I love fried cabbage almost as much as I love a quick stir fry meal, and this fried cabbage and sausage recipe combines the best of both worlds. This one-pan wonder is a naturally healthy dinner recipe made with andouille sausage and my homemade Cajun seasoning for the best flavor. And best of all, you can whip up this flavor-packed meal in just 30 minutes! Make it with me when you’re short on time and bored with your usual dishes.
Why You’ll Love This Cabbage And Sausage Recipe

- Crispy, juicy sausage
- Tender and caramelized cabbage
- Bursting with savory, spicy, and slightly sweet flavors
- Just 7 simple ingredients (plus salt)
- Good mix of protein and vegetables
- On the table in 30 minutes
- Perfect light meal for weeknight dinners or meal prep lunches


Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for cooking sausage and cabbage, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Sausage – Andouille sausage is the star protein in this dish, but feel free to mix it up with kielbasa, chorizo, smoked sausage, or Italian sausage. Slice the sausage thinly. You can also make this cabbage and sausage skillet using ground sausage instead, if that’s what you’ve got.
- Cabbage – Shredded cabbage, the other star of the dish, brings crunch and freshness. You can slice it using a knife, or shred it in a food processor. When I really need a shortcut, I use bagged coleslaw mix!
- Onion – For texture and flavor. Feel free to throw in some minced garlic at the same time, too. I cook the onions until they are starting to brown, but you could caramelize onions for this dish if you have the time and like the flavor.
- Diced Tomatoes – Adds a juicy pop of color and a sweet, tangy flavor. I used canned diced tomatoes, but feel free to dice up some fresh ones.
- Olive Oil – For sauteing. You can also use avocado oil, or any neutral heat-safe oil you like.
- Butter – Adds flavor when cooking the onions. I prefer unsalted butter here, but you could use salted and just reduce the amount of added salt a little bit. You can also just use more oil instead.
- Cajun Seasoning – A blend you can easily whip up at home with cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, and a few other herbs and spices.
- Sea Salt
VARIATION: Make cabbage, potatoes, and sausage for a heartier dish.
Throw in 2-3 sliced, medium-sized potatoes at the beginning with the sausage, so they have enough time to cook and soak up all the flavors.
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This section shows how to make fried cabbage and sausage, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Brown the sausage. Heat the oil in a large skillet with tall sides (I love this braiser pan because it can fit all the cabbage before it wilts down). Add the sausage, and brown on each side. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.
- Sauté the onions. Wipe down the pan, and add the butter and onions. Reduce to medium-low heat. Sauté the onions, until they are soft and starting to brown.


- Cook the cabbage. Add the shredded cabbage to the pan, cover, and cook until cabbage is starting to wilt, but still crisp-tender.
- Season and stir fry. Add the diced tomatoes, Cajun seasoning, salt, and cooked sausage to the pan. Stir fry cabbage and sausage together, until the cabbage has wilted and extra liquid has evaporated. I like to garnish with green onions, but fresh parsley is great, too.


Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. You can reheat them to enjoy again, or toss them into cabbage soup, which uses many of the same ingredients (minus the sausage).
- Meal prep: Since cabbage and sausage recipes store and reheat well, you can make this dish ahead for quick weekday lunches.
- Reheat: I recommend warming leftovers on the stovetop over medium heat, but you can reheat them in the microwave as well.
- Freeze: Store in a freezer-safe container for 2-3 months. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
More Easy Cabbage Recipes
Looking for more easy meals using cabbage? Get protein and veggies all in one dish with these recipes:
My Favorite Pan For This Recipe
This braiser pan is the perfect size for this sausage and cabbage recipe, because it can fit all the cabbage before it wilts down. If you don’t have one, a skillet might work if you add the cabbage in batches, or just use a large pot or Dutch oven. Cast iron works best for the quickest cooking and for the cabbage to caramelize nicely.

Cabbage And Sausage
A super easy fried cabbage and sausage recipe! Make it with just 7 simple ingredients in 30 minutes, for a simple, healthy one-pan dinner.
Instructions
[ See step photos ]Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Heat the oil in a large saute pan or braiser pan over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook for about 1-2 minutes per side, until sausage is browned and renders fat. Transfer to a plate, leaving the oil in the pan, and cover to keep warm.
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Wipe down the pan and add the butter.
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Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the onions to the pan and cook for 8-10 minutes, until soft and starting to brown.
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Add the cabbage. Cover and cook for 3-4 minutes, until the cabbage is starting to wilt near the bottom of the pan.
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Uncover and stir. Cook for 1-2 minutes, until cabbage is slightly wilted but a little crisp-tender.
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Add the drained diced tomatoes, cajun seasoning, salt to taste, and cooked sausage. Increase heat to medium-high.
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Stir fry for 3-4 minutes, until cabbage is wilted and extra liquid has evaporated.
Did you make it? Leave a review or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 1/2 cups, or 1/6 entire recipe
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I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Cabbage And Sausage

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47 Comments
CounselorChick
1Delicious! Used steak seasoning and pork breakfast sausage. 😋
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad you liked it! Thank you for sharing your variation.
Kayla
1Perfect recipe for my hectic mornings! Honestly one of my go-to meal prep recipes now since it’s so easy to make and they taste incredible! Thanks a lot for this recipe!
Matthew Kahovec
1Wow was not expecting how really good this was. I’m a personal chef and I loved it
Jacque' Jones
1I used red cabbage and it was delicious as well as absolutely gorgeous! It was a hit with the family as well and they were sad when it was gone. This will definitely be going in our meal rotation!
kelly
0in the middle of cooking and i can’t see the next step without commenting ??
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Kelly, Sorry, I’m not sure what you mean. All the steps are on the recipe card above. You don’t have to comment to see them.
Mary Jo
0Very easy to make. Absolutely delicious!
Wholesome Yum D
0Mary Jo, I’m so glad it turned out so delicious for you. Love hearing that it was an easy win in the kitchen!
Veronika
0The perfect one dish meal. I used fresh grape tomatoes instead, and it turned out delicious.
Wholesome Yum D
1I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Veronika! Fresh grape tomatoes sound like a tasty swap. Thanks for sharing!
Tia Acevedo
0Since I dislike sausage I used ground beef with a tablespoon and a half of chili powder.I also used fresh garden tomatoes instead of caned I just sliced them up and cooked them down before I I added them to the cabbage.I topped this dish with a little parmesan raw cheese. Was really good!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
1Thank you for sharing, Tia! Sounds great.
liz
0Didn’t have andouille, substituted smoked turkey sausage way too bland. The next night added fried spam. Really delicious.
Athena
0The sausage was really juicy and had tons of flavor, and the cabbage got this lovely caramelized texture. Adding potatoes was a great idea since they absorbed all those delicious flavors from the sausage and cabbage. Can’t wait to make this dish again!
Ritz
0The combination of sausage and caramelized cabbage was really delicious. I used smoked sausage instead of andouille and it turned out really tasty. And my kids really loved them too. They love their veggies so I’m happy that they enjoyed this recipe. Thank you!
Lindsy
0The cabbage gets so tender and flavorful when cooked with the sausage and spices. I didn’t have Cajun seasoning on hand so I used a blend of paprika and thyme instead still turned out delicious. Simple ingredients but super flavorful!
Kim
0I love what an easy and versatile meal this is! Having dinner on the table in 30 minutes is (actually, it was less!) is a lifesaver.
M Webster
0This is easily made and yummy. I like to add vegetables to every meal. Use polish sausage add anything that’s in my crisper.
Cheryl F Tidwell
0I love cabbage and sausage. I made this recipe but I used turkey sausage because that’s what I had. I also used Knorr’s seasoning because I love the flavor. I put the onions, canned tomatoes and salt and pepper. This was so good it was hard to stop eating it. Next time I will buy a different kind of sausage and try it too. I’m sure it will be just as good. Oh yeah and I put just a little cayenne pepper because my turkey sausage was the hot and spicy. So yummy ?
Randini
0The wife and I love this recipe and it get better each time we make it. I added a red pepper (cut into chunks) along with the onion and I used beef kielbasa sausage instead of the Andouille. This cut down on the spiciness and added more sweetness to the dish. I can see us making this dish over and over again.
Connie
0I made this for dinner tonight. A real keeper. I made my own Cajun spice since I didn’t have any. Used a can I of stewed tomatoes and fresh cherry tomatoes. I added a touch of dill weed and it is smashing good. I have made a similar version in the past but this is better! YUM
Margaret Turpin
0This is a go-to favorite! It’s filling and can be doubled easily. Cajun seasoning gives big, bold favor!
Terry
0I am allergic to tomatoes. I’m thinking of substituting vegetable or beef broth for the tomatoes. Any suggestion on how much I should use?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Terry, I would omit the tomatoes because broth would make this dish too watery.
Pete
0Hi, I’m Pete. Keto dieter. I usually make a large pot of something and eat off of it for a week. This last week it was “Fried Cabbage and Sausage.” I ate it for five straight days. At least one of my coworkers was impressed with it, so much so that she looked up wholesomeyum.com. I think I used more cabbage than recipe called for, but it still turned out great.
Today, I’m making it again to take to a potluck dinner.
Keli
0This is really good. I was skeptical about this dish because of so few ingredients, but this was amazing. Didn’t change a thing. Thanks for a quick easy dinner.