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    Home » Recipes » Side Dish

    Instant Pot Cabbage

    Published: Aug 28, 2019 · Updated: Apr 7, 2020 by Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC · 37 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pin for cabbage.

    The humble cabbage is one of the most versatile vegetables and cooking it in the Instant Pot makes a quick and easy side dish to round out your meal.

    A bowl of cabbage cooked in the Instant Pot.

    There are so many reasons to love this recipe. It's made with only 4 ingredients (not including salt and pepper) and takes only 5 minutes to make in the Instant Pot.

    This recipe creates a tender, yet slightly firm, cabbage packed with flavor. And since cabbage is available all year round, you can cook this side dish any time of the year.

    When shopping for cabbage, look for the following:

    • The head should feel heavy.
    • Brightly colored, whether it’s a green or purple cabbage.
    • The leaves should be tightly packed together.
    • It doesn’t have any brown spots or withered leaves.
    A head of cabbage sitting on a cutting board.

    How to cook cabbage in the Instant Pot

    1. Prepare cabbage: Start with removing the outer leaves from the cabbage head and rinse well with water. Then cut the cabbage into quarters. Using a sharp knife, removing the core from the wedges and chop each quarter into 1-inch pieces.

    2. Cook garlic: Set pressure cooker to Sauté on Normal and heat oil in the inner steel pot of the pressure cooker. Add the garlic; sauté until garlic starts to become fragrant, stirring occasionally, about 1 minute. Press Cancel.

    3. Add ingredients: Place the diced cabbage into the Instant Pot. Then add the water or vegetable broth and stir.

    4. Pressure cook: Lock pressure cooker lid in place and set steam vent to Sealing. Select Pressure Cook (Manual) and cook for 5 minutes on High Pressure.

    5. Quick-release: Carefully quick-release the steam and remove the lid.

    6. Season and serve: Season with salt and pepper before serving.

    Step-by-step instructions on how to cook cabbage in the Instant Pot.

    Ingredient substitutions and variations

    • Make it a soup: What I love about this recipe is just how versatile it is. If you want to turn this side dish into a soup, just double the amount of liquid used.
    • This dish tastes even better the next day, giving the cabbage a chance to soak up the flavors. It’s perfect for meal prep or if you know you’ll be busy the next day.
    • To warm up the cabbage, either microwave it or warm it up in a small saucepan on medium heat for about 5 minutes.
    • If you eat dairy and enjoy butter, substituting the avocado oil with grass-fed butter adds a creamy delicious taste.
    • Add onion for added flavor. To bring out the flavor, be sure to sautee it with the garlic in the beginning until it’s fragrant and starts to appear translucent. Then add the cabbage.
    • Fresh herbs elevate the flavor with any dish, especially cabbage. When sauteing the garlic, add dried or fresh thyme, oregano, or a bay leaf for added flavor.

    Serving suggestion

    Whether you cook your cabbage in the Instant Pot or the stovetop, it makes for a delicious side dish. Pair it with:

    • Rice or quinoa.
    • Black beans or any other protein.
    • Roasted potatoes or any other starchy vegetable.
    • Add it to a Buddha bowl paired with quinoa and chickpeas
    A bowl of Instant Pot Cabbage.

    More easy Instant Pot Recipes

    • Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs
    • Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
    • How to Cook Chickpeas in the Instant Pot
    • Instant Pot Quinoa

    Are you looking to cook other vegetables in your Instant Pot? Check out beets, carrots, asparagus, cauliflower, and broccoli.

    I hope you love this Instant Pot Cabbage recipe as much as I do! Sign up for email updates to get delicious recipes delivered straight to your inbox. You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

    Bowl of cabbage cooked in the Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Cabbage

    5 from 21 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 124kcal
    Author: Sapana Chandra
    The humble cabbage is one of the most versatile vegetables. Pair it with a pressure cooker and you have a quick and delicious side dish! This Instant Pot Cabbage recipe is vegan, easy to make, and perfect for meal prep!

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 head of cabbage, green or purple
    • 1 cup vegetable broth, or water
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt, to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    • Prepare the cabbage. Remove all the outer leaves from the cabbage and rinse with water. Cut the cabbage in half. Slice each half into quarters. Using a sharp knife, removing the core from the wedges. Chop each quarter into 1-inch pieces.
    • Set pressure cooker to Sauté on Normal and heat oil in the inner steel pot of the pressure cooker. Add the garlic; sauté until garlic starts to become fragrant, stirring occasionally, about 1 minute. Press Cancel.
    • Add the cabbage and water to the pressure cooker.
    • Lock pressure cooker lid in place and set steam vent to Sealing. Select Pressure Cook (Manual) and cook for 5 minutes on High Pressure.
    • Carefully quick-release the steam and remove the lid.
    • Season with salt and pepper before serving.

    Notes

    If you'd like to turn this dish into an Instant Pot Cabbage soup, just double the water or broth! You may need to adjust the seasoning accordingly.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 124kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 567mg, Potassium: 386mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 348IU, Vitamin C: 84mg, Calcium: 94mg, Iron: 1mg
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Tried this recipe?Mention @realandvibrant and hashtag #realandvibrant!

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    About Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC

    Sapana Chandra is a certified health coach, author of Plant Power Bowls, and founder of Real +Vibrant. Here you’ll find simply delicious vegetarian recipes with step-by-step photo instructions – recipes you’ll be excited to enjoy and share with your loved ones.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cody says

      January 01, 2020 at 7:51 am

      Perfect every time! I love adding extra seasoning to mine.5 stars

      Reply
    2. Courtney says

      October 09, 2019 at 10:52 pm

      Perfectly delicious!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        December 07, 2019 at 5:48 pm

        So glad to hear, Courtney!

        Reply
    3. Caitlin says

      September 05, 2019 at 4:21 pm

      Made this for dinner last night and it turned out perfect!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        December 07, 2019 at 5:48 pm

        That's so great to hear, Caitlin! Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
    4. Andrea says

      August 30, 2019 at 11:58 am

      I had no idea it would be so easy. Love cabbage as a side dish and will definitely be making it this way.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        September 01, 2019 at 5:44 pm

        The pressure cooker makes everything so much easier (and quicker!) Hope you enjoy it.

        Reply
    5. Tonje says

      August 30, 2019 at 11:56 am

      I can't believe how easy and quick this recipe is, instant pot recipes are the best!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        September 01, 2019 at 5:44 pm

        They truly are! Hope you enjoy it.

        Reply
    6. Tawnie Kroll says

      August 30, 2019 at 11:37 am

      I would have never thought to make it this way but with your easy step by step photos I loved it! Thank you!!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        September 01, 2019 at 5:45 pm

        So glad you loved it!

        Reply
    7. Chris Collins says

      August 30, 2019 at 11:34 am

      I'm always looking for new cabbage recipes and this looks like a total winner! Can't wait to try the recipe!!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        September 01, 2019 at 5:45 pm

        I hope you enjoy it, Chris!

        Reply
    8. Tara says

      August 30, 2019 at 11:22 am

      Love this! Makes me fall in love with cabbage all over again.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        September 01, 2019 at 5:45 pm

        Ah so happy to hear!

        Reply
    9. Cathy says

      August 30, 2019 at 2:13 am

      I love love cabbage as a side and normally I cut it in halves, season it and bake it, but I never thought about making it in my instant pot! I can't believe I never thought about this! Love the idea of using avocado oil too!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        September 01, 2019 at 5:45 pm

        Such a great idea! I'll have to try that next!

        Reply
    10. Adrianne says

      August 30, 2019 at 2:03 am

      I can see myself using this for SOOOO many recipes! I would love it as a side to my dinner tonight actually as well, haha! Thanks for a great easy recipe. Cheers5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        September 01, 2019 at 5:46 pm

        Thanks for stopping by, Adrianna!

        Reply
    11. Sylvie says

      August 30, 2019 at 1:25 am

      Such an easy and quick side dish! It would go well with so many main dishes as well - I need to try it asap!5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        September 01, 2019 at 5:46 pm

        Thank you, Sylvie!

        Reply
    12. Veena Azmanov says

      August 29, 2019 at 11:02 pm

      Delicious, healthy and a quick meal option.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        September 01, 2019 at 5:46 pm

        So glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    13. Tonje says

      August 29, 2019 at 10:45 pm

      This is so good, we love serving it with grilled or roasted meat.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        September 01, 2019 at 5:46 pm

        So glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    14. Brian Jones says

      August 28, 2019 at 11:06 pm

      First time cooking cabbage in my Instant Pot and it worked perfectly, thank you.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        August 29, 2019 at 9:22 am

        So glad you enjoyed it, Brian!

        Reply
    15. Natalie says

      August 28, 2019 at 11:05 pm

      Looks delicious and healthy! Such a great balanced side dish ♥5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        August 29, 2019 at 9:23 am

        Thank you, Natalie!

        Reply
    16. Veena Azmanov says

      August 28, 2019 at 7:54 pm

      Easy and quick option. Sounds healthy and delicious too.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        August 29, 2019 at 9:23 am

        Thank you! Yes, I love that it comes together so quickly.

        Reply
    17. Irina says

      August 28, 2019 at 6:34 pm

      This Instant Pot Cabbage sounds as the best side dish. Making right away! Will serve it with Italian meat balls. Thanks for sharing.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        August 28, 2019 at 6:39 pm

        Thank you! I'm sure that will make a lovely combination, Irina!

        Reply
    18. Krissy Allori says

      August 28, 2019 at 6:12 pm

      Yum! This looks so delicious.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        August 28, 2019 at 6:31 pm

        Thank you, Krissy!

        Reply
    19. David says

      August 28, 2019 at 5:46 pm

      This is so good! Reminds me of a soup my mom made growing up.5 stars

      Reply
      • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

        August 28, 2019 at 6:32 pm

        Thank you, David!

        Reply

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    Sapana Chandra

    Hi, I'm Sapana! I’m a recipe developer and author of the cookbook Plant Power Bowls. Here you'll find simple, delicious, vegetarian recipes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Learn more about me

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