Purple cabbage is an unsung hero in the cruciferous food family. It is rich in nutrients and packed full of vitamins A, K, and B6 as well as antioxidants. This powerhouse food makes a colorful side dish and is more versatile than you might think. 

Change of your typical green cabbage for beautiful red/purple cabbage. It is great in a myriad of recipes and on its own if you know how to cook with it. There are a lot of purple cabbage recipes available and we’ve rounded up the best ones. Making use of your head of cabbage has never been easier. 

From traditional favorites to unique recipes and everything between, there is something for everyone. Even kid-approved recipes. So read below and begin your purple cabbage obsession.

1. Purple Cabbage Slaw

Purple cabbage slaw is a delicious and colorful side dish. It has a creamy, tangy dressing crammed full of flavor with mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and seasonings. This raw cabbage recipe adds a delectable crunch to any main dish and is especially wonderful to enjoy during the summer months. This cole slaw recipe is great for BBQs, picnics, and any outdoor gathering. The cold crunch is a welcome relief to any hot day.

2. Baja Fish Tacos

There is no other fish taco quite like the original Baja fish taco. The taco is loaded with lip-smacking perfectly fried cod, scrumptious purple cabbage slaw, and a uniquely delicious cream sauce. The tasty flavors and textures blend together for a perfect taco bite every time. The coolness of the cream sauce is a welcome juxtaposition to the hot fish and crunchy slaw. 

3. Purple Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Take your head of cabbage and create these tantalizing Asian stuffed cabbage rolls. Literally rolled in flavor, they are packed with mushrooms, rice, ground meat, garlic, scallions, sriracha, and tons of delicious seasonings. An easy recipe to make at home and spice up dinner night! 

4. Roasted Purple Cabbage

This roasted purple cabbage recipe is another great way to utilize your head of cabbage. It’s so delicious even the most stubborn cabbage eater will fall in love with its mouthwatering flavors.  The cabbage is roasted and topped with goat cheese crumbles and walnuts and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. All of the flavors come together and create a flavor explosion of goodness.

5. Pickled Purple Cabbage

Pickled purple cabbage is a tasty treat to enjoy with many of your beloved foods. It’s great to eat with eggs, add to salads, or top your tacos, sandwiches, or burgers with. However you choose to enjoy this flavorful pickled cabbage, it’s a notable addition to any plate.

6. Purple Cabbage Soup

A nourishing and flavorful soup, this recipe is healthy and kid-approved. It’s packed full of good-for-you veggies like kale, carrots, and tomatoes while full of flavor with garlic, onion, basil, oregano, and other seasonings. It’s a bowl full of yummy goodness that is healthy for you and will warm your belly and soul. 

7. Purple Cabbage Salad

This is an appetizing and nutritious flavorful raw salad with tons of crunch. Apples, pecans, shredded carrot, and cabbage mix together with a tangy vinaigrette dressing that’s bursting with flavor. A perfect side dish and a great way to mix up your salad game with this fun alternative to traditional salads.

8. Beet And Cabbage Sauerkraut

The idea of making sauerkraut at home can be intimidating for some, however, this simple, small-batch recipe is so easy it’s stress-free. It is full of good-for-you bacteria and a wonderful healthy side to your meals. This recipe is only slightly fermented which allows for the cabbage to maintain its crunch and sauerkraut that is naturally fresh and not too salty. 

9. Braised Purple Cabbage And Apples

This delightful, sweet, and simple recipe is one you’ll have on repeat. The thinly sliced cabbage, apples, and onion simmer in balsamic vinegar and broth until perfectly soft. The trick with the braising is slow-cooking the mixture on the stove in a covered pot. Once finished, you’ve got a beautiful side dish, perfect to serve with pork tenderloin, to grace your plate that adds tang and a soft texture. 

10. Ground Beef And Purple Cabbage Stir Fry

When you require a quick and easy weeknight meal and want it to be healthy, this recipe is it. It’s ready in a mere 15 minutes and is full of delicious vegetables, garlic, and ground beef. It’s also versatile! Don’t like some of the veggies in this recipe? No problem, easily swap out for your favorites. Dairy-free, gluten-free, and low-carb it has amazing taste and will quickly become a go-to recipe.

11. Kielbasa And Purple Cabbage

This is a wonderfully easy meal to throw together and makes weeknight cooking a breeze. A simple and inviting recipe, it’s a one-pot dish that explodes with flavors. Mix up your recipe repertoire and enjoy this wonderful dish tonight! 

12. BBQ Pork Pizza With Cabbage

You haven’t truly lived until you’ve tried this pizza. It’s a brilliant, crazy, magical flavor combination that completely combusts into a pizza party in your mouth. A best-ever homemade pizza dough gets doused with an alluring blend of BBQ sauce and sour cream. Then it’s topped with slow cooker pulled pork, mozzarella cheese, jalapenos, and zingy lime and cilantro red cabbage. The zest and crunch of the cabbage pairs perfectly with the tang of the BBQ and pork while the jalapenos add a touch of heat. 

13. Thai Chickpea And Purple Cabbage Salad

This is a marvelous salad full of bright, earthy flavors. It’s a fresh and inviting salad that whips up in 15 minutes and has a to-die-for peanut curry dressing. It’s a great dish to eat up those veggies and packs a punch of luscious flavors.

14. Creamy Purple Cabbage Soup

Red cabbage soup is a vibrant and nutritious soup. Ready in under an hour, it’s great for a weeknight meal and especially good for those cold, chilly nights. Red cabbage, potatoes, onion, garlic, and apples are some of the tasty ingredients. They all get blended together creating a smooth, creamy soup that warms your heart and belly. 

15. Bratwurst And Purple Cabbage

This bratwurst and cabbage dish has an amazing flavor combination. The cabbage simmers in sautéed onions, cider vinegar, and sugar until mostly soft. The brats are simmered in beer first then browned until cooked. Then bell peppers, onions, and an array of seasonings are cooked. All of these delicious parts are combined into one pot and served. Every bite is a burst of mouthwatering flavor. 

16. Balsamic Roasted Purple Cabbage

Roasted cabbage steaks are a fun way to eat red cabbage and use your head of cabbage. They are crazy good and make a colorful side dish. Great for any meal, they are especially good if you are looking for a low carb, paleo, or keto side dish. The magic in this recipe is the tangy balsamic glaze that gets baked into the cabbage. The outer edges stay crunchy while the inside gets nice and soft. 

17. Purple Cabbage Dolmas

These little stuffed cabbage rolls are vegan, protein-packed, and budget-friendly. They are healthy and full of superb savory flavor. The Dolmas are stuffed with a mixture of mushrooms, rice, carrots, onions, and an array of herbs. They are rolling in glorious, luscious flavors and are perfect for any party. 

18. Cabbage Pasta

Take your love of pasta on a culinary journey of flavors in this fun twist on traditional pasta dishes. Pasta is tossed with kale, red cabbage, onion, garlic powder, and a toothsome peanut sauce. It’s a full-bodied marvelous dish that packs a nutrient punch. 

19. Asian Noodle Salad

This is a fun, fuss-free chilled salad that is quick and simple to make. It’s full of fresh vegetables and herbs, maximizing the crunch factor we love in a good salad. The spicy peanut dressing brings it all together in glorious flavors. With a wonderful juxtaposition in textures, you get the softness of the noodles and the crunch of the cabbage and veggies. 

20. Cabbage Juice

Cabbage juice is a great way to make use of your head of cabbage. Stuffed full of nutrients, cabbage juice is versatile as you can juice with different flavor profiles. Whether it’s cucumber and pears, beets and oranges, or carrots and apples, there’s something for everyone. Delicious to drink, healthy for the body, and will all around make you feel like a million bucks!  

Did you try and of these tasty recipes? Let me know in the comments.