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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
Cody says
Perfect every time! I love adding extra seasoning to mine.
Courtney says
Perfectly delicious!
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
So glad to hear, Courtney!
Caitlin says
Made this for dinner last night and it turned out perfect!
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
That's so great to hear, Caitlin! Thanks for sharing.
Andrea says
I had no idea it would be so easy. Love cabbage as a side dish and will definitely be making it this way.
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
The pressure cooker makes everything so much easier (and quicker!) Hope you enjoy it.
Tonje says
I can't believe how easy and quick this recipe is, instant pot recipes are the best!
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
They truly are! Hope you enjoy it.
Tawnie Kroll says
I would have never thought to make it this way but with your easy step by step photos I loved it! Thank you!!
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
So glad you loved it!
Chris Collins says
I'm always looking for new cabbage recipes and this looks like a total winner! Can't wait to try the recipe!!
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
I hope you enjoy it, Chris!
Tara says
Love this! Makes me fall in love with cabbage all over again.
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
Ah so happy to hear!
Cathy says
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!
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
Such a great idea! I'll have to try that next!
Adrianne says
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. Cheers
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
Thanks for stopping by, Adrianna!
Sylvie says
Such an easy and quick side dish! It would go well with so many main dishes as well - I need to try it asap!
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
Thank you, Sylvie!
Veena Azmanov says
Delicious, healthy and a quick meal option.
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Tonje says
This is so good, we love serving it with grilled or roasted meat.
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Brian Jones says
First time cooking cabbage in my Instant Pot and it worked perfectly, thank you.
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
So glad you enjoyed it, Brian!
Natalie says
Looks delicious and healthy! Such a great balanced side dish ♥
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
Thank you, Natalie!
Veena Azmanov says
Easy and quick option. Sounds healthy and delicious too.
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
Thank you! Yes, I love that it comes together so quickly.
Irina says
This Instant Pot Cabbage sounds as the best side dish. Making right away! Will serve it with Italian meat balls. Thanks for sharing.
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
Thank you! I'm sure that will make a lovely combination, Irina!
Krissy Allori says
Yum! This looks so delicious.
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
Thank you, Krissy!
David says
This is so good! Reminds me of a soup my mom made growing up.
Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says
Thank you, David!