• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Urban Bliss Life logo

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • contact
  • shop
  • cookbooks
  • resources
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • 30-Minute Meals
    • Air Fryer
    • Appetizers
    • Asian
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Cookies
    • Dairy-free
    • Dessert
    • Filipino
    • Holiday
    • Instant Pot
    • Main Dish
    • Pasta
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Seafood
    • Vegan
    • Cocktails
    • Dog Treats
  • Wine
    • Food & Wine Pairing
    • Oregon Wine
    • Washington
    • California
  • Travel
    • Travel Gear
    • Travel Tips
    • Hotels
    • USA travel
    • Europe
    • Japan
    • Canada
    • Asia
  • Restaurants
  • About
    • Work With Us
    • Press
    • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Wine
  • Travel
  • Cookbooks
  • About
  • Work With Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Side Dishes » Instant Pot Cabbage

    Published: February 27, 2023 / Updated: March 16, 2023 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Instant Pot Cabbage

    52 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    bowl of cooked instant pot cabbage with thyme sprigs with title text that reads Instant Pot Cabbage.
    bowl of cooked instant pot cabbage with thyme sprigs, forks, and salt and pepper in a bowl with title text that reads Instant Pot Cabbage.
    bowl of cooked instant pot cabbage with thyme sprigs with title text that reads Instant Pot Cabbage.

    If you're looking for a fast and easy vegetable side dish, try this Instant Pot Cabbage. It's perfect for any weeknight dinner, or for your Irish St. Patrick's Day celebration.

    bowl of cooked instant pot cabbage with thyme sprigs.

    Cabbage is such an underrated, versatile vegetable.

    You can slice it up raw and enjoy it in salads, like this CPK Copycat Thai Crunch Salad or this Summer Slaw.

    Toss it into Vegetarian Soba Noodles or Chicken Yakisoba for added texture, vitamins, and minerals.

    Cabbage is also a key ingredient in our family's Filipino lumpia recipe.

    And for those who appreciate the cruciferous vegetable, it's a delightful side dish all on its own. It just needs a little seasoning and some butter, and you've got a vegetarian side dish perfect for dinner tonight! And thanks to the electric pressure cooker, you can make this Instant Pot Cabbage recipe in under 30 minutes.

    Jump to:
    • 🌟 Why this recipe works
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • ✅ Step-by-step instructions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Substitutions, additions, and recipe FAQs
    • 🍽 Serving ideas
    • 🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
    • More delicious recipes
    • Instant Pot Cabbage

    🌟 Why this recipe works

    bowl of cooked instant pot cabbage with thyme sprigs, forks, and salt and pepper in a bowl.

    The cabbage is the star of this easy side dish. If you like cabbage, you'll love this recipe!

    • Fast: you can make this from start to finish in under 30 minutes.
    • Easy: the recipe is easy-to-follow. making it a great recipe for Instant Pot beginners too!
    • Customize your crunch: you can adjust the pressure cooking time to make this cabbage the way you want it.
    • Versatile: see the Serving Ideas section for different ways to enjoy this buttery cabbage dish!
    • Nutritious: this dish is an easy way to enjoy the health benefits of cabbage, which is known for being packed with Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and known for increasing heart health and lowering blood pressure.

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    bowls of ingredients to make Instant Pot Cabbage.

    Cabbage - You'll need a small green cabbage -- the whole head of cabbage. Be sure to slice off the stem base and remove the outer leaves, then cut into wedges. Give the cabbage a rinse before drying it and adding to the Instant Pot.

    Butter - Use unsalted butter. If you want to make this a vegan cabbage dish, you can use your favorite dairy-free vegan butter.

    Garlic - fresh minced garlic cloves add a lot of flavor to this dish. You can use less if you prefer, but 6 cloves adds a nice amount of flavor!

    Vegetable stock - you can use homemade stock or store-bought stock. And if you don't need this dish to be completely vegetarian, you can substitute chicken stock. You can even mix and match for flavor: a cup of chicken broth and a cup vegetable broth, as long as you have 2 cups of liquid total.

    ✅ Step-by-step instructions

    Full instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here's a visual step-by-step guide to help you make this easy recipe!

    three pats of butter melting in an instant pot.
    minced garlic and diced onions sauteing in an instant pot.
    cooked cabbage leaves and garlic in an instant pot.
    1. Press Sauté mode on the Instant Pot. Add the butter.

    2. Once the butter is melted, add the garlic and onions. Stir and sauté about 1 minute, just until the garlic and onions are soft and fragrant.

    3. Add the thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper.

    pouring vegetable broth into an instant pot with cabbage leaves.
    instant pot pressure cooker set to pressure cook for 5 minutes.

    4. Pour in the vegetable stock.

    5. Add the cabbage leaves and gently push down to submerge in the liquid (cabbage does not need to be fully submerged). Secure the Instant Pot lid, ensuring the pressure release valve is in the SEALING mode. Select PRESSURE COOK or MANUAL, set the temperature to high pressure, and set the time to 5 minutes.

    The Instant Pot will take a few minutes to come to full pressure. Once the pressure cooking is complete, carefully do a Quick Release.

    Once all pressure is released and the release valve pin has fallen all the way down, carefully twist and open the lid. If there is excess liquid, carefully strain out the liquid, reserving the cabbage. Serve immediately.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Substitutions, additions, and recipe FAQs

    bowl of cooked instant pot cabbage with thyme sprigs, forks, and salt & pepper.
    • Substitute Italian seasoning, rosemary, or oregano for the thyme.
    • Use your favorite dairy-free vegan butter to make vegan Instant Pot cabbage.
    • Substitute chicken stock or chicken broth for vegetable stock if you don't need this to be a vegetarian dish.
    • Add in your choice of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for a slight kick to the flavor profile.
    • Want to add more vegetables? Feel free to add sliced red bell pepper, green beans, green bell pepper, red cabbage, or red onions to the dish. Just be sure to reduce the same amount of chopped cabbage as you put in of the new vegetables.
    How do you cook cabbage without it getting mushy?

    First, be sure you are using fresh cabbage. The older the cabbage, the mushier it may get. Second, watch your pressure cooking time. If you want crisper cabbage, start with high pressure for 3 minutes.

    Why does my cooked cabbage smell?

    You may have overcooked the cabbage. If cooked for too long, sulfur compounds are released and the cabbage starts to smell funky (well, funkier than normal cabbage smell).

    What's the best way to store cooked cabbage?

    Store cabbage in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three to five days. But it's best to eat cooked cabbage soon after you cook it, as the texture and taste start to deteriorate within a day or two even with proper storage.

    🍽 Serving ideas

    bowl of cooked instant pot cabbage with thyme sprigs and a fork.

    This delicious side dish is great to serve with Instant Pot Pork Chops and Rice, Instant Pot Pork Roast, or Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb.

    Serving an Irish feast for St. Patrick's Day? Include this cabbage dish alongside Instant Pot Irish Lamb Stew, Guinness Brown Bread, and Green Velvet Cake. Throw in some Shamrock Shakes for good measure! ( I know, the mint milkshakes are not really Irish, but they're fun!).

    🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment

    bowl of cooked instant pot cabbage with thyme sprigs in front of an Instant Pot pressure cooker.

    Ready to make this recipe? You'll need an electric pressure cooker -- any brand will do!

    We use our Instant Pot Duo 8-quart electric pressure cooker and our Ninja Foodi XL Deluxe Pressure Cooker to make this dish.

    More delicious recipes

    So many good recipes to try, so little time! Here are a few we think you might like to try next:

    • glass of bourbon lemonade on a bright colorful napkin with title text overlay.
      Bourbon Lemonade
    • bowl of charred corn salad.
      Charred Corn Salad
    • strawberry spritz with orange and strawberry garnish.
      Strawberry Spritz
    • gold buddha with title text overlay.
      Phuket Thailand

    Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

    bowl of cooked instant pot cabbage with thyme sprigs and forks.

    Instant Pot Cabbage

    5 from 5 votes
    Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 5 minutes mins
    Come to Pressure Time: 10 minutes mins
    Total Time: 20 minutes mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    This is a delicious vegetable side dish that goes well with any meal and can be made in less than 20 minutes.
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 102kcal
    PRINT PIN RATE 🤍 SAVESaved!

    Equipment

    • 1 Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or other electric pressure cooker

    Ingredients

    • 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 6 garlic cloves, minced
    • ½ cup diced yellow onion
    • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 2 cups vegetable stock
    • 1 small cabbage head, with the end cut off, the outer leaves removed, and the cabbage head cut into small wedges
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions

    • Press Sauté mode on the Instant Pot. Add the butter.
    • Once the butter is melted, add the garlic and onions. Stir and sauté about 1 minute, just until the garlic and onions are soft and fragrant.
    • Add the dried thyme, salt, and pepper.
    • Pour in the vegetable stock.
    • Add the cabbage leaves and gently push down to submerge in the liquid (cabbage does not need to be fully submerged)
    • Secure the Instant Pot lid, ensuring the pressure release valve is in the SEALING mode. Select PRESSURE COOK or MANUAL, set the temperature to high pressure, and set the time to 5 minutes.
    • The Instant Pot will take a few minutes to come to pressure. Once the pressure cooking is complete, carefully do a Quick Release.
    • Once all pressure is released and the release valve pin has fallen all the way down, carefully twist and open the lid. If there is excess liquid, carefully strain out the liquid, reserving the cabbage. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    Makes 6 servings
    Cook time notes: At 5 minutes, the cabbage is softened but still has a little crunch. If you prefer crispier cabbage, cut the pressure cook time to 3 minutes. If you prefer softer cabbage, increase the pressure cook time to 6 or 7 minutes. 
    Storage: store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 or 3 days. 
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 730mg | Potassium: 292mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 494IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

    « Dutch Oven Brisket
    Easter Egg Cheesecake »
    52 shares

    Get recipes, travel tips, deals and more delivered to your inbox!

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Sara Welch says

        March 07, 2023 at 1:12 am

        5 stars
        Another great recipe for my Instant Pot! This was excellent! Can't wait to serve again for St. Patricks's Day!

        Reply
      2. Mindy says

        March 06, 2023 at 9:21 pm

        5 stars
        Easy and delicious way to make cabbage. I served it with some baked chicken and rice.

        Reply
      3. Carrie Robinson says

        March 06, 2023 at 7:56 pm

        5 stars
        Such a great idea for a side dish! :) I love that this recipe is made in the instant pot.

        Reply
      4. Anjali says

        March 06, 2023 at 6:29 pm

        5 stars
        This made such an easy and healthy side dish for our dinner tonight!! The cabbage cooked perfectly in the instant pot!

        Reply
      5 from 5 votes (1 rating without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating





      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

      Primary Sidebar

      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! If you're looking for easy, fast, delicious family-friendly recipes, wine pairings, and travel tips, you've come to the right place! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

      More about me →

      Sign up for free meal plans

      meal plans button

      Featured In

      Urban Bliss Life Press Featured In graphic

      Spring Recipes

      • Half of a quiche in a pie pan with salmon, asparagus, and leeks.
        Salmon Quiche
      • strawberry crinkle cookies on a plate
        Strawberry Crinkle Cookies
      • dill pickle potato salad
        Dill Pickle Potato Salad
      • bowl of cucumber dill salad.
        Cucumber Dill Salad

      More Spring Recipes ➡️

      New Recipes

      • glass of bourbon lemonade on a bright colorful napkin with title text overlay.
        Bourbon Lemonade
      • bowl of charred corn salad.
        Charred Corn Salad
      • strawberry spritz with orange and strawberry garnish.
        Strawberry Spritz
      • Greek lamb chops on a white plate with herbs and lemon slices.
        Greek Lamb Chops

      New Travel Tips

      • gold buddha with title text overlay.
        Phuket Thailand
      • bar at Carlotto restaurant in NYC New York.
        Carlotto NYC
      • Sahara Desert camp and camel trek with title text overlay.
        Sahara Desert in Morocco Travel Guide
      • moroccan chicken skewers, moroccan pancakes, colorful plates of moroccan food, and chicken tagine with title text overlay.
        Traditional Moroccan Food

      Visit our Sister Sites

      Fifty cups of coffee logo
      • Twitter
      • Facebook
      • Pinterest
      • Instagram
      • YouTube

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      logos of media outlets that have featured urban bliss life.

      Recipes

      • 30-Minute Meals
      • 5-Ingredients
      • Air Fryer
      • Asian
      • Dairy-Free
      • Pasta
      • Seafood

      About

      • About
      • FAQs
      • Privacy & Accessibility Policy
      • Terms & Conditions

      Contact

      • Contact
      • Work with me

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
      Copyright © 2025 Urban Bliss Life

      All rights reserved. You may not use any photos or recipes on this site for any personal or commercial use without my express written permission.

      Rate This Recipe

      Your vote:




      A rating is required
      A name is required
      An email is required

      Recipe Ratings without Comment

      Something went wrong. Please try again.