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    Home » Vegan Recipes » Vegan Side Dishes » Slow Cooker Red Cabbage

    Slow Cooker Red Cabbage

    Published: Jan 13, 2012 · Modified: Dec 3, 2021 by Kate Ford · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Slow Cooker Red Cabbage
    JUMP TO RECIPE JUMP TO VIDEO
    pin for slow cooker red cabbage

    This festive slow-cooker red cabbage is a delicious Christmas side-dish, saving valuable space on the cooker. Braised with apple. cranberry, balsamic and spices.

    🍴 Why you will love this recipe

    Using a slow cooker for one of your Christmas side-dishes is such a great idea. Not only do you save space on the cooker, but it also allows you to prep-ahead, saving time in the busiest part of the day.

    The red cabbage is braised in port and balsamic vinegar, with apple, cranberry and festive spices. Preparation time is minimal, but with maximum festive flavours!

    This braised red cabbage could be fully prepared the night before, then you just turn on the slow cooker when you get up on Christmas Day.

    Jump to:
    • 🍴 Why you will love this recipe
    • 📝 What you need
    • 👩🏽‍🍳 How to make your Slow Cooker Red Cabbage
    • 🔪 Top Tips & FAQs
    • 🍽 If you liked that...
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments and Reviews
    ingredients for braised red cabbage

    📝 What you need

    Ingredients

    Red Cabbage Look for a shiny, fresh red cabbage for maximum flavour and texture. Discard just the outer leaves and cut out the tough core.

    Eating Apple Using an eating rather than a cooking apple adds sweetness and retains small apple-y chunks in the finished dish, (cooking apples tend to turn to mush).

    Balsamic Vinegar adds a lovely deep, savoury edge but if you don't have any you can use red wine vinegar or cider vinegar instead.

    Cranberry sauce adds a fruity and sweet flavour.

    Equipment

    You will need a slow-cooker for this red cabbage dish. You can often pick these up second hand for free or a very small fee on local reuse sites.

    If you're looking for a new one, take a look at the Morphy Richards Sear, Stew & Stir Slow Cooker - it is very well-priced and being able to start dishes off on the hob then transfer to the slow cooker makes such a difference to the finished dish.

    👩🏽‍🍳 How to make your Slow Cooker Red Cabbage

    For a full, printable recipe with ingredients and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this page 👇🏼 .

    finely slice red cabbage

    Trim and finely slice the red cabbage. Peel and finely slice the red onion. Place both into the slow cooker.

    all ingredients in slow cooker

    Peel and core the apple and chop it into small chunks. Add it to the slow cooker along with all the remaining ingredients. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or on medium for 5-6 hours until the cabbage is soft and tender.

    🔪 Top Tips & FAQs

    Slicing the red cabbage and red onion as finely and evenly as you can takes this side dish to the next level. Use a large, sharp knife and work your way up horizontally after chopping out the core.

    Don't forget to season well and then taste and adjust before serving.

    Christmas Red Cabbage
    Can I prepare the slow cooker red cabbage the day before?

    Yes, you can do all the preparation the day before, then just turn on the slow cooker on the morning you need it. I don't recommend making it ahead then reheating, as it can lose its vibrant colour and some of its flavour when reheated.

    Can I freeze the cooked red cabbage?

    You can, but it does lose some of its vibrant colour and texture. It isn't as good as freshly cooked, but if you've got leftovers I would absolutely freeze them for a weeknight supper side dish.

    Can I make this without a slow cooker?

    Yes - just follow the instructions but cook it in a large, lidded casserole dish. Bring to the boil then reduce to a low simmer and cover with a lid. Cook for about an hour, until soft and tender.

    Loved this recipe? ⭐️ Leave a star rating below! 📸 Snap a photo of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram, tagging me @thevegspace or #thevegspace 📩 And get all my latest recipes in a weekly e-mail by subscribing to my newsletter.

    🍽 If you liked that...

    .... you might also enjoy these vegan recipes from The Veg Space:

    • Vegan Roast Potatoes
      Crispy Vegan Roast Potatoes
    • Carrot and Swede Mash
      Carrot and Swede Mash
    • Christmas Carrots
      Christmas Carrots with Orange
    • Vegan Christmas Cake
      Vegan Christmas Cake

    📖 Recipe

    Slow Cooker Red Cabbage

    Kate Ford | The Veg Space
    This festive slow cooker red cabbage is a delicious Christmas side-dish, saving valuable space on the cooker. Braised with apple. cranberry, balsamic and spices.
    5 from 6 votes
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 hours hrs
    Total Time 5 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
    Course Side
    Cuisine British
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 125 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 red cabbage
    • 1 red onion
    • 1 eating apple
    • 40 g dairy-free block margarine
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • a little grated nutmeg
    • 3 tablespoon dark brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoon cranberry sauce
    • 50 ml balsamic vinegar
    • 50 ml port, red wine or water

    Instructions
     

    • Remove the outer leaves from the red cabbage. Halve it and remove the tough core from the centre. Finely slice the remaining cabbage and tip into the slow cooker.
    • Peel and finely slice the red onion and add to the slow cooker.
    • Peel and finely chop the apple and add to the slow cooker.
    • Add all remaining ingredients and season well with salt and black pepper, then mix well.
    • Cook in the slow cooker for 4-5 hours on high or 5-6 hours on medium. When the cabbage is tender, taste and adjust seasoning as required, then serve.

    Video

    Notes

    Slicing the red cabbage and red onion as finely and evenly as you can takes this side dish to the next level. Use a large, sharp knife and work your way up horizontally after chopping out the core.
    Don't forget to season well and then taste and adjust before serving.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 125kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 81mgPotassium: 322mgFiber: 3gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 1364IUVitamin C: 62mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was! Mention @thevegspace or #thevegspace
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    Vegan in 15 by Kate Ford

    For more quick and easy vegan recipes take a look at my latest book Vegan in 15.

    "Brilliant! Chock full of easy recipes and great tips and advice"  Hello! Magazine

    Please note that all recipes and images on The Veg Space are copyright protected. If you would like to share the recipe, please use the share buttons provided. Do not screenshot or copy and paste the recipe, (even if credited to The Veg Space). Many thanks for your understanding

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    About Kate Ford

    Hi! I'm Kate, vegan home cook and blogger behind The Veg Space and author of Vegan in 15. I'm passionate about creating easy vegan recipes that even a first-time cook can follow.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anita says

      December 04, 2021 at 3:50 pm

      It looks really delicious, but it's hard for me to imagine what to combine this side-dish with. Give me some advice, please 🙂

      Reply
      • Kate Ford says

        December 06, 2021 at 10:27 am

        Hi Anita, I have this with a roast dinner - roast potatoes, gravy and a main dish like some of those suggested above.

        Reply
      • Tina B says

        July 13, 2024 at 10:35 pm

        I make this with meatloaf and mashed potatoes. The only adjustment I've made is I used apple juice ot apple cider and I don't add wine. It's delicious!!

        Reply
    2. Alisa Infanti says

      November 22, 2021 at 2:18 pm

      At first, I was like no way but I needed a quick German-inspired recipe to bring to a friend's theme night dinner. It was amazing and a huge it. Thank you so much for sharing!

      Reply
    3. Elizabeth says

      November 22, 2021 at 2:13 pm

      LOVE this recipe! I'd never made cabbage in the slow cooker before and wasn't sure how it would be, but the whole family thought it was delicious. Thanks for a winning recipe!

      Reply
    4. Jess says

      November 22, 2021 at 2:04 pm

      The color is beautiful! But the fact you can make this in the crockpot is amazing!

      Reply
    5. Tavo says

      November 22, 2021 at 1:19 pm

      Great and easy recipe! I am making it today for the second time!

      Reply
    6. Gina says

      November 22, 2021 at 1:10 pm

      I've never had red cabbage that tastes as good as this! Love the acidic hint from the balsamic and the cranberry sauce and touch of brown sugar is just delicious!

      Reply
    5 from 6 votes (1 rating without comment)

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