30 Creative Keto Cabbage Recipes
Boiled, stuffed, shredded, or baked, cabbage is such an incredibly versatile veggie. Naturally low in carbohydrates, did you know cabbage is perfect for Keto-friendly dumplings or pasta? You can use it as a wrapper for your favorite protein or just shred it for a super simple salad.
To get your creative cabbage juices flowing, we’ve put together our list of top Keto-friendly cabbage recipes.
From easy-to-make low carb spring rolls to classic coleslaw to a delicious new take on corned beef and cabbage, we’ve included some great global recipes that showcase the thousand and one ways to enjoy cabbage!
Here are just a few of the Keto Cabbage Recipes we’ve included:
- Keto Creamy Meatballs Recipe with Fried Cabbage
- Cumin Spiced Beef Wraps
- Easy One-Pot Pork and Cabbage Stew
- Quick Stewed Napa Cabbage
- Keto Coleslaw Recipe
If you click or tap any of the links above, it will instantly take you to the recipe below. Or download the entire list by clicking on the green button below.
Fried Keto Cabbage Recipes
Keto Creamy Meatballs Recipe with Fried Cabbage
– Keto Summit
Ingredients: ground beef, garlic powder, egg, salt, black pepper, coconut oil, onion, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, garlic, coconut cream, cabbage.
Here is another great idea for a healthy and satisfying Keto meal for the whole family! The creamy tomato sauce helps to boost the flavors of the meatballs and the fried cabbage is a good alternative as a side dish. This recipe would also work using other ground meats such as pork or turkey, so it can accommodate any dietary restrictions you may have to cater for.
Corned Beef and Cabbage Meatballs
– I Breathe I’m Hungry
Photo Credit: Mellissa from I Breathe I’m Hungry
Ingredients: corned beef, raw cabbage, onion flakes, eggs, almond flour, black pepper, kosher salt, whole grain mustard, oil for frying, bay leaves, cloves, water.
For those of you who are not cabbage fans, this recipe uses red cabbage which has a milder, slightly sweet flavor, and even the skeptics among you might enjoy this combination of flavors. The cabbage goes well with the salty capers and the lemon adds a zesty freshness to the dish. You can use this as an easy Keto side dish or add in some cooked meat to turn this into a main.
Sauteed Caper And Garlic Cabbage With Lemon
– Slim Palate
Photo Credit: Josh from Slim Palate
Ingredients: cabbage, capers, lemon wedge, garlic, pepper, cooking oil (walnut oil).
For those of you who are not cabbage fans, this recipe uses red cabbage which has a milder, slightly sweet flavor, and even the skeptics among you might enjoy this combination of flavors. The cabbage goes well with the salty capers and the lemon adds a zesty freshness to the dish. You can use this as an easy Keto side dish or add in some cooked meat to turn this into a main.
Paleo Bang Bang Shrimp
– I HEART UMAMI
Ingredients: shrimp, eggs, potato starch, avocado oil, paleo mayo, rice vinegar, hot sauce, garlic, coconut aminos, ketchup, sea salt.
Bang Bang Shrimp is a spicy seafood main that is very popular across the globe. This great recipe shows you how to make it Paleo without losing out on the flavor. If you are frying the shrimp, it is a good idea to dry them off with a kitchen towel to absorb the excess oil before coating them with the sauce.
The Best Southern Fried Cabbage
– Low-Carb, So Simple
Ingredients: bacon, white cabbage, onion, sea salt or Himalayan salt, black pepper.
There is something about cabbage and bacon that makes you think of comfort food, and this tasty dish is a fusion of textures, from the soft cabbage and onion to the crispy bacon bits. This is a fantastic low-carb side to serve with chicken or even burgers and you can add in different ingredients to make it your own. Why not add in some chopped garlic or spice it up with hot sauce?
Low Carb Spicy Shrimp with Crispy Cabbage
– Modern Low Carb
Ingredients: shrimp, ghee, sriracha, ginger, garlic, green cabbage, gluten-free tamari, five spice, green onion, fresh cilantro.
If you like to have Chinese food on the weekend but don’t want to break any Keto rules, this shrimp dish would be perfect as it has the traditional Chinese mix of garlic and ginger! You have spicy shrimp sitting on a bed of crispy cabbage which tastes amazing! Seafood is so good on the Keto diet as it is naturally low-carb but is a versatile ingredient as there are so many delicious ways to cook it.
Low-Carb Fried Cabbage With Bacon
– Kalyn’s Kitchen
Ingredients: bacon, green cabbage, bacon grease, salt, black pepper.
If you have had a busy day and just need something filling and tasty for dinner but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, this comforting dish could be the answer! It looks good, tastes great and can be ready in just minutes. The cabbage is fried in the same fat as the bacon, spreading all that wonderful flavor through the veg. This could be a low-carb side, a nice lunch or a speedy dinner!
Paleo Pork Dumplings
– Paleo Effect
Photo Credit: Meghan & Angel from The Paleo Effect
Ingredients: ground pork, green onions, Napa cabbage, garlic cloves, fresh ginger, Bird’s Eye chili peppers, coconut aminos, sesame oil, coconut oil, paleo Thai dipping sauce.
These wonderful pork dumplings are packed with Asian flavor and would make a great Paleo and Keto appetizer for an Asian-inspired dinner party. They have the traditional flavors of garlic and ginger but have a good chili kick from the bird’s eye chili peppers. Obviously, if you are serving these for kids or adults who don’t like spice, you could use mild chilis or even miss them out.
Keto Cabbage Stir-fry Recipes
Stir Fried Pork with Cabbage Noodles
– Meatified
Photo Credit: Rach from Meatified
Ingredients: avocado oil, ground pork, cabbage, onion, garlic powder, ground ginger, coconut aminos, gluten free fish sauce, dried Thai basil, green onions, fresh cilantro leaves, mint leaves, lime-juiced.
Cabbage makes a great alternative to zucchini when it comes to using veggies as noodles. However be careful what color of cabbage you use – the red ones tend to ‘bleed’ color into the dish and can make it look muddy, so for a crisp look stick to green cabbage. Adding the fish sauce and the lime juice lends a more authentic Thai flavor to this Keto stir fry.
If you’re new to using avocado oil, join the club – it’s rapidly becoming more popular, and it has many of the same health benefits of avocado oil. Heart surgeon Dr. Steven Gundry, M.D. recommends this healthy fat to his patients. “Avocado oil is incredibly neutral tasting, making it easy to cook with. Plus, it has a higher smoke point than olive oil meaning it’s safe for even high-heat cooking.”
Bacon Burger Cabbage Stir Fry
– Low Carb Yum
Photo Credit: Lisa from Low Carb Yum
Ingredients: no sugar bacon, ground beef, onion, garlic, cabbage, sea salt, ground black pepper.
Here is another quick and easy meal for those days when you need something warming and filling but don’t have time to cook. You have all the flavors of the bacon and beef and the seasoned cabbage to give you a really tasty low-carb lunch or dinner. Bacon and cabbage have long been known as a good partnership and although this is a simple dish it is full of flavor.
Quick Beef and Cabbage
– Adventures in Partaking
Photo Credit: Adventures in Partaking
Ingredients: olive oil, cabbage, red onions, garlic powder, herbs d’provence, pink himalayan salt, ginger, turmeric, balsamic vinegar, ground beef, water.
Cabbage has a particular flavor of its own, but it can take on flavors and seasonings really well. This tasty AIP and Keto recipe is quite simple but that doesn’t mean it is lacking as it uses garlic, ginger and herbs to add a new level of taste. This dish freezes quite well so you can batch-cook and save some for another busy day.
Cabbage Thoran (Stir-Fry)
– My Heart Beets
Photo Credit: Ashley from My Heart Beets
Ingredients: cabbage, white onion, garlic, serrano pepper, grated coconut, coconut oil, black mustard seeds, curry leaves, turmeric powder, salt.
Thoran is an Indian dish that just means ‘stir-fry’, but obviously this is flavored with Indian spices and fresh curry leaves. This is a vegetarian dish which is very low in carbohydrates, but if you wanted to add in some extra protein you could – perhaps some cooked, chopped chicken or shrimp would work here. Curry leaves can be frozen then taken out as you need them and are available online if you don’t have an Indian store nearby.
Bacon & Sausage Braised Cabbage
– PaleOMG
Ingredients: bacon, yellow onion, cabbage, salt, garlic powder, beef broth, bay leaves, Italian chicken sausages, parsley.
This is another great adaptable Paleo and Keto recipe that the whole family will enjoy! You can use whatever sausages the family like, even spicy ones to give the dish a kick, but it might be better to use mild if you are cooking this for the kids. If you don’t have a Dutch oven you can make this on the stove top in a normal pot but be careful to stir often so the food doesn’t catch on the bottom.
Stir Fried Napa Cabbage With Mushrooms And Bacon
– Nom Nom Paleo
Ingredients: bacon, onion, kosher salt, black pepper, cremini mushrooms, napa cabbage, chicken broth.
Although this is described as a side dish, I actually made this for dinner and it was so tasty and filling because of the meaty mushrooms. Don’t worry if you can’t source napa cabbage as you can use whatever you can get; even red cabbage works well in this. You can either follow the directions for cooking the bacon, or cook it separately then sprinkle the crispy bacon bits over the top of the cabbage before serving.
Bacon-Braised Cabbage
– The Paleo Mom
Photo Credit: Sarah from The Paleo Mom
Ingredients: bacon, green cabbage, water.
Cabbage can be a bit earthy for some people, but teaming it with salty bacon gives it a whole new dimension of flavor. This is a simple Paleo and Keto-compliant dish but it can be used as a delicious side for loads of different meals, or even eaten on its own for a straightforward yet satisfying lunch. It also makes a great side to serve on St. Patrick’s Day along with corned beef.
Stir Fry Chinese Cabbage with Dried Shrimp
– Oh Snap! Let’s Eat!
Ingredients: cabbage head, dried shrimps, olive oil, salt.
Here is another low-carb recipe that could not be easier! Dried shrimp has long been a staple ingredient in Asian cookery and in this dish they add a special crunch and flavor to the cabbage side. They can be used in soups to give the desired umami taste. The dried shrimp is also a great source of vitamin B12 and Selenium, so has health benefits too.
Keto Cabbage Roll Recipes
Cumin Spiced Beef Wraps
– Paleo Flourish
Ingredients: ground beef, onion, bell pepper, cilantro, ginger, garlic, cumin powder, salt, pepper, coconut oil, cabbage leaves (savoy cabbage or Napa cabbage).
These wraps make a great tasty lunch for the whole family and are quite quick to prepare. The cumin adds an earthy note to the flavor of the meat and it goes well with the combination of garlic and ginger. You can use blanched cabbage leaves as wraps but for an even speedier meal you can use lettuce leaves or other low-carb wraps.
Low-Carb Spring Rolls
– Ditch the Carbs
Photo Credit: Libby from Ditch The Carbs
Ingredients: red onion, garlic, ground/minced chicken or meat of choice, variety of shredded vegetables, cabbage leaves.
In this recipe you are using wilted cabbage leaves as the wrap for the spring rolls, which is a fantastic idea for keeping your carbohydrates down yet still letting you enjoy the traditional flavors. This is a basic recipe that gives you the instructions on how to cook, but leaving the actual choice of ingredients up to you. I recommend you add in shredded, cooked chicken or shrimp with your vegetables!
Cabbage Rolls
– It’s All About AIP
Photo Credit: It’s All About AIP
Ingredients: lean ground beef, lean ground pork, onion, garlic, lard, bone broth, cauliflower rice, saurkraut, cabbage, salt, garlic and onion powder, oregano, basil, marjoram.
This dish has the benefit of being topped with pickled sauerkraut which is very healthy for you. However, if you are not keen on the taste, these lovely rolls can be cooked without it and served as an AIP appetizer or as a main course with vegetables. The filling for these is seasoned and has the classic combination of onion and garlic to make them delicious.
Cabbage Dolmas
– My Heart Beets
Photo Credit: Ashley from My Heart Beets
Ingredients: cabbage leaves, butter/ghee or coconut oil, beef stew meat, white onion, cinnamon sticks, sea salt, black pepper, beef broth, fresh cilantro, ground beef, fresh parsley, ground cumin, ground cinnamon.
These amazing stuffed cabbage leaves act like little dumplings floating in the rich beefy stew, but keeping the carbs to a minimum. I often make these for the youngest family members as they don’t even notice they are eating cabbage! The cabbage dolmas remind me of Greek-inspired stuffed vine leaves, and the ingredients can be adapted to suit the main you are serving them in.
Pulled Chicken Keto Lunch Wraps
– Keto Diet Blog
Ingredients: keto tortillas, red cabbage, white cabbage, kale, chives, coriander, parsley, extra virgin olive oil, fresh lime or lemon juice, salt, pepper, roasted chicken, avocado.
Wraps are a great way to feed the family at lunchtime as they can be easy to construct and even easier to eat! These Keto ones are simply stuffed with cooked and seasoned chicken and a healthy slaw that doesn’t involve mayo, making this a dairy-free stuffing. I like to serve the ingredients separately and let the family fill their own wraps.
Other Keto Cabbage Recipes
Easy One-Pot Pork and Cabbage Stew
– Paleo Flourish
Ingredients: pork boneless shoulder/butt/or loin, cold water, cabbage, onion or leek, fresh ginger, apple cider vinegar, salt, coconut oil.
Don’t you just love one-pot cooking? So simple and less washing-up, so this is a win-win situation! This tasty Paleo-friendly stew is hearty and warming so it is perfect to have for dinner on a chilly day as you get the gentle heat from the ginger giving a boost to the flavor of the pork. Just make sure you check the liquid level regularly so the pork doesn’t dry out.
Quick Stewed Napa Cabbage
– Paleo Flourish
Ingredients: Napa cabbage, tomatoes, bell pepper, diced, salt, pepper, coconut oil.
This recipe shows you how to cook napa cabbage to give it a great level of flavor, as the cabbage absorbs the flavor of the chicken broth. This is a colorful dish that can be used as a tasty side dish along with cooked chicken or pork chops. Once the cabbage is cooked you will find that it has released a lot of water, so drain it first before serving.
Keto Coleslaw Recipe
– Keto Summit
Ingredients: cabbage, carrot, apple cider vinegar, mayo, mustard, onion.
Coleslaw is a side dish that is recognized all over the world, with certain variations depending on where you are. However the most common type is a mix of cabbage, carrot and onion in a mayo dressing, just like this one. It makes a great Keto side as it goes well with so many meats and fish and can be a great way to encourage picky eaters to eat vegetables.
Red Cabbage Sauerkraut with Ginger
– Meatified
Photo Credit: Rach from Meatified
Ingredients: red cabbage, fine pink Himalayan salt, fresh ginger.
Doesn’t red cabbage look great? The vivid color just makes you want to dig in! Fermented foods are so healthy for us, and sauerkraut is one of the easiest ones to make. The actual prep doesn’t take long; it’s just the fermenting that takes a few weeks, but the results are so worth the effort! The ginger in this Keto side gives the cabbage a lovely kick and a little bit of heat.
Almond Butter Cabbage Chips
– The Nourished Caveman
Photo Credit: Vivica from The Nourished Caveman
Ingredients: almond butter, hemp seeds, fish sauce, garlic, coconut aminos, avocado oil, cabbage leaves.
These amazing cabbage chips are flavored with garlic and have a lovely Asian flavor from the fish sauce and aminos, and these would be great as party food served with a low-carb dip. You can also cook these in the oven if you don’t have a dehydrator, and the same recipe can be used to make kale chips as well. These can be stored for up to three days if you have any left!
New to avocado oil? Give it a try. Heart surgeon Dr. Steven Gundry says, “Avocado oil isn’t quite as popular as extra virgin olive oil just yet, but it should be. It has just as many wonderful benefits because it’s packed with antioxidants and healthy fats.”
Low Carb Korean Kimchi Salad
– I Breathe I’m Hungry
Photo Credit: Mellissa from I Breathe I’m Hungry
Ingredients: Napa cabbage, water, kosher salt, garlic, ginger, fish sauce, korean chili powder, granulated sugar substitute, sesame oil, scallions, radish.
The colors in this salad make it look so good and it has the traditional flavors of Korean kimchi without having to wait for a week to eat it! It is spicy and has a good crunch and would be a perfect low-carb side dish to serve with fish dishes or grilled chicken. Don’t worry if you are not so keen on hot spice, just adjust the amount of chili powder to suit your own palate.
Cream of Turkey Soup with Cabbage and Kale
– Low Carb Yum
Photo Credit: Lisa from Low Carb Yum
Ingredients: coconut oil, onion, celery, garlic, coconut milk, radishes, turkey, turkey broth, fresh thyme leaves, sea salt, ground black pepper, cabbage, kale.
Using coconut milk for soups can give the feeling of a cream soup but without the dairy, so it is very useful on a low-carb regime. This is a hearty soup that is full of flavor and it freezes really well. Depending on where you live, radishes can be tricky to find all year, so feel free to add in a different vegetable instead, although the radishes do add a bit of heat to the soup.
Oven Roasted Cabbage Wedges
– Peace, Love and Low Carb
Photo Credit: Kyndra from Peace Love and Low Carb
Ingredients: green cabbage, olive oil, garlic salt, onion powder, fennel seeds, black pepper.
This is a Paleo and Keto-friendly side dish that could be used as a platform for just about any meat, including steak. The cabbage takes on a crispy texture that contrasts well with pulled pork or chicken. If you are not keen on fennel seeds, which have an aniseed flavor, you can use caraway seeds instead, or just omit them altogether.
Low Carb Egg in a Nest Recipe with Braised Cabbage
– Ketogasm
Photo Credit: Tasha from Ketogasm
Ingredients: ghee, cabbage, salt, apple cider vinegar, pepper, eggs.
This dish is designed to be eaten at breakfast time, but I often make this as a tasty lunch dish too. It is a nest made of braised, seasoned cabbage with an egg on top and I like to cook it so the yolk is still runny. That way when you cut into it the yolk becomes a sauce to coat the cabbage. This is a gluten and dairy-free recipe that I am sure will become one of your go-to favorites!
