Guys, I finally found the answer to “What’s for dinner?”—this” chicken sausage and cabbage recipe has literally saved my sanity! I stumbled on this combo last year when I had nothing but these two ingredients in my fridge. Now my family asks for it weekly! It takes just 30 minutes, costs about $10 total, and tastes way better than it should. I’m sharing all my variations because this recipe has seriously changed my weeknight cooking game.
Why I’m Obsessed With This Chicken Sausage and Cabbage Combo
Listen, I was NOT a cabbage person before this. My husband would literally groan when he saw cabbage in our grocery cart. But something magical happens when you pair it with chicken sausage. The flavors just work! Plus, each serving packs around 20g of protein with only 8g of net carbs. Budget-friendly, quick, and actually healthy? That’s the weeknight dinner trifecta right there.
What You’ll Need For The Basic Recipe
For this easy chicken sausage and cabbage recipe, grab:
- 1 pound chicken sausage (I’ve used both pre-cooked and raw)
- 1 medium head of cabbage (green is best, but purple works too)
- 1 medium onion (whatever kind you have)
- 2 cloves garlic (or more if you’re like me)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, Salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked if you have it)
- ½ cup chicken broth (optional)
- Half a cup of peas (optional)
My nutritionist friend told me that cabbage has more vitamin C than oranges! Who knew that humble cabbage was such a nutritional powerhouse?
The Basic Stovetop Method (My Most-Used Version)
This is the chicken sausage with cabbage and onion recipe I make most often:
Step 1: Heat oil in a big skillet over medium heat.
Step 2: Throw in sliced onions and cook until they start to soften (3-4 minutes).
Step 3: Add chicken sausage. If using raw sausage, cook about 5-6 minutes until nicely browned.
Step 4: Toss in garlic and cook for just 30 seconds.
Step 5: Add chopped cabbage, paprika, salt and pepper. I sometimes add cabbage in batches so it fits.
Step 6: Cook everything together for about 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 7: If things look dry, splash in some chicken broth.
This simple chicken sausage and cabbage made in a skillet is so easy, but it tastes like you tried much harder. My kind of recipe!
Four Flavour Variations I’ve Perfected
My Cajun Twist
I created this Cajun chicken sausage and cabbage skillet after a trip to New Orleans:
Step 1: Follow the basic recipe but add 1-2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning with the cabbage.
Step 2: Add a diced red bell pepper with the onions.
Step 3: Finish with hot sauce and green onions.
This Cajun cabbage and sausage version makes my husband do his happy food dance every time!
Italian Night Version
This Italian chicken sausage and cabbage variation was born when I had leftover Italian sausage:
Step 1: Use Italian-seasoned chicken sausage instead of regular.
Step 2: Add 1 teaspoon each of dried basil and oregano when you add cabbage.
Step 3: Mix in 1 cup diced tomatoes when the cabbage starts softening.
Step 4: Finish with real Parmesan cheese.
My Italian neighbor (who’s super picky!) actually asked for this recipe, which was basically the highest cooking compliment of my life.
My Accidental Apple Discovery
The chicken apple sausage and cabbage combo happened when I grabbed the wrong sausage package:
Step 1: Use apple chicken sausage as your protein.
Step 2: Add 1 diced apple when the cabbage is half-cooked.
Step 3: Sprinkle in about 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
Step 4: Finish with a splash of apple cider vinegar.
My kids nickname this “apple pie dinner” and actually ask for seconds of a cabbage dish. Miracles do happen!
15-Minute Asian Version
I created this chicken sausage and cabbage Chinese stir fry on a night when I had exactly 15 minutes:
Step 1: Heat your pan hotter than usual – we’re flash cooking here.
Step 2: Cut everything smaller so it cooks faster.
Step 3: Add 1 tablespoon each soy sauce and sesame oil to the cabbage.
Step 4: Mix in some ginger paste (the squeeze tube kind is my secret weapon).
Step 5: Finish with sesame seeds.
My takeout-addicted teenager said this was better than our usual Chinese place. I nearly fainted!
Two Oven Methods For When I’m Super Busy
Sheet Pan Method
This sheet pan chicken sausage and cabbage approach lets me do other things while dinner cooks:
Step 1: Heat oven to 400°F.
Step 2: Cut raw chicken sausage into chunks.
Step 3: Toss everything with oil and seasonings.
Step 4: Spread on a sheet pan.
Step 5: Stir halfway through the 20–25 minutes of baking.
If you’re wondering how long to cook raw chicken sausage in oven, about 20 minutes at 400°F works perfectly. Just check it hits 165°F inside to be safe.
Lazy Sunday Bake
The chicken sausage and cabbage in oven baked version is my Sunday tradition:
Step 1: Layer everything in a baking dish – onions first, then cabbage, then sausage on top.
Step 2: Pour in some chicken broth.
Step 3: Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes.
Step 4: Uncover and bake 10 more minutes.
This oven baked cabbage and sausage is perfect for meal prep Sunday when I’m getting ready for the crazy week ahead.
The Soup That Saved A Snowy Week
During a blizzard last winter, I created this cabbage and sausage with chicken soup:
Step 1: In a large pot, brown the sausage and set aside.
Step 2: Cook onions in the same pot (don’t clean it!).
Step 3: Pour in about 6 cups chicken broth.
Step 4: Add chopped cabbage and seasonings.
Step 5: Simmer everything for about 20 minutes.
Step 6: Add a splash of vinegar at the end – this really makes the flavors pop!
This cabbage and sausage recipe with chicken broth tastes even better the next day. We were snowed in for three days and didn’t even mind because we had this soup!
Making It More Filling
When my teenage sons complained they were still hungry, I created this chicken sausage cabbage potatoes version:
Step 1: Add 2 cups diced potatoes after your onions have softened.
Step 2: Cook everything a bit longer than usual.
Step 3: Add extra broth to help potatoes cook through.
This chicken sausage, cabbage potatoes combo is a complete one-pan meal that actually fills up even my bottomless-pit teenagers.
How I Adapt This For Different Diets
My Husband’s Keto Version
When my husband went keto, I tweaked this to make a keto chicken sausage and cabbage variation:
Step 1: Check sausage labels for hidden carbs.
Step 2: Use higher-fat chicken sausage varieties.
Step 3: Mix the olive oil and butter together.
Step 4: Top with sour cream for extra fat.
This high-protein, low-carb skillet dinner helped him lose 30 pounds in three months!
My Whole30 Survival Dish
During my first (and only!) Whole30, this paleo chicken sausage and cabbage recipe kept me sane:
Step 1: Find compliant sausage (harder than it sounds).
Step 2: Use coconut oil instead of olive oil.
Step 3: Add lots of extra veggies for more nutrients.
Step 4: Stick to approved seasonings only.
This Whole30-compliant sausage skillet dinner and grain-free chicken dinner recipe saved me from quitting the program after week one!
My Anti-Inflammatory Version
After talking with my doctor about reducing inflammation, I created this variation:
Step 1: Choose organic sausage without additives.
Step 2: Add turmeric and black pepper.
Step 3: Double the garlic and onions.
Step 4: Mix in some leafy greens along with the cabbage.
This anti-inflammatory chicken sausage cabbage recipe helps on days when my joints are achy.
What I Make For My Diabetic Dad
When cooking for my dad, I make this diabetic-friendly chicken sausage meal:
Step 1: Keep portions of cabbage larger to preserve fiber.
Step 2: Add extra protein to balance carbs.
Step 3: Include cinnamon, which seems to help his blood sugar.
Step 4: Add a good splash of vinegar at the end.
Dad’s doctor actually commented on his improved numbers after he started eating this regularly!
Seasonal Variations I’ve Developed
My Winter Comfort Version
On freezing nights, I make this winter comfort food chicken skillet:
Step 1: Add hardy herbs like rosemary and thyme.
Step 2: Mix in root vegetables with the cabbage.
Step 3: Double the garlic (cold and flu season defense!).
Step 4: Finish with warming spices.
The windows steam up, the house smells amazing, and dinner feels like a cozy blanket.
Post-Gym Recovery Meal
After my trainer scolded me about post-workout protein, I created this version:
Step 1: Add white beans for extra protein.
Step 2: Mix in colorful veggies for more nutrients.
Step 3: Include sweet potato for good carbs.
Step 4: Add turmeric for inflammation.
Step 5: Top with an egg for extra protein.
This metabolism-boosting chicken and cabbage dinner delivers about 35g protein per serving – enough to make my trainer happy!
Cooking Method Variations
Cast Iron Magic
The restaurant-quality version uses a cast iron pan:
Step 1: Get your cast iron screaming hot first.
Step 2: Cook everything in stages, not all at once.
Step 3: Let sausage get really crusty before moving it.
Step 4: Add cabbage gradually so it browns instead of steams.
Step 5: Complete for a few minutes in a hot oven.
This cast iron chicken sausage cabbage recipe gets a flavor you just can’t achieve with regular pans. My dinner guests always ask what the secret ingredient is!
Dutch Oven Version
For deeper flavor development:
Step 1: Brown everything in a Dutch oven.
Step 2: Cover and simmer low and slow.
Step 3: Over time, allow the flavors to combine.
This Dutch oven chicken and cabbage dinner reminds me of my grandmother’s cooking but takes half the effort.
German-Inspired Comfort Food
This variation pays homage to my German heritage:
Step 1: Toast caraway seeds in oil first thing.
Step 2: Use bratwurst-style chicken sausage.
Step 3: Add a good splash of apple cider vinegar.
Step 4: Finish with stone-ground mustard.
This German-style chicken sausage with cabbage brings Oktoberfest vibes to dinner any time of year.
Busy Day Slow Cooker Method
On crazy-busy days, I use my slow cooker:
Step 1: Toss everything in before work.
Step 2: Set on low for 6-8 hours.
Step 3: Come home to dinner ready to go.
This slow cooker chicken sausage and cabbage variation has saved me from ordering pizza more times than I can count!
Real-Life Meal Planning With This Recipe
Busy Parent Survival Strategy
As a working mom, this busy parent’s weeknight chicken skillet solution is a lifesaver:
Step 1: Prep ingredients on Sunday evening.
Step 2: Cook the whole meal in under 30 minutes on busy nights.
Step 3: Clean just one pan instead of a sink full of dishes.
I’ve actually calculated that this meal has saved me about 5 hours of cooking time each month!
My Sunday Meal Prep Approach
I’ve turned this into my meal prep Sunday chicken cabbage recipe ritual:
Step 1: Make a huge batch on Sunday afternoon.
Step 2: Portion into containers for grab-and-go lunches.
Step 3: Enjoy homemade meals all week with zero daily cooking.
This strategy has saved me about $50 a week on lunch takeout!
Why This Budget-Friendly Recipe Matters
This budget-conscious healthy cooking option costs about $2.50 per serving. Compare that to $12+ for takeout! The time-saving dinner recipe aspect is just as valuable as the money saved. Simple protein and vegetable meals like this have helped me cut our family food budget by almost 30% while actually eating healthier.
Final Thoughts On My Go-To Recipe
Chicken sausage and cabbage has become more than just a recipe in my house—it’s a whole flexible cooking system! This quick, healthy chicken sausage and cabbage recipe proves that good food doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. The one-pan chicken sausage cabbage dinner has saved countless hectic weeknights for me. Whether you try the glazed chicken sausage with sautéed cabbage version or one of the variations, I’d love to know which one becomes your family favorite! Trust me, even the cabbage-haters in your life might surprise you.
FAQs
Is chicken sausage actually healthy?
Indeed, chicken sausage is healthier than traditional pork sausage because it is leaner and lower in fat.
Can I mix cabbage with chicken?
Absolutely—cabbage and chicken make a nutritious, flavorful combo in stir-fries, soups, or sautés.
What is a Japanese dish with chicken and cabbage?
A classic Japanese dish is “Miso Chicken with Cabbage”, where chicken is simmered with miso, cabbage, and other veggies.
How to cook chicken sausage properly?
Grill, pan-fry, or bake chicken sausage until the internal temperature hits 165°F for juicy, safe results.
Should I boil sausage before cooking?
Boiling sausage can help cook it evenly and lock in moisture before finishing it on the grill or pan.
Can we eat chicken sausage without cooking?
Only if it’s labelled “fully cooked”—otherwise, raw chicken sausage must be thoroughly cooked first.
