These Roasted Red Cabbage Steaks with Garlic are a festive take on traditional cabbage steaks. Made with only four simple ingredients, they are flavorful, and delicious and pair perfectly with any protein.
Cabbage season is upon us and that brings an abundance of cabbage recipes to the world wide web and your dinner table.
What's not to love about a good cabbage recipe? It's a nutritious, versatile, and budget-friendly vegetable that also happens to be delicious.
You'll find it in many recipes from Stuffed Cabbage Rolls to Chicken Cabbage Casserole to various slaws like Cabbage Cucumber Salad. It's even fantastic naturally fermented like in this Red Cabbage Sauerkraut. This amazing vegetable has it all!
Why you'll love this recipe
The crispy edges of the cabbage are one of my favorite parts of this roasted cabbage recipe. But the amazing garlic-butter aroma wafting through your home comes a close second.
More reasons to love this great side dish?
- Taste: Crispy parmesan on top and flavorful buttered-up tender cabbage make a great match.
- Budget-friendly: Cabbage is an incredibly cost-efficient vegetable and even with the butter and Parmesan cheese, you're still looking at a low-cost side dish.
- Level of difficulty: Super easy with just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep time. This dish comes together quickly and effortlessly.
- Healthy: Cabbage is a nutritional powerhouse and this simple dish is low-carb, GAPS, and primal.
💭Pro tip: Cabbage is on the Clean 15 list which means pesticide exposure is relatively low compared to other veggies. If cost is prohibitive, skip the organic variety and go with conventionally grown cabbage.
Ingredients
This simple roasted red cabbage steak recipe starts with four basic ingredients.
- red cabbage: also referred to as purple cabbage; we'll only be using ½ of the head of the cabbage. Use the remaining half in slaws, sauerkraut, or soups.
- unsalted butter: organic pastured butter is ideal for its nutrients
- Parmesan cheese: finely shredded; I prefer to shred myself to avoid anti-caking agents in bagged shredded cheese
- garlic: fresh garlic cloves are always more flavorful than jarred.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
This is a very basic but homey garlic-butter cabbage steak recipe but check out these flavor combinations to put a twist on this easy dish.
- Comfort food - make the recipe as is but add a few bacon bits and some red pepper flakes for more of a comfort food vibe.
- Balsamic - whisk Dijon mustard and extra virgin olive oil with a little salt, then drizzle with balsamic glaze.
- Fresh and zesty - grate some lemon zest and make a simple lemon juice vinaigrette to pour over the cabbage slices.
- Green cabbage - feel free to swap out the purple for green cabbage!
Step-by-Step Instructions
The complete printable recipe is below in the recipe card for your convenience.
This easy side dish recipe calls for these ingredients: red cabbage, unsalted butter, fresh garlic, and Parmesan cheese. You'll also need a rimmed baking sheet and a small mixing bowl to make the garlic butter.
Step 1. Prepare cabbage
With the cut side down, slice the half head of cabbage into ¾-inch thick slices or wedges with the grain. Spread them out on a sheet pan.
Step 2. Garlic butter
Combine softened butter, minced garlic, and shredded parmesan in a small bowl.
💭Pro tip: When cutting cabbage for this recipe, don't remove the core as you would for a shredded cabbage recipe. The core will hold the layers together.
Step 3. Spread butter on cabbage
Spoon about a tablespoon of garlic and parmesan mixture on top of each cabbage wedge and spread it evenly across.
Step 4. Bake
Bake for 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the cabbage steaks and your preference. No need to flip the wedges as the butter and cheese will melt through.
💭Pro tip: If you want that golden top, broil the cabbage steaks during the last 2-3 minutes of roasting time.
Step 5. Finishing touches
Remove from the oven and place cabbage steaks on a platter. Garnish with a little bit of fresh dill or parsley and top with Maldon salt.
Helpful Tools & Links
Below are some affiliate links that may be helpful to you as you make this recipe. You can find some of these items cheaper at your local store but it helps to have a link so you know what you're looking for.
- Tools: chef knife, cutting board, stainless steel baking sheet,
- Ingredients: Maldon salt flakes
- Storage Supplies: wide-mouth mason jars for leftovers, Weck preserving jars, glass snap containers, Weck juice jars with lids
Serving Suggestions
This is a perfect side dish that can go with just about any protein. Try it with another oven-baked recipe like this Chicken Potato Bake or Easy Tuna Casserole. You can have both the side and the main entree cooking in the oven at the same time.
It's also great with a side of mashed potatoes and Instant Pot Ribs for an authentic comfort food meal.
But don't limit these baked cabbage wedges to just dinner. The leftovers are also great with your breakfast eggs or lunch.
Red Cabbage Steaks Pairing Suggestions
Storage and Reheating Instructions
To store: Leftovers can be served in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Storage containers: these glass snap containers are perfect for leftovers
To reheat: Reheat in an unpreheated toaster convection oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Refresh the look by garnishing with fresh dill or parsley.
Nutrition
Cabbage is an incredibly nutritious vegetable. It has the highest amount of antioxidants out of all cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli. It also contains nearly 80% of your daily Vitamin K, which is responsible for bone health.
This humble vegetable is also an excellent source of fiber, folate, iron, magnesium, calcium for strong bones and potassium for regulating blood pressure as well as the B Vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6) and Vitamin C. (source) This nutrient profile makes cabbage a perfect superfood.
Red or purple cabbage is particularly a nutritional powerhouse. But did you know that cooked cabbage actually supplies more nutrients and antioxidants than raw cabbage?
Cruciferous vegetables like red cabbage are one of the greatest goitrogenic offenders, which may lead to health issues with the thyroid gland. According to Kresser Institute, cooking crucifers lowers the goitrogenic content of foods making the cabbage easier to digest and healing to the thyroid.
FAQs
Cut the cabbage head in half through the core. Place the cabbage half cut side down on a sturdy cutting board and using a sharp knife, cut along the grain into wedges at a slant. You can also just cut across with the grain which will give you more even slices (not triangular wedges). Do not remove the core as it will hold the leaves together.
While raw red cabbage has a slightly peppery taste, when cooked, it developed more of a sweeter flavor. Red cabbage pairs well with butter, garlic, and Parmesan.
Looking for more healthy cabbage recipes? Here are some ideas:
Did you make this? Please leave a ⭐ recipe rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comments. Thank you!💚
Printable Recipe
Roasted Red Cabbage Steaks with Garlic Parmesan
Ingredients
- ½ red cabbage head (half cabbage head - approximately 2 ½ pounds) cleaned with outer leaves removed but core attached
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 6 garlic cloves, minced approximately 1 tablespoon or 3 teaspoons
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, finely shredded
- 2 teaspoons fresh dill or curly parsley, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Maldon salt flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush a rimmed baking sheet with avocado oil or unsalted butter.
- With the cut side down, slice the half head of cabbage into ¾-inch thick wedges. Spread them out on the prepared baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, combine softened butter, minced garlic, and shredded parmesan.
- Spoon about a tablespoon of garlic and parmesan mixture on top of each cabbage wedge and spread it evenly across.
- Bake for 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the cabbage steaks. Set on high broil for the last 3-5 minutes. No need to flip the wedges as the butter and cheese will melt through. Garnish with fresh dill or parsley and top with Maldon salt.
Bethany says
The purple cabbage is so pretty. This looks great!
Anya says
Doesn't it? Thanks for stopping by, Bethany. 🙂
Barbara @ Nifty Thrifty Bits says
I love cabbage! This sounds really good to me! Thanks for the recipe!
Marla says
Hi Anya,
I love cabbage - purple & green both. In fact I think I am going to try this recipe tonight for dinner since I was already planning to make cabbage. I use it a lot with sausage or turkey, olive oil and bake it in the oven for a whole meal in one dish. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & tweeted!
Miz Helen says
We will just love your Parmesan and Garlic Roasted Purple Cabbage, it looks awesome. Thank you so much for sharing with us for our 5th Anniversary of Full Plate Thursday! Hope you have a fantastic week and hope to see you again real soon!
Miz Helen
Nancy W says
This looks like a delicious way to enjoy cabbage, pinning it to try later. Thank you for sharing your post on Our Simple Homestead Blog Hop, hope to see you again tomorrow! - Nancy Nancy On The Home Front
Joy @ Joy Love Food says
I'm a big fan of cabbage, this sounds like a delicious preparation! Thanks for sharing at What'd You Do This Weekend?!
Chris says
this looks delicious!
Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday!
Deborah Davis says
Hi Anya,
This amazing parmesan and garlic roasted cabbage is a nice surprising twist to cabbage dishes! I am so glad you shared this technique with us at the Healthy Happy Green Natural Party! I'm Pinning and sharing this!
Easy Peasy Life Matters says
This sounds absolutely delicious!! Thank you so much for sharing on the Healthy Living Link Party! We'll be featuring your recipe tonight so don't forget to drop by and grab a "Featured" button! Have a great day! 🙂
linda spiker says
I love these simple, beautiful recipes! Pinned!
Anya says
Thanks Linda. 🙂
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
I bet this tastes delicious! I love roasted cabbage ... and with all of that parm, butter and garlic, yes please!
Anya says
It is delicious, thanks Emily.
Megan Stevens says
This looks perfect: love the butter and cheese, love the flaked salt!
Anya says
Everything is better with butter and cheese.
Beth says
Thanks for sharing a new way to prepare cabbage! We love it, but sometimes get tired of coleslaw, which is the main way I prepare it.
Anya says
Love coleslaw too.
Dena Norton says
We love cabbage, but I usually roast it with just butter or ghee, garlic, and sea salt. I love the addition of the Parmesan here. Pinning for later!
Anya says
Thanks Dena, we love the addition of parmesan.
Rachel says
Red cabbage is one of my favorites... this looks delicious!
Tessa@tessadomesticdiva says
Made these for dinner! Drool, what a flavor Combo! And the smell
In my kitchen while it roasted was pretty amazing too! Thanks Anya!!
Anya says
Wonderful to hear Tessa!! Thank you.
Tessa the Domestic Diva says
i had the leftovers for breakfast...even more amazing...the cabbage was so sweet!
Anya says
That makes my heart happy! Glad you loved it!!
Justina says
This recipe is AMAZING and my new favorite way to cook cabbage! 🙂
Patricia Collantes says
What a great recipe! Made it tonight and just absolutely loved it. So simple to make and yet so flavourful. Thanks, Anya!
Anya says
Agreed! We love that it's so simple yet tasty! Thanks for your comment.
Alyssa says
Yum! Added some bacon sprinkles on top but could have left off also. So tasty! So easy! Thank you!
Michelle says
This is everything I look for in a recipe - quick, uncomplicated and delicious! I used red leicester cheese (very generously) instead of parmesan and it turned out great. Even my husband, who hates cabbage in general, was quite happy to eat this. Thank you for this great recipe!
Rosanne says
Have made it twice now. Super delish, we all enjoyed it, even the teenage sons. Yummy and easy
- thank you!
Julie Burge says
I’ve made this delicious recipe 3 times now and had to post a thank you for it. I had been looking for red cabbage recipes because it is such a great food to have in your diet. I am vegan and easily adjusted the compound butter in the recipe using vegan butter and nutritional yeast or vegan Parmesan. And oh how I love the garlic! I roasted some yesterday for dinner and it was so garlickly wonderful! A super easy, super amazing dish that is on my regular rotation.
Anya says
That's so awesome Julie! Thank you for coming back to leave a comment. 🙂
Melissa says
I chose this recipe for 3 reasons: the picture looks delicious; I needed a side for my ham slice that wasn't potatoes, rice, or noodles; and I needed to use up a half of a red cabbage that I had bought for red cabbage mango slaw. Even though I had to use jarred minced garlic and pre-grated Parmesan cheese, this recipe is very tasty. I can just imagine the improvement with freshly minced garlic and really good Parmesan! I can guarantee that the end result looks just like the picture as well. I hate misleading photographs that I can never duplicate on my own. This is definitely a recipe I will make again as I am trying to weed out starchy sides from my diet and replace them with filling vegetable alternatives.
Anya says
Thank you Melissa for such a thoughtful comment! It's super helpful to others wanting to make this recipe.