Sautéed Cabbage and Chicken is a quick and easy stir fry that is perfect for weeknight dinners. This one-pot meal of thinly sliced cabbage sautéed with tender chunks of green seasoning marinated chicken will please even the pickiest eater!
Chicken and Cabbage
Chicken and cabbage are an underrated culinary duo that I rely on when I don’t know what to make for dinner. These two ingredients work well in soups, stews, and stir fry because they are hearty, healthy, and absolutely delicious.
Why You’ll Love This Cabbage and Chicken Recipe
- Simple: The only ingredients essential to this recipe are cabbage and chicken. Everything else just enhances this easy dish.
- Affordable: Cabbage is one of the cheapest vegetables you can buy so I always have some on hand for a quick meal (like my fried rice and chow mein dishes). Chicken thighs are also budget-friendly so this meal is perfect for feeding a family.
- Healthy: This recipe is low-carb and Whole30-friendly. It does not include any non-compliant ingredients. Curious about my Whole30 journey? Check out my post The Whole30 and Me, to learn more.
Ingredients for Cabbage and Chicken
This is a no-brainer meal that comes together with just a few staple ingredients.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs: Cut the chicken into 1-inch chunks for even cooking.
- Cabbage: Thinly sliced.
- Tomatoes: Add them roughly chopped for color and a hint of sweetness.
- Salt: To taste.
- Tomato paste: This contributes concentrated tomato flavor.
- The New Primal’s Classic Marinade: You can use coconut aminos as a replacement.
Green Seasoning:
- Onion
- Garlic
- Chopped parsley
- Green onions
See recipe card for quantities.
What is Green Seasoning?
Green seasoning is a Caribbean marinade made with fresh herbs ground or blended together. It’s like sofrito or pesto but we put it in all of our meats.
How to Cook Cabbage and Chicken
Seasoning the Chicken
Sometimes I go rogue and skip green seasoning, but not when I am cooking cabbage. Cabbage can sometimes be bland if not seasoned properly, so when pairing it with chicken I add as much flavor to the chicken as possible at every stage of the cooking process.
First I marinate my chicken in freshly made green seasoning. I like to season my meat ahead and let it marinate in the green seasoning for at least 30 minutes before I am ready to cook, but really it’s not necessary.
I often blend the seasoning, add it to the meat, and let it sit on my counter while I prep my other ingredients. No matter how long you let your meat marinate it will still have a lot of flavor.
Adding more flavor to the Cabbage and Chicken
For an extra boost of flavor, I sometimes add a bit of cooking sauce like this Classic Marinade and Cooking Sauce from The New Primal or some coconut aminos. I add a few tablespoons of this sauce to the chicken and let it simmer until all the juices cook off.
Next, I add some chopped tomatoes and let them cook for a few minutes before adding the cabbage.
Add the Cabbage
Gradually add the cabbage to the pot (about two handfuls of cabbage at a time), and let it sauté for a minute or two before adding more cabbage.
After all the cabbage is added, I sauté everything together for an additional 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly. At this point, the cabbage is cooked but still a little crunchy which is exactly how I like my cabbage.
But my husband likes his cabbage a little softer, so I just remove the finished dish from the heat and cover the pot. This allows the cabbage to cook a bit more while I wrangle the kids for dinner. By the time we get settled at the dinner table, the cabbage will be perfectly cooked.
Storage
Once your leftovers have cooled down, add them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can reheat it over medium-low heat on the stovetop or pop it in the microwave.
Tips for the Best Cabbage and Chicken
- Amp up the flavor of the meat, so that when you add the cabbage you don’t need to add anything else.
- Your food does not need added sugar. Some cabbage and chicken stir fry recipes add sugar and before doing Whole30, I would add a bit of sugar to my chicken marinade. I have since stopped doing this.
- Cabbage can get soggy quickly. So try not to have any liquids or juices in the pan before adding the cabbage.
- The cooking time for the cabbage will vary depending on the size and type of cabbage. You may also like a firmer cabbage rather than soft so make adjustments as necessary.
- Add the cabbage in small batches. This is a great way to ensure that it mixes well with the chicken and pan juices.
Recipe Variations
- No Sauce: Even without adding the sauce or coconut amino, on its own this recipe is very tasty. If you don’t have The New Primal’s classic marinate or coconut amino, leave it out.
- Chicken: Although I prefer the taste of dark meat with cabbage, you can make this recipe using boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- Add-In: For an even more salty, savory goodness, add precooked bacon bits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicken and cabbage is a low-fat, low-calorie meal. Cabbage is packed with fiber and is excellent for gut health. Chicken thighs have essential vitamins like iron and zinc.
The best way to prepare cabbage is over medium-high heat on the stovetop in a skillet. Gradually add the shredded cabbage to the pan instead of dumping all of it into the pan so that the seasoning in the pan evenly coats each piece. Consistently stir it until you reach your desired texture.
Chicken and cabbage is a one-pot meal that doesn’t need a side dish. However, if you want to add something, I suggest serving it with steamed rice or another veggie like asparagus.
Sautéed Cabbage and Chicken
Equipment
- Food Processor
- Large Skillet
Ingredients
- 3 lbs of boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1 inch chunks
- 1 large cabbage thinly sliced
- 4 medium tomatoes roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons of The New Primal’s Classic Marinade or coconut aminos
Green Seasoning:
- 1/2 yellow onion
- 6 cloves of garlic
- 1/2 cup of chopped parsley
- 4 green onions
Instructions
- Make green seasoning by combining all the ingredients in a food processor and processing until smooth. Alternatively you can add the ingredients and 1/4 cup of water to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Add green seasoning, salt and tomato paste to the chicken and set aside (for best results marinade for at least 30 minutes but it is not necessary)
- Bring a large skillet up to temperature on medium-high heat
- When hot add the oil and let the oil come up to temperature then add the seasoned chicken
- Sauté the chicken until it fully cooks and the pink color is no longer there
- Then add The New Primal’s classic marinade and continue to cook for another 5 minutes
- Next add the chopped tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes
- Then add the sliced cabbage a few hand full at a time
- Stir the cabbage and chicken together and continue to sauté on medium-high heat
- Repeat steps 8-9 until all of the cabbage has been added to the dish
- Continue to sauté for about an additional 5 minutes, stirring constantly to ensure even cooking
- Remove from the heat and enjoy warm
Notes
Nutrition
The information listed in the recipe card is an estimate provided by an online nutrition tool. The tool evaluates ingredient names and amounts then makes calculations based on the number of servings listed for the recipe. It is provided as a general guideline and not as a precise calculation. For precise nutrition information please feel free to add the ingredients to your preferred nutrition calculator or consult a doctor or licensed nutritionist.
TeTe Says
Do you use Chinese sauce to season your chicken.. like what we use in Guyana?
Kirth Says
Another metemgee RECIPE in our meal plan rotation. Thanks for sharing.
Althea Brown Says
Yay. Glad you enjoyed it. Try the chicken and Bok Choy next. I’m sure you’ll love it. If you can’t get it don’t like chicken sub for spinach, even frozen spinach works.
Melissa Says
Hey Altee! Can i used dried parsley Instead of fresh for thE green sauce? Or does it impact the freshness?
Althea Brown Says
I would add the dried parsley directly to the chicken, then add the green seasoning. It won’t change the taste. Dried parsley is a staple in my pantry.