Slow Cooker Red Cabbage with Apples

Cozy up with this delicious slow cooker red cabbage! With ribbons of tender cabbage combined with sweet apples in a perfectly spiced sauce, it's the ultimate side dish that pairs beautifully with any holiday roast or weeknight dinner.

If you love this recipe, try my maple-glazed roasted sweet potatoes and squash next!

The red cabbage served as a side dish on a white plate.

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Easy Slow Cooker Red Cabbage Recipe

There's something magical about how red cabbage transforms in the crock pot. Not only does this recipe create the most tender, flavorful cabbage you'll ever taste, but it's also:

The ultimate hands-off side dish! Everything goes into the slow cooker in simple layers, then let it work its magic while you go about your day!
Perfect for busy days! It's perfect for holiday gatherings or Sunday dinners. Assemble it in the morning, and it'll be ready for dinner!

Recipe Ingredients

These everyday ingredients come together to create something extraordinary! Here's everything you'll need, with special notes below to assist you.

Ingredients for slow cooker red cabbage: a purple cabbage, crisp red apple, red onion, brown sugar, and spice jars arranged on a wooden table. Small bowls contain apple cider vinegar and apple juice.

Red Cabbage: Choose a large, firm head with bright purple-red leaves. The fresher, the better!
Apple: Any apple works great - Honeycrisp, Gala, or Pink Lady are perfect choices.
Brown Sugar: Light or dark work well - it caramelizes slowly, creating just the right amount of sweetness.
Apple Juice: Adds natural sweetness and creates a luscious sauce.
Spices: The combination of cinnamon, cloves, salt, and pepper creates a warm flavor that's simply irresistible.

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How To Make Perfect Slow Cooker Red Cabbage

Prep the vegetables: Remove the outer leaves of the red cabbage and remove the core. Slice thinly into shreds. Core and thinly slice the apple. Thinly slice the red onion into half-moons.

Red cabbage being sliced into thin strips on a wooden cutting board.

Thinly sliced apple and red onion on a wooden cutting board.

Create the first layer: Place half of the shredded cabbage in your slow cooker. Top with half of the sliced apple and onion. Sprinkle with half of the brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and cloves.

Sliced red cabbage and apple in a slow cooker.

Brown sugar and seasoning sprinkled over top of the vegetables.

Add the second layer: Repeat the layering process with the remaining cabbage, apple, onion, and seasonings.
Add the liquids: Pour the apple cider vinegar and apple juice evenly over the layered vegetables.

All the ingredients layered in the slow cooker.

The liquid after it is poured over the vegetables in the slow cooker.

Finish and cook: Dot the top with butter pieces. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours until the cabbage is tender but still has a slight bite.
Serve: Gently stir to combine all the layers before serving so the beautiful cooking liquid coats everything evenly.

The red cabbage after it is cooked and stirred in the slow cooker.

Top Tips

Don't skip the layering! This ensures every bite is perfectly seasoned and that everything cooks evenly.
Keep the lid on! Resist the urge to peek too often - each time you lift the lid, you lose heat and extend the cooking time.
Time it right: While this dish can be cooked on high or low, if it is done early it can be kept on the warm setting until ready to serve.

How To Serve Slow Cooker Red Cabbage

Here are some perfect pairings for this delicious side dish:

Holiday dinner: Serve alongside smoked turkey, roasted turkey, double smoked ham, or roast ham.
Sunday roast: Perfect with smoked pork roast or smoked sausages.
Weeknight dinner: Pairs beautifully with air fryer thin chicken breasts or air fryer pork chops.

The cooked red cabbage on a white dinner plate with two smoked sausages and bread and butter pickles.

Make Ahead Instructions

This dish actually gets better the next day! Make it up to 3 days ahead and reheat slowly when ready to serve. The flavors will continue to develop and meld beautifully.

Storage Instructions

Store leftover red cabbage in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat slowly on the stovetop or microwave, adding a splash of apple juice to moisten.

This dish also freezes beautifully! Let it cool completely, then portion it into freezer-safe containers and freeze it for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this dish less sweet?

Absolutely! Reduce the brown sugar to 2-3 tablespoons, or substitute with honey or maple syrup.

My cabbage is too firm/too soft - what happened?

Cooking times can vary depending on how thinly you slice the cabbage. Check for tenderness at the 6-hour mark on low (3 hours on high) and adjust cooking time accordingly.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, just make sure your slow cooker is large enough to accommodate the extra volume.

More Cozy Side Dish Recipes

If you love this Slow Cooker Red Cabbage, be sure to try these next:

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About Jeri Walker

Jeri Walker is the founder and CEO of Winding Creek Ranch. She is a self-taught home cook who specializes in easy family-friendly recipes. Jeri is also a food writer who regularly writes articles for MSN. Read about Jeri's journey and connect with her on your favorite social media channels!