Cabbage and Sausage Skillet Recipe

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This delicious Cabbage and Sausage Skillet recipe is low-carb deliciousness in a skillet. Each serving has less than 450 calories and less than 25 grams of carbohydrates (net). It’s easy to get excited about its nutritional value, but the taste is what will win you over.

Who doesn’t love Southern fried cabbage with sausage? Only those who have not had it – that’s who. When cabbage is cooked, it transforms into this lovely creation that tastes good and is actually healthy. Tender cabbage, savory onions, sausage, and bell peppers – yum!

It’s an easy meal to make for a busy weeknight dinner and a great way to eat green vegetables!

Ingredients

For this easy skillet dinner, you need a few simple ingredients that you should be able to find at most grocery stores.

• 1 head green cabbage
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ¼ cup olive oil divided
• 1 smoked sausage link, cut into ½ inch rounds
• ½ cup red bell pepper, sliced
• ½ cup yellow onion, sliced
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups chicken stock or chicken broth

How To Make Sausage and Cabbage Skillet

For the sausage, you don’t want one of those little breakfast sausages or sausage links. You want something more along the lines of a “rope.” You get bonus points if you use smoked turkey sausage. And if it’s organic and raised free-range – even better.

To make this cabbage and sausage recipe, start by prepping your veggies. Go ahead and slice the bell peppers and onions and set them aside. Feel free to use any color of bell pepper that you like. It’s said you should “eat a rainbow,” so feel free to go for red, yellow, and green bell peppers.

For the head of cabbage, you need to core it first. Unlike lettuce which you can “womp” on a counter and pull out the core, cabbages are thick and it’s best to cut them in half and remove the core by cutting it out. Once the core has been removed, cut the cabbage in half again (now you have quarters) and cut it into thick slices.

Place a skillet over medium heat and melt the butter and add olive oil. Sauté the peppers, onions, and sausage for 4-6 minutes. You want the veggies to soften a little.

Next, add the cabbage to the skillet along with the seasonings (pepper, seasoned salt, and garlic powder). Toss the cabbage, veggies, and seasonings for 3-4 minutes making sure that the cabbage gets coated.

Add 1 cup of chicken broth to the cabbage mixture and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover the skillet, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 10 – 12 minutes. Be sure to stir the cabbage every 4-5 minutes. Add additional chicken broth or chicken stock if needed.

Season with salt, if desired; however, additional salt will probably not be needed.

Cooking Tips and Notes

• The cabbage should not be soggy – unless you really like it soggy. It should have a little bit of “bite” to it when you test it. Kind of like al dente pasta.
• The size of the cabbage you use will determine the amount of chicken broth or chicken stock that you will need. If you use a small cabbage, you might only need 3/4 cup of stock. If you use a large cabbage, you might need 1 ½ cups of chicken broth.
• Like fresh garlic? You can substitute a couple of cloves garlic in place of the garlic powder.
• Want to add a bit of heat? You can add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the skillet when you add the cabbage.

Substitutions and Variations

1. Sausage Variety: Feel free to experiment with different sausage types to suit your taste preferences. Try spicy Italian sausage for a kick of heat, or opt for turkey sausage for a healthier twist. You can even use kielbasa sausage and chicken sausage.
2. Veggies Galore: While cabbage is the star, don’t hesitate to add extra vegetables for added nutrition and flavor. Carrots and sliced zucchini are great choices to incorporate some color and crunch.
3. Vegetarian Twist: To make it vegetarian, swap the sausage for plant-based alternatives like veggie sausages or tempeh. You can also add extra beans or chickpeas for a protein boost.
4. Seasoning Spectrum: Play with different herbs and spices to customize the dish further. Adding a pinch of smoked paprika or dried thyme can elevate the flavor profile. If you use andouille sausage, consider adding a pinch of Cajun seasoning.

Remember, this recipe is versatile, so don’t be afraid to get creative and make it your own! Enjoy the comforting flavors of this Cabbage and Sausage Skillet while embracing your favorite ingredients and personal tastes. 

FAQ

The nutritional values in this dish will vary depending on the brands that you use. The values here were estimated using the values from Butterball’s Natural Hardwood Smoked Turkey Sausage and are just an estimation.

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Can’t get enough sausage? Here are some other tasty recipes featuring sausage at Southern Kissed:

• Shrimp and Sausage Jambalaya
• Shrimp, Sausage, and Bell Peppers in the Instant Pot
• Italian Sausage Pasta
• Sausage Balls
• Pork Egg Roll In a Bowl