17 Red Cabbage Recipes for Easy Meals

If you’ve only been cooking with green Napa or Savoy cabbage, you’re missing out! Nearly anything green cabbage can do, red (or purple) cabbage can do brighter and better. It’s a little more peppery and heartier than its green counterparts, making it perfect in crunchy slaws or cooking techniques like braising and even roasting. Expand your cabbage horizons and get inspired with our list of super-creative recipes for red cabbage.

Feeling like your tacos or salads are missing a little color? Red cabbage to the rescue! It can make any plate or dish look more exciting, like our bacon pea salad or soba noodle salad. It can make even the most retro of salads, such as mandarin orange chicken salad, seem new and fresh again. It’s great with a vinegar- or mayo-based dressings, so a red cabbage slaw pairs well with anything from chicken wings to fish tacos. We even like it all on its own (well, plus sweet and sour sauce).

And it isn’t just good for adding color to your plate: Red cabbage contains powerful compounds called anthocyanins that can turn anything a bright fuchsia hue. Use it to make cocktails pop, like in our color-changing margaritas, or as a natural dye, like in our Easter egg dye or for purple deviled eggs.

Still not convinced? Try replacing green cabbage for red in any of our stellar cabbage recipes. Want to add even more color to your meals? Check out all our veggie side dishes to take advantage of nature’s rainbow.