Instant Pot Cabbage
on Jan 23, 2024, Updated Aug 12, 2024
This Instant Pot Cabbage is an easy side dish that tastes delicious!
We Love This Cabbage Recipe!
All you need is just a few minutes of prep to make this easy cabbage side dish. The high pressure makes the cabbage tender and soft, and you really can’t go wrong with classic flavors like minced garlic, onion, and butter.
I was sold on the instant pot after making instant pot mac and cheese or the first time and couldn’t wait to try more recipes.
Cabbage in the instant pot is surprisingly delicious! If you love buttered cabbage or are looking for a new low carb side dish, this recipe will be your new favorite.
The instant pot cooks it in a fraction of the time and the cabbage comes out perfectly tender and delicious every time.
You can find the full recipe and instructions at the bottom of the post, but here is what you need to make it.
Ingredients & Notes
- Green Cabbage: red cabbage would not be a good substitute here as it is more bitter
- Yellow Onion – sweet and mellow flavor that pairs perfectly with the buttery cabbage
- Garlic – minced fresh whole garlic cloves are always best
- Unsalted Butter – I prefer to use unsalted butter so that I can add salt to taste
- Salt & Pepper – to taste. You really want to use fresh ground black pepper if you have it
How to make cabbage in the instant pot
Step 1: Remove the core from the cabbage and roughly chop it into pieces. Set aside.
Step 2: Turn the instant pot to sauté and add 1 tablespoon of the butter. Add the minced garlic and sliced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the onion is translucent. Watch it carefully to avoid burning it as the pressure cooker cooks fast.
Step 3: Add the vegetable broth and remaining butter to the instant pot, then place the chopped cabbage on top.
Step 4: Place the lid on the instant pot and set to sealing. Cook the cabbage on high pressure for 7 minutes. Hit cancel, then do a quick release.
Step 5: Once the pin has dropped completely, remove the lid safely from the instant pot and add salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Stir and serve the buttered cabbage with a slotted spoon.
Cabbage Size
For this recipe, I used a small sized head of green cabbage. As you can see from the picture above, it only reaches about half way up the instant pot.
If you have a larger head of cabbage, here is how to adjust the recipe:
- Cook time: stays the same. It will just take a little longer to come to pressure.
- Vegetable broth amount: stays the same. There is plenty of broth in this recipe.
- Butter: if you have a bigger cabbage head, consider adding another 1-2 tablespoons of butter to add more flavor.
Cook Time
This buttered cabbage cooks perfectly in around 7 minutes on high pressure in the instant pot.
- For firmer cabbage: decrease the instant pot time by 1-2 minutes
- For softer cabbage: increase the pressure cook time by 1-3 minutes.
Substitutions
- Onion: I do not suggest using red onion as it has a harsher flavor. Any variety of sweet/mild onion will work best in this recipe.
- Broth: You can substitute any kind of broth for the vegetable broth. Just use what you have on hand!
More Instant Pot Recipes
Instant Pot Cabbage
Ingredients
- 1 small head of green cabbage, cored and chopped
- 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Turn the instant pot to sautee. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter along with the sliced onion and minced garlic. Cook, stirring often, for 2-3 minutes, until the onion is translucent. Be careful not to burn.
- Add the vegetable broth and remaining 4 tablespoons of butter the the instant pot
- Place the chopped cabbage on top, then put the lid on the instant pot. Set the instant pot to sealing.
- Cook the cabbage on high (manual) for 7 minutes, press cancel, then do a quick release
- Once the pin drops completely, remove the lid, and salt and pepper to taste. Fresh ground pepper is the best choice here! Serve with a slotted spoon. (see notes below for more tips)
