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Home » Recipes » Vegetables and Beans

Creamed Cabbage

Published: Mar 16, 2025 · Updated: Apr 29, 2025 by Marye

Just 5 ingredients to make this easy creamed cabbage recipe from a vintage (1930s) cookbook. Budget friendly side dish that's just delicious!
Total time for the recipe to be finished.Total Time 20 minutes minutes
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Overhead view of skillet with finished cabbage in it. Feature image.
Skillet with cabbage in it with a text overlay for Pinterest.

First published December 18, 2022. Last updated April 29, 2025 for editorial improvements.

Overhead view of the cabbage showing the creaminess of the sauce.
Table of Contents
  • 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
  • 💭 Insider tips: things to know
  • 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
  • 👩‍🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
  • 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
  • 💬 Comments

Somewhere in the depths of every Southern kitchen, there’s a cabbage just waiting to be smothered in something delicious. And y'all, we’re not about to disappoint it today - this creamed cabbage came out of a 1930s cookbook and you're gonna love it.

It’s buttery, velvety, and just the right amount of indulgence, proving once and for all that humble vegetables deserve a little flair. So grab that head of cabbage and a good splash of cream, and let’s turn a budget-friendly ingredient into something worthy of a second helping.

5 star rating
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5 star rating
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Reader Review
I just made this & ate the whole recipe's worth myself! I used what was on hand --non-fat evaporated milk, & can only imagine what heavy cream would add. It was fabulous. I cannot believe we didn't eat this growing up. It is really good and simple. Thanks! I had bought a giant bag of shredded cabbage & needed a new idea.
Marlene

🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need

Labeled ingredients for this recipe.

Cabbage: Instead of green cabbage, you can use Savoy cabbage or Napa cabbage. Avoid red/purple cabbage varieties for this recipe. I like to use pre-shredded cabbage from the store because it saves a little time.

Cream: If you're out of heavy cream, half-and-half or evaporated milk will also work, though it's not as rich that way. You *can* use non-dairy milks but it will not be as rich and creamy.

📖 Recipe

Overhead view of skillet with finished cabbage in it. Feature image.

Creamed Cabbage Recipe

4.75 from 27 votes
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Just 5 ingredients to make this easy creamed cabbage recipe from a vintage (1930s) cookbook. Budget friendly side dish that's just delicious!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American - Southern
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings:6
Calories:132
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons butter
  • 5 cups shredded green cabbage, one head
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat
  • Add shredded cabbage, stir, and cover.
  • Reduce heat to medium.
  • Stir occasionally for 10 minutes, or until soft.
  • Add cream, salt, and pepper to taste.
  • Cover and simmer for 4-5 minutes, or until the texture is the way you like. Don’t overcook or the texture will be gross.

Notes

Storage:
If you have some leftovers, don't you dare toss 'em! Put the creamed cabbage in a storage container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for up to three days.
Then, heat up the leftovers in the microwave until steaming hot, and enjoy your great side dish—again!
This dish does not freeze well.
Tips:
  • To clean your cabbage, peel back the soft outer layers. Then, cut the head into wedges and run each under cold water, gently rubbing to remove any dirt. Dry them well before cooking, though!
  • When choosing a head of cabbage, try to find one that's a little heavier than the others. Avoid cabbage that has a lot of loose, wilted leaves.
  • If you opt to buy pre-shredded cabbage, make sure it only contains cabbage. Sometimes, they'll add other ingredients (like carrots) to the cabbage mixture.
  • Green cabbage and white cabbage are generally the same, so don't be confused if the light green head you pick rings up as "white cabbage" in the checkout line!
  • You can use a large food processor to easily and quickly chop the cabbage. Otherwise, a heavy chef's knife will do just fine.
  • Cut your cabbage into halves through the core. Next, cut each half in half again, through the core. Then, trim the cores off and slice each quarter into strips. Trim the cabbage strips in half lengthwise to finish!
  • Creamed cabbage is a perfect side dish for those following a low carb diet!
 

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 448mg | Potassium: 120mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 524IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.

🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success

An iron skillet with butter melting in it.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat

Shredded cabbage in an iron skillet.

Stir in the shredded green cabbage and cover. Cook over medium heat.

Salt and pepper added to the shredded cabbage.

After about ten minutes, add the salt and black pepper.

Shredded cabbage simmering in cream.

Stir in the heavy cream and simmer for four or five more minutes.

💭 Insider tips: things to know

  1. When choosing a head of cabbage, try to find one that's a little heavier than the others. Avoid cabbage that has a lot of loose, wilted leaves.
  2. If you opt to buy pre-shredded cabbage, make sure it only contains cabbage. Sometimes, they'll add other ingredients (like carrots) to the cabbage mixture.
  3. Green cabbage and white cabbage are generally the same, so don't be confused if the light green head you pick rings up as "white cabbage" in the checkout line!
  4. You can use a large food processor to easily and quickly chop the cabbage. Otherwise, a heavy chef's knife will do just fine.
  5. Cut your cabbage into halves through the core. Next, cut each half in half again, through the core. Then, trim the cores off and slice each quarter into strips. Trim the cabbage strips in half lengthwise to finish!
  6. Creamed cabbage is a perfect side dish for those following a low carb diet!

Marye's Tip o' the day

To clean your cabbage, peel back the soft outer layers. Then, cut the head into wedges and run each under cold water, gently rubbing to remove any dirt. Dry them well before cooking, though!

📖 Make it your own: yummy variations

  1. Crumble cracker crumbs on top.
  2. Stir in some chopped bacon pieces, pancetta, or crispy Proscuitto.
  3. If you really love savory flavors, you can sprinkle in some garlic powder, or sautee some onions in the butter before adding the cabbage.
  4. Cheese, please? We like to add a little parmesan on top.

🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up

A sprinkle of crisp bacon crumbles and a dash of smoked paprika will take this from “humble side dish” to “where has this been all my life?!” Or, if you’re feeling extra fancy, a handful of grated Parmesan will add a salty, umami punch that makes cabbage feel downright luxurious. Basically, dress it up like it’s got dinner plans with royalty—because why not?

zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive

A serving of creamed cabbage on a plate.

👩‍🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs

Can I freeze creamed cabbage?

You can, technically—whether you want to, however, is another story. Heavy cream has a tendency to separate when thawing, so I don't recommend freezing creaming cabbage.

I prefer creamed cabbage with bread crumbs—how do I add them?

Yum, I never turn down breadcrumbs! To add them to this easy creamed cabbage recipe, toast the breadcrumbs in a small fry pan with some butter until they're golden brown. Sprinkle them on top of the cabbage just before serving!

A forkful of cabbage being lifted from the plate.

⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -

Pre-Shredded for the Win – Skip the chopping and grab a bag of coleslaw mix. It’s literally just shredded cabbage in disguise, and nobody will ever know (or care).

📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love

  • Full of bacon, onions, and love, Southern Fried Cabbage is the perfect accompaniment to a special family dinner or regular weeknight meal!
  • Creamed onions are another old-fashioned comfort food.
  • KFC Copycat Southern Coleslaw is the side dish that goes first at my house! Plus, it's great with just about any protein you can make!

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them.

Comments

    4.75 from 27 votes (23 ratings without comment)

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    Love it? Give it 5 stars!




  1. Beverly says

    December 07, 2024 at 10:51 am

    5 stars
    I loved the creamed cabbage but family thought it was too bland. I added mushrooms, onions & chopped garlic. WOW!! That did the trick!

    Reply
  2. Marlene says

    February 13, 2024 at 9:09 pm

    5 stars
    I just made this & ate the whole recipe's worth myself! I used what was on hand --non-fat evaporated milk, & can only imagine what heavy cream would add. It was fabulous. I cannot believe we didn't eat this growing up. It is really good and simple. Thanks! I had bought a giant bag of shredded cabbage & needed a new idea.

    Reply
  3. Heidi says

    September 12, 2023 at 11:55 pm

    5 stars
    Stunning! We have a glut of home-grown sugar cone cabbages and this was a great way to use a couple. Superb flavours and texture. Thanks for posting.

    Reply
    • Marye says

      September 13, 2023 at 6:12 pm

      So glad you liked it.

      Reply
  4. LynnD says

    March 26, 2023 at 5:25 pm

    5 stars
    This is quick, simple and SOOO delicious.
    I crumbled in a few strips of bacon leftover from breakfast, at the same time as the cream.
    Seriously - Add the bacon!

    Reply
Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Hey Y'all, I'm Marye

Welcome to my kitchen! ☕

NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies. Collector of old cookbooks.

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