This sweet and sour cabbage is the perfect easy yet tasty side dish. Red cabbage and a sweet apple are braised in sugar and vinegar, resulting in the most tender and delicious cabbage.

You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!

We love a good cabbage recipe in our house, and I’ve been searching for ways to add it to our meal rotation. I’m always drawn to red cabbage for its vibrant color, and this vinegar coleslaw is no exception. So when I made this sweet and sour cabbage, I was in love.

Inspired by German sweet-and-sour cabbage recipes I saw online, I made this recipe, and I’ve been hooked ever since. There aren’t many ingredients, and all you’ll need is a little patience while the cabbage takes time to braise on the stovetop.

Be sure to try my Instant Pot Cabbage or Creamed Cabbage with Sausage recipes too.

A Quick Look at the Ingredients

Ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Red cabbage - Choose a firm head with vibrant color; chop into large chunks so they hold their shape during the long braise.
Sweet apple - Fuji or Honeycrisp work beautifully here, adding natural sweetness that balances the vinegar's tang.
Apple cider vinegar - This provides the signature tangy flavor that makes the dish "sour."
Granulated sugar - Balances the acidity and helps create that perfect sweet-and-sour flavor profile.
Kosher salt and ground black pepper- Season to your taste.
Ground Allspice - I use a ton of allspice in my cooking, and I just had to add it to this dish. Feel free to sub with another warm spice, like cinnamon or nutmeg.

How to make sweet and sour cabbage

Step 1: First, gather your ingredients. Chop your head of cabbage into large chunks and chop a sweet apple. I like to use a Fuji apple in this recipe.

Step 2: Place the chopped cabbage, apple, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, black pepper, and allspice in a large heavy-bottomed pot. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and place it over medium-low heat.

cabbage, apples, salt, and pepper inside pot

Step 3: Allow the cabbage to cook over medium-low heat for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes, until the cabbage is tender enough for your liking. Serve and enjoy 🙂

What to add to sweet and sour cabbage?

This cabbage is perfect as is, but you can make it your own by adding other ingredients.

Try adding bacon or sausage for a smoky, meaty flavor addition.
Red pepper flakes, if you like things a little spicy.
Add carrots for a cabbage-and-carrot combo.
Use green cabbage if that’s what you have on hand.

Tanya's Top Tips about Sweet and Sour Cabbage

Use a heavy-bottomed pot with a tight-fitting lid so the liquid stays inside the pot. Cabbage will release a good bit of liquid while it cooks.
Keep the heat on medium-low and stir about every 20 minutes.

What should I serve this cabbage with?

Tanya