Here’s a hearty, comforting Slow Cooker Cabbage Stew—simple, filling, and perfect for a hands-off meal 🥬🍲
🥬 Slow Cooker Cabbage Stew
Ingredients (serves 6)
- 1 small head green cabbage, chopped
- 1 lb ground beef or smoked sausage (optional)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 3 cups beef or vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste (optional, for richness)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme or Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Brown meat (optional but recommended)
- In a skillet, heat olive oil and brown ground beef or sausage with onion and garlic. Drain excess fat.
- Load the slow cooker
- Add cabbage, carrots, celery, browned meat, diced tomatoes, broth, tomato paste, paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker.
- Cook
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until cabbage and vegetables are tender.
- Taste & serve
- Adjust seasoning before serving.
- Serve hot with crusty bread or over mashed potatoes if desired.
💡 Tips & Variations
- For a vegetarian version, skip meat and use vegetable broth; add white beans for protein.
- Add potatoes for an even heartier stew.
- A splash of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice at the end brightens the flavor.
- Smoked paprika adds extra depth if using sausage.
If you’d like, I can also give a Polish-style cabbage stew, a low-carb version, or a tomato-free Irish-style cabbage stew.
