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    Home » Recipes » Condiments

    How to Make Easy Pickled Cabbage

    Published: Dec 23, 2021 by Kristen Wood - This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Learn how to make quick and easy pickled cabbage recipe in this informative post! Pickled cabbage can add a dash of crunch and tang to a variety of dishes, making it a wonderful condiment to have on hand in the refrigerator.

    a white bowl filled with homemade pickled cabbage with carrots

    Sometimes you want a side dish that is acidic and can cut through other flavors and this quick pickled cabbage is just the one to consider. Offering the right balance in flavors and a bit of crunch, it is very easy to recreate this quick pickled cabbage recipe at home. It is an excellent condiment to have on hand to use again and again! 

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    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredient Notes and Substitutions 
    • How to Make Quick Pickled Cabbage 
    • How to Serve Pickled Cabbage
    • FAQ
    • Recipe Tips 
    • More Recipes You Might Enjoy
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    There is just something about cabbage when it is pickled, don’t you think? The acidic flavors work well with anything from adding a spoonful to your salad, as a refreshing addition to a sandwich, and let’s not forget how great it can be with tacos. I used to buy it until I realized that I could quickly recreate it at home and it tasted so much better. So, I certainly wanted to share this easy recipe with you!

    a closed mason jar laying on its side, filled with quick pickled cabbage

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • Super quick and simple to make.
    • The perfect balance of acidic flavors.
    • A fantastic accompaniment or side dish.
    • You only need a knife, a jar and refrigerator to prep!
    • Naturally vegan, plant-based, gluten-free, nut-free and soy-free.
    a wooden spoon is stuck into a large clear mason jar filled with pickled cabbage and carrots

    Ingredient Notes and Substitutions 

    Cabbage: The main star of the show. You could use any type of cabbage you prefer. Red and green both work really well. You could even use napa if you prefer it.

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    Water and Vinegar: This forms the brine that is a major part of pickling process. Any kind of vinegar will work—apple cider, white, wine, you name it!

    Sugar and Salt: To give that balance of sweet and savory. You can use cane, turbinado, coconut or even a sugar-free sweetener if you prefer.

    Garlic Cloves: Garlic can add a depth of flavor to this quick pickled cabbage. 

    Carrots: Optional, however, the carrots add a level of sweetness and can really balance out the other flavors. Not to mention -- added nutrition!

    a white ceramic bowl filled with pickled cabbage carrots and garlic

    How to Make Quick Pickled Cabbage 

    1.  Thinly slice or use a mandoline to shred the cabbage. Mince or grate the garlic and carrots (if using). 
    2. Grab yourself a jar that you want to store the picked cabbage within. Add the cabbage, garlic and carrots to the jar.
    3. Bring the water, vinegar, salt and sugar to a boil in a saucepan, stir well, then pour into the jar. Let the jar sit and cool to room temperature. The longer you leave it, the more intensified the flavor becomes (and the same goes for how long you refrigerate before eating!).
    a fork stuck in a white ceramic bowl filled with pickled cabbage

    How to Serve Pickled Cabbage

    Pickled cabbage is extremely versatile. You can use it to top off tacos, sandwiches and salads, throw it into wraps or on veggie burgers—just to name a few ideas!

    a white bowl of pickled cabbage

    FAQ

    Is there anything else I can add to this quick pickled cabbage?

    The answer is yes! You can omit any of the ingredients listed apart from the water, vinegar, salt, sugar, and of course, the cabbage. You can add other spices to the liquid to give different flavors. A great addition could be cloves or black peppercorns. If you like spicy, add a pinch of red pepper flakes. You could also think about doing a combination of different cabbages or even adding onions or other vegetables into the mix. For an additional touch of sweetness, grated apple is an excellent addition, too. It is a very flexible recipe. 

    How long will the pickled cabbage last?

    Pickled cabbage will generally last in the fridge for 4-6 weeks. Make sure that it is stored in an air-tight container to keep the pickled cabbage fresh. 

    top view of ceramic dish filled with pickled cabbage with a silver fork stuck in

    Recipe Tips 

    • Have all the vegetables you want to add prepped and ready to go. 
    • While you could eat this after it cools to room temp, the longer you leave it the better it will taste. 
    • Store in an air-tight container for maximum freshness and longer shelf life. 

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    📖 Recipe

    Easy Pickled Cabbage Recipe

    Learn how to make quick and easy pickled cabbage recipe in this informative post! Pickled cabbage can add a dash of crunch and tang to a variety of dishes, making it a wonderful condiment to have on hand in the refrigerator.
    5 from 135 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Course: Condiments
    Cuisine: German
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Author: Kristen Wood

    Ingredients

    • 1 medium head cabbage, green or red finely sliced or shredded
    • 1 medium carrot grated
    • 2 garlic cloves minced or shredded
    • 2 cups water
    • 1½ cups vinegar of choice I like to use apple cider vinegar
    • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar of choice I like coconut sugar
    • 1 teaspoon salt I like to use pink Himalayan salt
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    Instructions

    • Add the shredded cabbage, carrot and garlic to a large jar (quart mason works great!). Pack it down a little with a spoon, a tamper, or your hands. Set aside.
    • In a saucepan over high heat, add the water, vinegar, sugar and salt. Bring to a boil (about 5 minutes).
    • Turn off the heat and immediately pour the brine over the vegetables in the jar until covered, but while reserving at least 1-inch of headspace.
    • Let the jar cool to room temperature before placing the lid on and storing in the fridge.
    • Keep stored in the fridge for up to 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!

    Notes

    You can enjoy this pickled cabbage, but like a lot of pickled produce, the longer it rests in the refrigerator, the deeper the flavors become!
    You might also like 42 Vegan Gut Healing Recipes and Quick Pickled Ginger.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 45kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 320mg | Potassium: 221mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1385IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1mg

    Recommended Products

    Apple Cider Vinegar
    Salt
    Coconut Sugar
    Have you tried this recipe?Please Rate + Comment Below!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rebecca says

      March 02, 2023 at 4:21 pm

      can this be stored in pantry ?

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        March 04, 2023 at 4:55 pm

        Hi! Since this is a quick pickle and not a canning recipe, it is designed to be stored in the refrigerator. Having said that, due to its acidic nature, it could probably withstand being kept in a pantry for about a week, otherwise, I do recommend storing it in the fridge.

        Reply
    2. Dana says

      February 04, 2023 at 9:16 pm

      been trying to find a great way to use cabbage from my garden. I added garlic and fresh dill in the boiling water. Seems like a great recipe. we shall see!

      Reply
    3. Dana says

      December 11, 2022 at 10:10 am

      5 stars
      This was fantastic on our pulled pork sliders! And who am I kidding. With a fork on its own. Haha.

      Reply
    4. Tavo says

      December 11, 2022 at 5:31 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe! I have made it a couple of times and this pickles never disappoint!

      Reply
    5. Dannii says

      December 11, 2022 at 2:16 am

      5 stars
      This looks amazing, and so many different ways to serve it too.

      Reply
    6. Beth says

      December 10, 2022 at 11:08 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is great! I like that you can use coconut sugar - very tasty!

      Reply
    7. Sara Welch says

      December 10, 2022 at 10:45 pm

      5 stars
      This was such an easy and frugal recipe! Turned out perfectly crisp and flavorful and way better than any store bought version, indeed!

      Reply
    8. Gene says

      November 21, 2022 at 3:04 pm

      5 stars
      This is sooo good! I keep finding new ways to use it. My new favorite is on sandwiches.

      Reply
    9. Molly Pisula says

      November 21, 2022 at 2:20 pm

      5 stars
      Super easy and tasty! Made this to top our crispy fish tacos last night, and it was perfect!

      Reply
    10. Jenn says

      November 21, 2022 at 8:22 am

      5 stars
      I love pickled cabbage on tacos and this recipe is perfectly balanced between sweet and tangy! Yum!

      Reply
    11. Shoeby says

      November 21, 2022 at 8:08 am

      5 stars
      I love this pickled cabbage! I make really plain pasta or stir fry for kids and it makes any plain dish more flavorful.

      Reply
    12. Deb says

      November 19, 2022 at 5:11 am

      5 stars
      Been searching so long for a pickled cabbage recipe to go with vegan short ribs. This is definitely the answer.

      Reply
    13. kushigalu says

      November 19, 2022 at 3:55 am

      5 stars
      Never tried making pickled cabbage before. Thanks for sharing. Pinned to try this soon.

      Reply
    14. Tara says

      November 19, 2022 at 1:20 am

      5 stars
      So easy to follow! I will definitely use this pickling recipe again and again!

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        November 19, 2022 at 10:42 am

        I'm so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing. 🙂

        Reply
    15. Sara Welch says

      November 18, 2022 at 10:42 pm

      5 stars
      This was such a light, quick and flavorful recipe! Paired perfectly with dinner; even my picky eaters loved it! Definitely, a new favorite!

      Reply
    16. Gail says

      November 16, 2022 at 5:55 pm

      5 stars
      Love how easy this recipe! I added them to some burgers and they were perfect!

      Reply
    17. MacKenzie says

      November 15, 2022 at 8:39 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect! Love the idea of making ahead of time and keeping it in the fridge for when needed. The flavors in the cabbage are fantastic.

      Reply
    18. Sherrie says

      November 15, 2022 at 5:46 pm

      5 stars
      This was such a fantastic, simple, and tasty dish! We'll be adding this to the regular rotation.

      Reply
    19. Gen says

      November 15, 2022 at 5:42 pm

      5 stars
      I am a pickle fanatic, but I'd never made pickled cabbage before. This is spectacular! Thank you so much for the recipe.

      Reply
    20. Ksenia says

      November 15, 2022 at 5:13 pm

      5 stars
      I LOVED how crunchy this quick pickled cabbage was! I usually follow my grandpa’s long and involved pickling process and this was much easier - and crunchier!

      Reply
    21. Jovita says

      September 27, 2022 at 12:57 am

      5 stars
      This is truly a wonderful, satisfying pickled cabbage. Rich in flavor, excellent crunch. Yum!

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        September 27, 2022 at 3:38 pm

        I'm so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing. 🙂

        Reply
    22. Tara says

      September 27, 2022 at 12:34 am

      5 stars
      Very tasty dish! Great feel-good ingredients (LOVE carrots!) and it's so easy, too!

      Reply
    23. Amanda Wren-Grimwood says

      September 27, 2022 at 12:30 am

      5 stars
      I love pickled cabbage with cold meats and so many other dishes so this is the perfect idea to make it myself.

      Reply
    24. Mahy says

      September 26, 2022 at 11:53 pm

      5 stars
      Oh wow, this is such an easy recipe to use when you've got a bunch of cabbages on you!

      Reply
    25. Chenée says

      September 26, 2022 at 10:41 pm

      5 stars
      I can't wait to try this! I love pickled cabbage and I never would have thought it was so easy to make!

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        September 27, 2022 at 3:38 pm

        Thank you! I hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    26. Katherine says

      August 30, 2022 at 4:19 am

      5 stars
      This is so good on veggie burgers!

      Reply
    27. Dannii says

      August 30, 2022 at 3:11 am

      5 stars
      This was so easy to make and it has lots of uses. It's delicious too.

      Reply
    28. Ieva says

      August 30, 2022 at 1:21 am

      5 stars
      Yum, great easy recipe! We loved this pickled cabbage in sandwiches with pastrami! Cannot wait to discover more uses for it! Might try it on a burger, as suggested next!

      Reply
    29. Jill says

      August 29, 2022 at 9:00 pm

      5 stars
      I made a batch and used it as a filling in lunch wraps with rotisserie chicken for the week. It's so good!

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        September 04, 2022 at 11:34 am

        I'm so happy to hear that!! 🙂

        Reply
    30. MacKenzie Bennetts says

      August 29, 2022 at 8:50 pm

      5 stars
      Love this pickled cabbage recipe. I have a few cabbages from the garden and can’t wait to try this recipe.

      Reply
    31. Sydney says

      August 28, 2022 at 6:16 pm

      5 stars
      I'll need to purchase a jar. What size will I need?

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        August 28, 2022 at 6:29 pm

        A wide mouth quart jar works perfectly!

        Reply
    32. Gen says

      July 26, 2022 at 9:48 pm

      5 stars
      I love pickled vegetables and this cabbage was just amazing. I’ll definitely be making this again!

      Reply
    33. Tara says

      June 23, 2022 at 9:10 pm

      5 stars
      Oh yum! This pickled cabbage looks fantastic. Such a wonderful condiment to help elevate meals. I love how easily it comes together.

      Reply
    34. Seema says

      June 23, 2022 at 9:06 pm

      5 stars
      Pickled cabbage tastes fantastic. I love them in pokebowls and wraps. This one is packed with so much flavour.

      Reply
    35. Traci says

      June 23, 2022 at 8:27 pm

      5 stars
      So much yes! I love pickled cabbage and your tips are super helpful for success. It's so good. Thanks for sharing 🙂

      Reply
    36. Tara says

      June 23, 2022 at 7:28 pm

      5 stars
      Used this recipe for my sauerkraut - it was perfect! Thank you!

      Reply
    37. Amanda Wren-Grimwood says

      June 06, 2022 at 12:29 am

      5 stars
      I always buy this and had no idea how easy it is to make my own! Thanks so much for this.

      Reply
    38. Ieva says

      June 05, 2022 at 11:41 pm

      5 stars
      Had some leftover red cabbage that I didn't want to use right away, so this was a perfect recipe to try! Only made it yesterday, and had a little taste - amazing! I'm sure after a couple of weeks in the fridge it will be even better! Can't wait!

      Reply
    39. Chef Mireille says

      June 05, 2022 at 9:46 pm

      This was quite a hit when I served it at a recent gathering......I leave mine for long as I prefer a stronger flavor.

      Reply
    40. kushigalu says

      June 05, 2022 at 7:48 pm

      5 stars
      Never tried pickled cabbage before. Sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing

      Reply
    41. Irena says

      June 05, 2022 at 4:53 pm

      5 stars
      Love that I can have a pickled cabbage in such a short amount of time. I usually make sauerkraut but you have to wait for it so much longer so it's good to have a quick recipe on hand for when I need something for tacos or a side dish.

      Reply
    42. Tayler Ross says

      June 03, 2022 at 3:12 pm

      5 stars
      We just recently made this cabbage and oh my goodness was it delicious! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!

      Reply
    43. Nathan says

      June 03, 2022 at 12:24 pm

      5 stars
      It's been a bit since I had pickled cabbage and now I'm having a craving, can't wait to try this recipe!

      Reply
    44. Heather says

      June 03, 2022 at 12:22 pm

      5 stars
      So easy and tasty on some hot dogs. Can’t wait to have this on hand for all my summer grilling!

      Reply
    45. Shashi at Savory Spin says

      June 03, 2022 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      I have never made my own pickled cabbage but looking at your easy recipe makes me think I so need to change that!

      Reply
    46. Mirlene says

      June 03, 2022 at 11:02 am

      5 stars
      These pickled cabbage was so delicious! I made some and used them on top of tacos and stuffed them into sandwiches! I loved the tangy crunch it gives!

      Reply
    47. Andrea says

      December 24, 2021 at 1:40 pm

      5 stars
      I love pickled veggies and cabbage which makes this a perfect recipe for me. Can't wait to make this.

      Reply
    48. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

      December 24, 2021 at 8:11 am

      5 stars
      I Made for a gathering and it was a hit, everyone loved it! Will definitely make it again!

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        December 24, 2021 at 10:55 am

        So happy to hear! Thank you for sharing! 🙂

        Reply
    49. Eliza says

      December 24, 2021 at 7:20 am

      5 stars
      What a great recipe! I love that it's so quick and easy, and you can vary the intensity of flavor. Cabbage is one of my family's favorite veggies and this recipe is definitely a tkeeper!

      Reply
    50. Mandy Applehate says

      December 24, 2021 at 1:05 am

      5 stars
      I’ll be trying this recipe, pickled cabbage is my favourite!

      Reply

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    kristen wood

    About Kristen Wood

    Hi, I'm Kristen! A mama, food writer, photographer, recipe developer, and cookbook author. I enjoy sharing both wildly creative and ridiculously practical gluten-free vegetarian recipes that are approachable for all. Welcome!

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