy weeknights.
    • Southern Flavor: Infused with bacon fat, garlic, and thyme, this cabbage recipe brings a taste of the South to your table.
    • Nutrient-Packed: Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, and folate.
    • Versatile Side Dish: Pairs well with a variety of main dishes, from chicken and beef to pork and seafood.
    Instant Pot cabbage in white bowl with basket in background.

    More Southern Instant Pot Recipes

    • Instant Pot Corn Chowder
    • Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
    • Instant Pot Dirty Rice

    Ingredients for Instant Pot Cabbage

    Ingredients for Instant Pot cabbage.
    • Yellow Onion (1 ½ cups, sliced with grain): Sautéed onions add sweetness and depth to the dish.
    • Green Cabbage (1 head, roughly chopped, core removed): The star of the recipe, providing a crunchy texture and mild flavor.
    • Bacon Fat (2 Tbsp.): Imparts a rich, smoky, quintessentially Southern flavor.
    • Garlic (1 Tbsp., minced): Enhances the overall flavor with its pungent aroma and taste.
    • Thyme Sprigs (6): Adds an earthy, herbal note.
    • Bay Leaf (1): Provides a subtle depth of flavor.
    • Apple Cider Vinegar (1 Tbsp.): Balances the richness with a slight tang.
    • Chicken Broth (1 cup): Infuses the cabbage with savory goodness.
    • Sea Salt (1 tsp.): Enhances all the flavors in the dish.

    How to Make Instant Pot Cabbage

    Yellow onion sliced with the grain on cutting board with knife.
    Cut onions with the grain to create strings.
    Head of cabbage cut into three pieces with core removed on cutting board.
    Place the cabbage on a large cutting board, core side up. Cut the cabbage into 3 large pieces to remove the core...
    Cabbage on cutting board cut into bite-sized pieces.
    then roughly chop into spoon-size pieces. Break up leaves into individual pieces.
    Sliced onions cooking in oil in Instant Pot.
    Set Instant Pot to sauté setting. Add bacon fat and let it melt. Add onions and cook for 2-3 minutes until just barely softened.
    Sauteed onions in Instant Pot with garlic, bay leaf, and thyme spring.
    Add garlic, thyme, bay leaf, and vinegar, and cook for 1 minute.
    Uncooked cabbage filling an Instant Pot.
    Add cabbage, chicken broth, and salt to the pot. Mix thoroughly. Lock the lid and set the pressure to high for 2 minutes.
    Cooked cabbage in Instant Pot.
    Once the cooking time is complete, quick-release the pressure. Remove the lid, discard the bay leaf and thyme sprigs, mix again, and serve.

    And this is the AMAZING Result

    Instant Pot cabbage in white bowl with serving spoon and yellow and white striped linen.

    Expert Tips

    • Cut Onions with the Grain: This method creates strings that blend well with the cabbage.
    • Break Up Cabbage Leaves: Ensures even cooking and better texture.
    • Mix Thoroughly: Before locking the lid, mix the ingredients well for even distribution of flavors.
    • Quick-Release Pressure: Prevents overcooking and maintains the perfect texture.

    FAQs

    Can I use olive oil instead of bacon fat? Yes! You could also use butter.

    Can I substitute dried thyme for fresh? I recommend using fresh thyme whenever possible. The flavor will always be better. However, you can use dried thyme in a pinch. I recommend using ¼ teaspoon dry thyme in this recipe when substituting for fresh.

    Can I use other types of cabbage? Yes, but the cooking time may vary slightly.

    What if I don’t have bacon fat? Substitute with butter or olive oil for a different, yet delicious flavor.

    Can I make this recipe vegetarian? Yes, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, and swap the bacon fat for olive oil.

    ★ Did you make this Instant Pot Cabbage?

    Please give it a star rating below!★

    Instant Pot cabbage in white bowl with serving spoon and yellow and white striped linen.

    Instant Pot Cabbage with Southern Style

    This Instant Pot cabbage takes all the guesswork out of getting it just right! And the flavor is undeniably southern in the best way.
    4.93 from 13 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Southern
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 82kcal
    Author: Gary White

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups yellow onions sliced with grain
    • 1 head of cabbage roughly chopped, core removed
    • 2 Tbsp. bacon fat
    • 1 Tbsp. garlic minced
    • 6 thyme sprigs
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
    • 1 cup chicken broth
    • 1 tsp. sea salt

    Instructions

    • Cut onions with the grain to create strings.
    • Place the cabbage on a large cutting board, core side up. Cut the cabbage into 3 large pieces to remove the core, then roughly chop into spoon-size pieces. Break up leaves into individual pieces.
    • Set Instant Pot to sauté setting. Add bacon fat and let it melt. Add onions and cook for 2-3 minutes until just barely softened.
    • Add garlic, thyme, bay leaf, and vinegar, and cook for 1 minute.
    • Add cabbage, chicken broth, and salt to the pot. Mix thoroughly. Lock the lid and set the pressure to high for 2 minutes.
    • Once the cooking time is complete, quick-release the pressure. Remove the lid, discard the bay leaf and thyme sprigs, mix again, and serve.

    Video

    Notes

    Expert Tips

    • Cut Onions with the Grain: This method creates strings that blend well with the cabbage.
    • Break Up Cabbage Leaves: Ensures even cooking and better texture.
    • Mix Thoroughly: Before locking the lid, mix the ingredients well for even distribution of flavors.
    • Quick-Release Pressure: Prevents overcooking and maintains the perfect texture.

    FAQs

    Can I use olive oil instead of bacon fat? Yes! You could also use butter.
    Can I substitute dried thyme for fresh? I recommend using fresh thyme whenever possible. The flavor will always be better. However, you can use dried thyme in a pinch. I recommend using ¼ teaspoon dry thyme in this recipe when substituting for fresh.
    Can I use other types of cabbage? Yes, but the cooking time may vary slightly.
    What if I don’t have bacon fat? Substitute with butter or olive oil for a different, yet delicious flavor.
    Can I make this recipe vegetarian? Yes, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, and swap the bacon fat for olive oil.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 82kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 275mg | Potassium: 274mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 145IU | Vitamin C: 45.5mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 0.8mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag us Today!Mention @thefoodieeats or tag #TheFoodieEats!

    THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. TO FIND OUT MORE, VISIT OUR DISCLOSURE PAGE.

    More Instant Pot Recipes

    • A white bowl full of Instant Pot vegetable beef soup.
      Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup
    • A hearty bowl of Instant Pot chicken chili, featuring tender chicken and beans, topped with cheese, sour cream, and avocado.
      Instant Pot Chicken Chili
    • Arroz con pollo inside Instant Pot
      Instant Pot Arroz con Pollo
    • Closeup of Instant Pot shrimp and grits in white bowl.
      Instant Pot Shrimp and Grits

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tiffany

      January 20, 2019 at 9:31 am

      Could I use olive oil in place of bacon fat? And dried thyme instead of fresh?

      Reply
      • Gary

        January 20, 2019 at 1:46 pm

        Of course. I'd suggest 1/4 tsp. of dried thyme.

        Reply
      • Erika

        April 03, 2019 at 8:20 pm

        4 stars
        Awesome! I threw in some Italian sausage I had to complete the meal. Great quick dinner! Thanks!

        Reply
        • Kathryn

          December 31, 2019 at 6:21 pm

          When do you add the Italian sausage?

          Reply
    2. Kathryn

      March 07, 2019 at 2:29 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe! My family loved it!

      Reply
    3. Becky

      April 01, 2019 at 2:22 pm

      5 stars
      Very good recipe, we loved it!

      Reply
    4. Sylvia Cristina

      August 16, 2019 at 6:57 pm

      5 stars
      Closest I've come to the 45min stove version. Thank you! Just didn't add thyme or bay leaf but was great and tender!

      Reply
    5. Rebekah Kirby

      February 06, 2020 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      This was great! I'm not going to bother making it on the stove ever again.

      Reply
    6. Patti A Munch

      February 23, 2020 at 5:48 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this cabbage recipe. Cooked up perfectly and tasted great!

      Reply
    7. sapat

      January 20, 2022 at 4:17 pm

      The recipe calls for bacon fat, but it doesn't use bacon in the recipe. I don't keep bacon fat after the bacon is fried. What do you do?

      Reply
      • Gary White

        February 14, 2022 at 9:05 am

        Fry up some bacon and keep the fat! (Just being silly.)

        You can use olive oil (or really any oil you like). The only thing that will change is the flavor.

        Reply
        • Jena

          July 16, 2022 at 4:07 pm

          Lol

          Reply
      • Chyne

        August 08, 2023 at 5:20 pm

        The market in my area sells jarred bacon fat and jarred duck fat. See if your market has that. I love the flavor of bacon but I rarely eat bacon so I never have bacon grease. Lol.

        Reply
    8. Shanny

      April 17, 2022 at 5:19 pm

      5 stars
      Love it

      Reply
    9. John Starnes

      May 22, 2023 at 10:41 pm

      5 stars
      Wonderful and so quick. I added bacon and bacon fat. DELICIOUS!!!

      Reply
    10. Cara L.

      December 03, 2023 at 10:38 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! WOW. I had this whole head of cabbage. I didn’t know what to do with. This was the right thing to do! I just left the bacon in it instead of using just the fat, and it was so tasty. I may have added more than a little splash of apple cider vinegar by accident but I really liked that too! Thanks a bunch!

      Reply
    4.93 from 13 votes (4 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Meet Gary:

    I believe that food is meant to be enjoyed! Whether creating a simple recipe or taking the time to cook a recipe that's more involved, this is my goal: Creating delicious food that everyone can enjoy. Read more about me...

    As Featured On

    Parade logo Delish logo Romper logo MSN logo Pop Sugar logo Forkly logo Shari's Berries logo Greatist logo Bulletproof Blog logo FoodBlogs logo openfit logo Brit+Co logo Misfits Market logo life Health HQ logo Zola logo Sortathing logo Pure Wow logo Cafe Mom logo VegNews logoBrightlyWell+Good

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2024 The Foodie Eats

    6805 shares
    6805 shares

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.