This Simple Oven Roasted Buttered Cabbage recipe has been on repeat in my house and I guarantee you will fall in love with it at first bite. It's buttery, slightly creamy, rich in flavor, with subtle sweetness from the cabbage shining through. This oven-roasted cabbage makes an easy 30-minute delicious side dish that pairs great with your favorite main course.
If you've not noticed, we love cabbage around here. It's a humble cruciferous vegetable that serves so many purposes. You can turn it into raw sauerkraut for live enzymes and some probiotic action. Or wrap up savory meat and rice filling for healthy cabbage rolls. And if you can't be bothered with rolling, you will love these lazy cabbage rolls.
And then there's this oven baked cabbage with butter recipe. This has been my go-to side recently because it's a simple yet incredibly flavorful dish that pairs wonderfully with a variety of mains.
And the best part? This buttered cabbage recipe is nearly hands off. And once you learn how to cook cabbage in the oven, you too will be going back to this easy butter cabbage recipe again and again.
Looking for more favorite vegetable side dishes? Check out air fryer bok choy, roasted red cabbage, and crispy bacon Brussels sprouts.
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Recipe Overview
- Prep and Cook Time: 5 minutes to prep and 20-25 minutes to roast
- Cooking Method: Oven-baked
- Dietary Info: GAPS, Low Carb, Keto, WAPF
- Tools Needed: sharp knife, cutting board, and sheet pan
- Skill Level: Easy
Key Features & Benefits
- Quick and easy prep - The prep and cooking process couldn't be simpler. Add everything to a sheet pan and tuck in lots of butter and seasonings. It's a truly easy side dish that doesn't require babysitting melted butter on stovetop.
- Hands-free cooking method - Cooking cabbage in the oven is a great way to keep your hands free to do more important things. In fact, I believe roasting cabbage in the oven is the best way to cook it.
- Versatile serving options - The sky's the limit when it comes to serving butter cabbage. In fact, my favorite way is to enjoy it as an afternoon snack.
- Delicious flavor profile: The combination of butter, sweet cabbage, and savory seasonings are a match made in heaven. Plus, with oven roasting, you'll get those crispy pieces that are just so irresistible.
- Meal prep friendly - Great to be made ahead as it reheats easily, whether in the oven or in a skillet as an individual serving.
Ingredients for Butter Cabbage
Learn how to cook cabbage in the oven with 3 simple ingredients. This delicious recipe is ready in 30 minutes.
- Green cabbage: Sometimes referred to as white cabbage. You'll need one small head or half of a large head of cabbage, approximately 2 pounds. I grabbed this one at my local farmer's market during the winter when it's in season.
- Unsalted butter: This is the main ingredient that will take this humble vegetable and transform it into magical deliciousness. A few tablespoons of butter adds a rich, savory flavor and helps create a crispy, golden-brown exterior to strips of cabbage during roasting. If using salted butter, omit the added salt.
- Seasonings: There's so much flexibility here but I love using garlic powder and sweet paprika. Garlic powder adds a punch of flavor without fresh garlic and paprika gives it a slightly warm flavor and beautiful reddish hue.
- Sea salt: Cabbage is just better with salt. It enhances the natural sweet flavor of the cabbage and other ingredients.
See the recipe card for exact quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Red cabbage - Swap regular green cabbage with red or purple cabbage for a fun twist.
- Add an acid - Drizzle a splash of apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice to add a tangy flavor and balance out the richness of the butter.
- Have fun with spices - You can literally use any favorite spice blend in this recipe. Feel free to experiment. Cumin, coriander, or chili powder would all be tasty. Or add a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat.
- Herb variations - Everything is better with fresh herbs. Add fresh or dried herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil, chopped dill, or parsley.
💭Make it Nutrient-Dense: While butter is the most important ingredient here, if you must swap it with a dairy-free alternative I recommend another saturated fat like bacon fat (from all those bacon crumbles), lard, or beef tallow. The flavor is fantastic and no oil will ever compare. And traditional fats like these have the most robust nutrient profile.
How to Cook Cabbage in the Oven
The complete printable recipe is below in the recipe card for your convenience. Follow these simple step-by-step instructions for the tastiest butter cabbage.
Step 1. Prep
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cut the cabbage into half, then quarters. Remove the center core and cut into one-eighths. Slice the cabbage crosswise, creating ½" thick strips.
Step 2. Season
Spread the cut cabbage evenly across a large baking sheet. Cut the butter into small pieces and tuck them evenly across the cabbage. Sprinkle the garlic powder, paprika, and salt evenly across.
Step 3. Bake & Toss
Roast the cabbage in the preheated oven for 5 minutes to let the butter melt completely. Remove from the oven and toss with a wide metal spatula to combine the butter, seasonings, and cabbage together. Spread the cabbage back into an even layer across the baking sheet.
Step 4. Finish roasting
Transfer the sheet pan back into the oven for another 15 minutes to finish roasting. If desired, broil the last 3-5 minutes or until the some of the cabbage is golden brown and crispy on the edges.
Helpful Tips for Buttered Cabbage
- Remove any brown cabbage leaves. Discard tattered, bruised, or tough outer leaves of the raw cabbage.
- Don't stress over the cut. The beauty about this sautéed cabbage recipe is that you can coarsely cut the cabbage. No need to whip out your mandoline slicer to get uniform strips. Save that stress for raw sauerkraut where precise slicing is necessary.
- Melt butter in a saucepan. I don't know about you but I love the convenience of this one-pan wonder and melting the butter with the rest of the ingredients. But if you prefer, you can melt the butter separately over medium heat and drizzle it over the cabbage. Toss it, then pop it in the oven to roast to perfection.
- Make it a meal. Add some cooked protein like sausage or leftover chicken to the sheet pan the last few minutes of cooking to create a one-pan meal.
- Broil for golden-brown color. Switch your oven to broil the last 3-5 minutes of cooking time to brown the cabbage and give the cabbage those irresistibly delicious crispy edges.
💭Meal Prep Suggestion: This easy side dish is excellent to make ahead and store in the fridge until you're ready to enjoy. Double batch the recipe using two sheet pans to accomodate a crowd. It reheats wonderfully either in the oven or on stovetop.
Serving Suggestions
This simple side dish is fantastic with just about any main course, such as salt and pepper chicken wings or pan fried pork chops (cabbage and pork are a match made in culinary heaven, no?) But it also complements the flavors of hearty casserole dishes like tuna casserole recipe without soup and chicken potato bake, making it an easy and delicious side that can easily be cooked alongside the main course in the oven.
More buttered cabbage pairing suggestions:
Storage and Reheating Instructions
How long does butter cabbage last in the refrigerator?
To store: Store buttered cabbage in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Storage containers: These glass snap containers are perfect for leftover buttered cabbage.
To freeze: Technically, cooked cabbage can be frozen, though I don't recommend it because the texture of the cabbage upon thawing may be different (depending on how cooked through it is before freezing). But if you still want to go for it, transfer cooked cabbage to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat.
To reheat: If you're reheating a single serving or two of butter cabbage, it's best to do it in a small skillet on stovetop over medium heat. Transfer however much you need and reheat, stirring often. Add a splash of hot water to soften it. For a larger batch, I recommend spreading it out on a sheet pan and reheating it at 375°F until warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
In my opinion, the crispier, the better. While I naturally love cabbage, I especially love the crispy, crusty edges of the cabbage strips. However, that's achieved with high heat, which makes this oven-roasted cabbage an excellent option. Some people don't appreciate the pungent smell of steamed and overcooked cabbage so cook it according to your preference and pop it back in the oven if you want it a little more crispy.
Yes, you can use bagged cabbage to save time. Spread it on a baking sheet, add butter and seasonings, and roast according to the recipe. Be mindful, though, as it may cook faster since bagged cabbage is generally cut thinner into fine shreds, so keep an eye on it.
Any fresh cabbage will work using this simple recipe. I love the regular cabbage but you can try savoy cabbage, bok choy varieties, or even napa cabbage. The cooking time will be different as the cabbage leaves are thinner and will cook quicker but your buttered cabbage will still be delicious.
Looking for more simple cabbage recipes to use up the rest of the cabbage? Try these:
Did you make this Buttered Cabbage recipe? Please leave a ⭐ recipe rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comments. Thank you!💚
Printable Recipe
Simple Oven-Roasted Buttered Cabbage Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds green cabbage 1 small head or ½ of a larger cabbage
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cut the cabbage into half, then quarters. Remove the center core and cut into one-eighths. Slice the cabbage crosswise creating ½" thick strips.
- Season: Spread the cut cabbage evenly across a large baking sheet. Cut the butter into small pieces and tuck them evenly across the cabbage. Sprinkle the garlic powder, paprika, and salt evenly across.
- Bake & Toss: Roast the cabbage in the preheated oven for 5 minutes to let the butter melt completely. Remove from the oven and toss with a wide metal spatula to combine the butter, seasonings, and cabbage together. Spread the cabbage back into an even layer across the baking sheet
- Finish roasting: Transfer the sheet pan back into the oven for another 15 minutes to finish roasting. If desired, broil the last 3-5 minutes or until the some of the cabbage is golden brown and crispy on the edges.
Notes
- Remove any brown outer leaves. Discard tattered or bruised cabbage leaves.
- Don't stress over the cut. The beauty about this sautéed cabbage recipe is that you can coarsely cut the cabbage. No need to whip out your mandolin slicer to get uniform strips. Save that stress for raw sauerkraut where precise slicing is necessary.
- Melt butter in a saucepan. I don't know about you but I love the convenience of this one-pan wonder and melting the butter with the rest of the ingredients. But if you prefer, you can melt the butter separately over medium heat and drizzle it over the cabbage. Toss it, then pop it in the oven to roast to perfection.
- Make it a meal. Add some cooked protein like sausage or leftover chicken to the sheet pan the last few minutes of cooking to create a one-pan meal.
- Broil for golden-brown color. Switch your oven to broil the last 3-5 minutes of cooking time to brown the cabbage and give the cabbage those irresistibly delicious crispy edges.
Courtney says
I thought I'd cooked cabbage every way, but now I'm going to have to try this buttered cabbage. It sounds so easy and delicious. Thank you!
Kathy Miller says
Absolutely delicious. This is going in the regular rotation. We both loved it.
Anya says
So happy to hear that Kathy! It's such a simple yet totally delish dish!