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Sliced cabbage is transformed into a tender, caramelized, and deeply flavorful dish in this roasted cabbage steaks recipe. Turn to it whenever you need an easy-to-prepare and healthy main dish or side!
A steak made of cabbage? Yes, it’s true! These easy baked cabbage steaks are a flavorful roasted vegetable side dish or main you can dress up or down. Plus, they go well with everything!
Cabbage steaks aren’t meant to compete with real steaks (like a hanger steak or juicy ribeye). Instead, think of them as an over-the-top vegetarian side dish. Like cauliflower steak, they’re called “steaks” because the cabbage is cut into thick slabs before being dressed in garlic butter and roasted in the oven. The result is tender, caramelized cabbage with savory, restaurant-worthy flavors!
Table of Contents
Why this recipe works
- A healthy main or side. Cabbage is a healthy cruciferous vegetable and a fantastic source of vitamin C, antioxidants, folate, and fiber (source). All the more reason to slice it up and enjoy it for dinner!
- It’s quick and easy. Prepping and baking sliced cabbage is just as easy as balsamic roasted brussels sprouts, roasted potatoes and carrots, and any other vegetable. All it takes is a quick 30-minute trip in the oven.
- It’s so versatile. Serve the cabbage steaks as-is or take them up a notch with a ton of different toppings, like bacon, balsamic glaze, and more. There is no one way to serve them; the soft, savory, and tender roasted cabbage pairs well with practically anything!
And because this dish is naturally low carb and vegetarian, you can go ahead and serve it with more indulgent mains, like eggplant rollatini or a vegan pizza.
Ingredients needed
You don’t need much to make this healthy main dish or side – just the cabbage itself and a few things to take the flavors and textures over the top.
- Cabbage. The cabbage you choose should feel heavy for its size and also be vibrant in color with very little to no loose leaves. I used green cabbage to make this recipe but you can certainly make red cabbage steaks with red cabbage if that’s what you prefer.
- Olive oil. The oil is crucial because it’s what tenderizes the cabbage slices as they bake.
- Butter. It’s melted and stirred with the other ingredients. The crave-worthy garlic butter sauce is what makes the roasted cabbage so irresistible!
- Garlic. Fresh cloves are a must. For extra garlic, sprinkle a little garlic powder over the cabbage steaks after they’re dressed in garlic butter.
- Salt and pepper. To tie the flavors together.
- Toppings. I chose to garnish the roasted “steaks” with chopped pecans and parsley, but this is where you can be as creative as you want.
How to make roasted cabbage steaks
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1 – Make the garlic butter. Whisk the olive oil, melted butter, and garlic together in a small bowl.
Step 2 – Prepare the cabbage. Slice the cabbage lengthwise into 1-inch “steaks”. Remove any loose outer leaves, then brush the garlic butter on both sides of each slice. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 3 – Bake and serve. Transfer the “steaks” to a lined baking sheet and bake until each one is golden and crisp. Sprinkle the baked cabbage steaks with chopped pecans and parsley, plate with your favorite sides or mains, then enjoy!
What to serve with cabbage steaks
Honestly, it’s easier to think of what NOT to pair with cabbage steaks…. They go well with anything! You can serve the garlic butter-seasoned cabbage as a healthy main dish with side dishes like quinoa, black beans, crispy baked tofu, and curry fried rice to give the meal a boost of protein. Or keep it simple and make this roasted vegetable recipe a go-to side dish to pair with sous vide pork chops, eggplant lasagna, or air fryer turkey burgers.
You can take the “steaks” over the top with extra toppings, too. Crushed nuts (pecans, walnuts, pine nuts, etc.), crumbled air fryer turkey bacon, chorizo, sofritas, or tofu bacon will make every bite more filling. Finish them with fresh herbs, balsamic glaze, a pinch of red pepper flakes, paprika, or spicy mayo on top.
Recipe tips and variations
- Cut the steaks evenly. Cabbage steaks that are all the same size will cook evenly and at the same time.
- Don’t forget the toppings. These are what tie the meal together and bulk up the cabbage.
- Mask any bitterness. The garlic butter and salt do a great job of toning down the natural bitter flavors of the cabbage. If you still find that the “steaks” are bitter-tasting, garnish them with a spritz of lemon juice.
- Make vegan cabbage steaks. Simply replace the butter with vegan butter for a vegan version of this recipe.
Storage instructions
To store: Once they’re cool, store the leftover cabbage in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat: Lay the cabbage steaks on a lined baking sheet and reheat in a 350ºF oven until they’re warmed through.
Frequently asked questions
The “steaks” should only need to cook for 25 to 30 minutes in the oven. You’ll know they’re ready when the center looks golden and tender and the edges are slightly crisp.
Yes, but you’ll need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer basket. Avoid piling the sliced cabbage on top of each other because it will result in steamed, soggy cabbage.
To air fry, prepare and season the cabbage steaks as normal and lay them in your air fryer basket. Air fry at 360ºF for 8 minutes or until the edges are slightly crisp.
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and prepare the cabbage as normal while you wait. Once hot, lay the cabbage steaks on the grill grates. Cook for 5 minutes per side or until both sides are crisp and tender.
More vegetable side dishes to try
- Sauteed Broccolini
- Curried Cauliflower
- Keto Coleslaw
- Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
- Sauteed brussels sprouts
Cabbage Steaks
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, butter, and garlic.
- Slice the cabbage lengthways into 1-inch ‘steaks’. Discard any excess leaves and place the portions on the lined sheet. Brush the tops of each ‘steak’ with the garlic butter oil mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
- Bake the cabbage steaks for 25-30 minutes, or until golden and crisp around the edges.
This is the best roasted cabbage recipe I’ve ever made- not soggy like other recipes.
Delicious! I added cheese above and it was amazing, I’m definitely making this again.
What do you like to substitute for non dairy? Tx
Dairy free butter 🙂
This recipe is AMAZING! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This was my first attempt and I was concerned about the crispy edges and I only had margarine on hand but it turned out great! I’m used to cabbage being boiled to death and blah but this recipe breathed a whole new life into it.
I have never really cooked much with cabbage other than soups.
This was the best recipe ever. I made it with nuts and all. My husband loved it as well.
I went shopping and bought 2 more heads of cabbage. It will be on our list from now on. So so good.
Haven’t tried yet but I’m excited because I love Cabbage
My husband made these this evening and we both loved it! We’ll add it to our faves list and make it again. Thank you for sharing the recipe. 😋
Easy cabbage recipe
I just cooked! It was a perfect recipe to use the cabbage which I got last week. It was very easy to prepare. Thank you, Arman!
Hi Kana,
Just saw your nice review of the Cabbage steaks. Going to the supermarket now to get a cabbage.
This is such an appealing and simple recipe. Thanks.
Jeanne
How can you use an air fryer to make crispy portobello mushrooms to use as base for stuffing them??
We Love you cabbage straks. Who knew you could get cabbage to be that good. Yum