This fried cabbage with sausage and peppers recipe is a quick and easy weeknight meal that won't leave you disappointed. Ready in just 30 minutes, this one pot dish is packed with flavor and will leave the whole family full and satisfied.

Why You Will Love This Recipe
- It’s quick and only takes about 30 minutes to prepare. Perfect for busy weeknights
- It’s budget friendly
- It has simple ingredients and easy to make
- It’s a one pot meal which makes clean up a lot easier
- It’s low carb
Growing up, my grandma and mom would make this southern fried cabbage as a side dish but I've made it into a main dish at our house by adding smoked sausage. Smoked sausage adds the perfect amount of salt and smoky flavor to the cabbage and it's hearty and filling.
Watch How To Make This Recipe Here!
Q & A
You can use smoked turkey sausage, kielbasa or bacon.
This meal is hearty enough by itself, but if you want to pair it with something else, cornbread or southern fried potatoes are excellent choices.
Yes. Remove the outer leaves and rinse the head of cabbage under cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
Equipment Needed
- Dutch oven with a lid or large deep skillet with a lid
- Large spoon for stirring
- Chefs knife and cutting board
Ingredients
- Green Cabbage- Medium to large in size
- Smoked Sausage
- Sweet onion
- Red bell pepper
- Green bell pepper
- Minced garlic
- Red pepper flakes
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Olive oil
Instructions
- Chop cabbage and onion, mince garlic, and slice red and green bell peppers
2. Cut smoked sausage diagonally
3. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven or large skillet
4. Next, add onion and sauté until translucent, then add bell peppers and minced garlic and stir
5. Then add smoked sausage and stir
6. Add in the cabbage, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes
7. Stir, cover, and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Then lift the lid and stir again.
8. Cover once more, and let it simmer for another 5 minutes. Then lift the lid and give it a one last big stir. Serve immediately.
Fried Cabbage with Sausage and Peppers
Equipment
- Dutch Oven
- Large Spoon
- Chefs Knife
- Cutting Board
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 sweet onion chopped
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 14 oz smoked sausage cut diagonally
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium head cabbage chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ⅓ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Chop up cabbage and onion, mince garlic, and slice red and green bell peppers
- Cut smoked sausage diagonally
- Heat olive oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven or large skillet and sauté onion until translucent, then add peppers and minced garlic and stir
- Add smoked sausage and stir
- Add cabbage, salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes
- Stir, cover, and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Then lift the lid and stir again.
- Cover once more, and let it simmer for another 5 minutes. Then lift the lid and give it one last big stir. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate. For accurate nutritional information you should refer to the nutritional labels on the packages of the specific ingredients that you used.
Ebony
Great dish! I made this recipe and it was delicious!
Ivory
Awesome! I'm glad you liked it!
Jen
Made this and added a bit of Cajun seasoning, tbsp of worcestershire sauce and a tbsp of apple cider vinegar toward the end of of cooking the cabbage down for a kick... great base recipe!!!
Ivory
Yum! All of your additions sound delicious.
Marilyn Moor
Great, simple recipe and delicious. Had to try it when I could almost smell it when I watched the prep. Made my neighbors hungry!
Ivory
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed!
Jerry
Easy dish to make. It tasted wonderful and it was done quickly. Easy to follow the recipe
Ivory
So glad you enjoyed! I love making this fried cabbage because it's so easy and sooo good. The smoked sausage goes so well with the cabbage. Thanks so much for taking the time to review!
Kelly
This was delicious. Needed a quick meal after a busy day and this hit spot and was so simple to make. I look forward to trying more of your recipes.
Ivory
Thank you! Glad you liked it 🙂
Marilyn Moor
So healthy and delicious!
Ivory
Thanks for your review! This is one of our favorite quick meals. So glad you enjoyed!
Julia
This dish is so full of flavor and color! I'm always looking for ways other than sauerkraut to incorporate more cabbage in my family's diet. This recipe is a winner!
Ivory
Hi Julia, thank you! So glad you enjoyed!
Rasheka
So simple and delicious. I added cajun seasoning and a tad bit more salt (I had a large head of cabbage) but other than that I followed the recipe. Highly recommend.
Rachel
So good! I added Cajun seasoning during cooking and served it over jasmine rice. Delicious!
Ivory
Yay! So glad you enjoyed! The addition of the cajun seasoning and rice sound delicious! 🙂
Mike
I used homemade hickory smoked venison sausage, but other than that a side dish of Spanish rice and was well fed for a couple of days thank you
Ivory
Yum! Sounds delicious! Welcome.
Star
I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty this dish turned out. My family loved it, husband has already asked if I would make it again. The only thing I did differently was I added some Worcestershire sauce towards the end of preparation. Delicious.
Julie
What can I substitute the bell peppers with?
Ivory
You can add extra onion or leave out the bell pepper altogether to make it just fried cabbage and sausage. It's delicious this way too!
Doug
You can leave out the peppers and add fried egg noodles! It’s great like that I’ve been making this for years!
Kim
This was so yummy! Followed the recipe ingredients exactly, cooked it a bit longer, but just wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
Ivory
Yay! So glad you enjoyed! You're welcome!
Holly
Could you use frozen cabbage for this recipe?
Ivory
I've never tried using frozen cabbage but I don't see why not.
Jodi
Been making this for over 30 years. Only difference I do is I use two different sausages, one smoked and one Cajun. Gives multiple taste for a set of guys who love sausage!
Ivory
Yum, that sounds delicious!
Georgiana
I don't care for kielbasa sausage I've had. Something less greasy? Yes, I like most sausages.
Ivory
Smoked chicken sausage or smoked turkey sausage work great as well.
Zanetta
So yummy! Good recipe that is easy and fairly quick. I really enjoyed it.
Ivory
So glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Debbie
Can you use sweet Italian sausage
Ivory
Absolutely! Be sure to cook the sausage thoroughly until browned.
Sue
This dish was amazing!! I made it tonight New Years Eve and it was so easy fast and yummy!! It’s going in my recipe box!!
Ivory
So glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe!
Nancy
I made this tonight, and it was Amazing!! Thank you for sharing the recipe🙂💞