Home › Recipes › Viral Recipes

VIRAL CABBAGE BOIL 🥬

Snejana Andreeva - 1

By Snejana Andreeva

on Oct 20, 2025

Add as a preferred source on Google - 2

I’m about to convince you to eat an entire head of cabbage with this viral cabbage boil recipe. That’s right! A head of green cabbage is transformed into tender, almost meaty, succulent layers when slow-roasted and seasoned like a seafood boil : tons of paprika, garlic, butter, and more. Your daily recommended serving of soluble fiber, vegetables, and greens: all taken care of ✅! I love a humble veggie: potatoes, cabbage, you name it. This recipe takes an unassuming, affordable vegetable and takes it from underdog to crown jewel 👑 of the dinner table.

A close-up of a roasted yellow squash with a crispy, charred exterior sits on a white plate lined with newspaper, with a bakery display blurred in the background. - 3

Key Takeaways

  • Slow-roasting transforms cabbage into a tender, flavorful dish seasoned like a seafood boil.

  • For variations, consider cabbage steaks, different seasonings, or make it vegan with plant-based butter.

  • This recipe is easy to prepare ahead of time and can be reheated just before serving.

  • Key Takeaways

  • Why You’ll Love the Viral Cabbage Boil Recipe

  • Ingredients

  • Nonna’s Tip 🥬

  • Viral Cabbage Boil Variations and Substitutions

  • Best Served With

  • Similar Recipes

  • Common Questions

  • Viral Cabbage Boil Recipe

Why You’ll Love the Viral Cabbage Boil Recipe

You’ve never eaten a cabbage like this before 🥬! This melt-in-your-mouth , tender cabbage, bursting with garlicky flavor, and dripping in spicy juices , will be your new favorite vegetable dish. This recipe marries all the best elements of a seafood boil—loads of flavorful, punchy spices and butter—with the magic of slow-cooking, for an irresistible result.

Ingredients

🥬 Cabbage: I use a small head of green cabbage. Keep in mind, the larger your head of cabbage the longer your cooking time.

🧈 Butter: Don’t skimp here! You’re going to fill the center of your whole cabbage with butter to let it melt in for max flavor.

🧄 Garlic: I stuff the center with a whole bulb garlic with the top chopped off to let in the butter. Then, I squeeze it out at the end for garlicky goodness in each bite.

🌶️ Seasonings: I use a blend of salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder to create a well seasoned rub. You can also use Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper seasoning, or Old Bay for authentic seafood boil flavor.

🫒 Olive oil: Coat the outside of your cabbage with olive oil for beautiful color and flavor. This also gives the seasonings something to hold on to.

💧 Broth: I add chicken broth to the bottom of the baking dish for an extra flavor boost. It also helps create steam and keep your cabbage moist.

Nonna’s Tip 🥬

Use an apple corer! It works wonders to core your cabbage if you struggle with a knife.

A hand holds a roasted cabbage leaf above a plate with a whole, charred roasted cabbage, garnished with herbs. A fork and knife rest on the plate, and sunlight highlights the food. - 4

Viral Cabbage Boil Variations and Substitutions

  1. Slice into cabbage steaks and season generously on both sides. This will also take less time to cook, so its great for when you’re in a rush.
  2. In addition to the seasonings in the recipe, you can also use Cajun seasoning or Old Bay seasoning to give your cabbage authentic seafood boil 🦐 flavor.
  3. Add potatoes, sausage, onions, or corn to the pan to create a full seafood boil vibe.
  4. Make this recipe vegan by swapping butter for your favorite plant-based 🧈🌱 kind and using veggie broth instead of chicken broth.
  5. For a spicy kick, season with a pinch of cayenne pepper 🌶️.

Best Served With

  • Seafood Boil-inspired proteins like Grilled Seafood 🦐 and andouille sausage.
  • Cevapi or Turkey Cevapi for a little Balkan flair.
  • A slice of crusty No Knead Bread or a Baguette 🥖 to soak up all the juices.
  • A side of Mexican Street Corn 🌽 and Parmesan Smashed Potatoes .

Similar Recipes

A white bowl filled with a Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls mixture of cooked cabbage and ground meat, garnished with chopped herbs, sits on a light surface with a wooden spoon resting on the rim. A beige cloth is partially visible beside the bowl. - 5 A white bowl filled with a Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls mixture of cooked cabbage and ground meat, garnished with chopped herbs, sits on a light surface with a wooden spoon resting on the rim. A beige cloth is partially visible beside the bowl. - 6

Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls

1 hr

A Whole Roasted Cauliflower head with a golden-brown crust, sprinkled with herbs, rests elegantly on a wooden cutting board. - 7 A Whole Roasted Cauliflower head with a golden-brown crust, sprinkled with herbs, rests elegantly on a wooden cutting board. - 8

Whole Roasted Cauliflower

35 mins

A close-up of a baked dish featuring caramelized onions garnished with fresh parsley. The onions are golden brown and neatly arranged in a circular, rustic baking dish. Sunlight highlights the vibrant colors and crispy texture of the onions. - 9 A close-up of a baked dish featuring caramelized onions garnished with fresh parsley. The onions are golden brown and neatly arranged in a circular, rustic baking dish. Sunlight highlights the vibrant colors and crispy texture of the onions. - 10

Stuffed Onions

1 hr 15 mins

A plate of Roasted Delicata Squash and yellow pattypan squash, topped with chopped walnuts, fresh herbs, and a drizzle of honey. A honey dipper rests on the plate. - 11 A plate of Roasted Delicata Squash and yellow pattypan squash, topped with chopped walnuts, fresh herbs, and a drizzle of honey. A honey dipper rests on the plate. - 12

Roasted Delicata Squash

40 mins

Common Questions

At 375F (190C), it typically takes about 2 hours, depending on size. You’ll know it’s done when the center is fork-tender and the edges are crisp.

Cabbage releases a lot of water, however covering it with foil will create more steam to keep it moist. About halfway through roasting, you could baste it with some of the juices to redistribute moisture and flavor.

Yes, certainly! You can make this cabbage recipe ahead and reheat in the oven at 375F (190C) for about 15 minutes just before serving.

It can be! Swap the butter for your favorite vegan brand and use veggie broth instead of chicken broth for a vegan take.

Make sure it’s completely cooled, then place in an airtight container. It will keep in the fridge for about 3 days. I wouldn’t recommend freezing it, as cooked cabbage can change texture when thawed and become mushy.

A New Recipe Card!!

  1. Check off each step in instructions!
  2. Add ingredients to your shopping list!

Video

Equipment

  • ▢ Nakiri Knife
  • ▢ Cutting Board
  • ▢ Baking Dish
  • ▢ Liquid Measuring Cup
  • ▢ Aluminum Foil

Ingredients

  • ▢ 1 small cabbage
  • ▢ 1 drizzle olive oil
  • ▢ onion power , to taste
  • ▢ butter and herb seasoning (kinder) , to taste
  • ▢ paprika , to taste
  • ▢ old bay seasoning , to taste
  • ▢ ½ stick butter
  • ▢ 1 bulb garlic , top cut off
  • ▢ ½ cup broth

Instructions

  • ▢ Preheat the oven to 375F (190C).
  • ▢ Take one small cabbage and remove 2-3 of the outer leaves that hang loose.
  • ▢ Next, cut the bottom where the core is and remove the core by cutting carefully around it with a knife.
  • ▢ Tip: An apple corer works wonders if you struggle with a knife.
  • ▢ Drizzle the inside and outside of the cabbage with olive oil and massage it all around.
  • ▢ Season very well.
  • ▢ Note: All seasonings are to taste and any can be used such as: lemon pepper, Cajun, or Old Bay.
  • ▢ Add two knobs of butter to the bottom.
  • ▢ Add a bulb of garlic with the top cut off.
  • ▢ Then, add two more knobs of butter on top.
  • ▢ Place two long pieces of foil on the bottom (cross-cross) and wrap it making sure add water or broth to the bottom of the foil so the cabbage can steam. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 375F (190C) until soft (about 2 hours).
  • ▢ Squeeze out the bulb of garlic into the cabbage. Serve and enjoy!

Nonna’s Notes

  • Pro tip: Use an apple corer for easy removal of the core.
  • Raise the steaks: Slice into cabbage steaks and season generously on both sides to pre-portion your servings. This will also take less time to cook, so it’s great for when you’re in a rush.
  • Seasonings: Use Cajun seasoning or Old Bay seasoning to give your cabbage authentic seafood boil flavor.
  • Add-ins: Add potatoes, sausage, onions, or corn to the pan to create a full seafood boil vibe.
  • Vegan option: Make this recipe vegan by swapping butter for your favorite plant-based kind and using veggie broth instead of chicken broth.
  • Spice it up: For a spicy kick, season with a pinch of cayenne pepper.

My Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Viral Cabbage Boil

Equipment

  • Nakiri Knife
  • Cutting Board
  • Baking Dish
  • Liquid Measuring Cup
  • Aluminum Foil

Ingredients

  • 1 small cabbage
  • 1 drizzle olive oil
  • onion power to taste
  • butter and herb seasoning (kinder) to taste
  • paprika to taste
  • old bay seasoning to taste
  • ½ stick butter
  • 1 bulb garlic top cut off
  • ½ cup broth

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375F (190C).
  • Take one small cabbage and remove 2-3 of the outer leaves that hang loose.
  • Next, cut the bottom where the core is and remove the core by cutting carefully around it with a knife.
  • Tip: An apple corer works wonders if you struggle with a knife.
  • Drizzle the inside and outside of the cabbage with olive oil and massage it all around.
  • Season very well.
  • Note: All seasonings are to taste and any can be used such as: lemon pepper, Cajun, or Old Bay.
  • Add two knobs of butter to the bottom.
  • Add a bulb of garlic with the top cut off.
  • Then, add two more knobs of butter on top.
  • Place two long pieces of foil on the bottom (cross-cross) and wrap it making sure add water or broth to the bottom of the foil so the cabbage can steam. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 375F (190C) until soft (about 2 hours).
  • Squeeze out the bulb of garlic into the cabbage. Serve and enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • Pro tip: Use an apple corer for easy removal of the core.
  • Raise the steaks: Slice into cabbage steaks and season generously on both sides to pre-portion your servings. This will also take less time to cook, so it’s great for when you’re in a rush.
  • Seasonings: Use Cajun seasoning or Old Bay seasoning to give your cabbage authentic seafood boil flavor.
  • Add-ins: Add potatoes, sausage, onions, or corn to the pan to create a full seafood boil vibe.
  • Vegan option: Make this recipe vegan by swapping butter for your favorite plant-based kind and using veggie broth instead of chicken broth.
  • Spice it up: For a spicy kick, season with a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Nutrition

Viral Cabbage Boil https://themodernnonna.com/viral-cabbage-boil/ October 20, 2025