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This easy-to-make grilled cabbage is charred to perfection and enhanced with a delightful balsamic drizzle, making it the perfect accompaniment to any grilled meal.
Ever tried grilling cabbage? Well, it’s time you did. Turns out grilled cabbage is absolutely worth trying next time you fire up the grill! It comes out tender and charred, the flavor much sweeter than its raw self.
Drizzle it in a tangy balsamic sauce and it’s a tasty side dish for a grilled meal! Alex and I love roasted cabbage, so we figured we’d love grilled cabbage just as much. (The verdict: we do.) We kept reaching for it on a grilled veggie platter, so we knew we’d have to share the recipe here.
Ingredients for grilled cabbage
Grilled cabbage has a beautiful smoky, charred flavor. Because its texture can be dry, it’s best served tossed with a balsamic drizzle. You’ll need just salt and pepper for the cabbage itself, then a few ingredients for the quick drizzle. Here’s what you need:
- Cabbage: A small cabbage works best here since it makes for a nice size of wedges that fit on a plate. Avoid very large cabbages if possible.
- Olive oil: Olive oil is our cooking oil of choice for grilling.
- Balsamic vinegar, honey or maple syrup, and onion powder: These ingredients come together with olive oil to make a simple tangy drizzle.
How to grill cabbage (step by step)
There are only a few tricks to making grilled cabbage! Here are all the tips and tricks you need to know (or go to the full recipe):
Step 1: Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (375 to 450°F). Remove the tough outer leaves of the cabbage and cut it into wedges, leaving the stem intact. Place the wedges on a baking sheet. Rub both sides with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Step 2: Place the cabbage directly on the grill grates. Grill 5 to 6 minutes per side (10 to 12 minutes total) until softened, turning once.
Step 3: Transfer to a serving plate or platter. Drizzle with balsamic sauce (or another sauce option) and serve.
Sauce ideas for grilled cabbage
This base recipe for grilled cabbage has simple sauce made of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, a little honey or maple syrup. But you can use all sorts of other types of sauces to drizzle after grilling! Here are some other ideas:
- Lemon butter sauce: Drizzle with lemon butter sauce or lemon garlic butter sauce.
- Creamy dressing: It’s fun and tasty to drizzle a grilled cabbage wedge in homemade ranch dressing, Green Goddess dressing or Caesar dressing (who wouldn’t love that?).
- Chimichurri: Zesty chimichurri sauce is a fun way serve cabbage.
- Teriyaki: Brush with homemade teriyaki sauce before and after grilling for a punch of flavor.
- BBQ sauce: Brush on homemade BBQ sauce or mustard BBQ sauce before and after grilling.
Make it a meal
There are lots of main dishes that pair well with this grilled cabbage! When Alex and I served it, it was a great side dish to grilled salmon. Here are a few of our favorite grilled dinner ideas to try:
- Chicken: Add grilled chicken or grilled chicken thighs.
- Seafood: Serve with grilled shrimp, grilled shrimp skewers, grilled scallops, grilled salmon, grilled tilapia, or grilled tuna steak.
- Vegetarian or vegan mains: This grilled tofu is unexpectedly delicious, or try a portobello burger or veggie burger.
- Grilled vegetables: Add grilled side dishes like grilled corn, grilled green beans, grilled potatoes in foil, grilled peppers and onion, and more.
- Grilled desserts: End the meal with grilled pineapple or grilled apples and ice cream!
Dietary notes
This grilled cabbage recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Frequently asked questions
Firm green cabbage or Napa cabbage are both good choices. Look for a head with tightly packed leaves and a vibrant green color. We like grilling a small cabbage to make nicely sized wedges.
You have options! You can cut the cabbage into wedges or steaks (thick slices). Wedges take a bit longer to cook, while steaks offer a more dramatic presentation.
Here are some tips for achieving perfectly tender cabbage:
Don’t overcook: Cabbage cooks quickly. Aim for slightly charred edges and tender leaves.
Cut it thick enough: Thicker cuts like wedges or steaks will hold their shape better and resist becoming mushy.
Pre-cook (optional): Briefly blanch or steam the cabbage before grilling for a head start on tenderness.
The possibilities are endless! Here are some ideas:
Marinades: Marinate cabbage wedges in olive oil, vinegar, herbs, and spices before grilling.
Seasonings: Brush or toss the cabbage with your favorite spices like smoked paprika, garlic powder, or chili flakes before grilling.
Sauces: Drizzle the grilled cabbage with a flavorful sauce like balsamic glaze, chimichurri, or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Grilled Cabbage
This easy-to-make grilled cabbage is charred to perfection and enhanced with a delightful balsamic drizzle, making it the perfect accompaniment to any grilled meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: Vegetables
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 small green cabbage
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (and fresh ground pepper)
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (375 to 450°F).
- Remove the tough outer leaves of the cabbage. Cut it into 8 wedges (or more if the cabbage is large), leaving the stem intact.
- Place the wedges on a baking sheet. Rub both sides with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Sprinkle on ¼ teaspoon kosher salt and fresh ground pepper on one side of the wedges, then flip them and sprinkle the remaining ¼ teaspoon kosher salt on the other side.
- Place the cabbage directly on the grill grates. Grill 5 to 6 minutes per side (10 to 12 minutes total) until softened, turning once.
- In a small bowl, mix together the balsamic vinegar, the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, honey or maple syrup, and onion powder. Drizzle the mixture over the wedges and serve.
Notes
Optional sauces for grilled cabbage: Drizzle with lemon butter sauce or lemon garlic butter sauce. Try a creamy dressing like homemade ranch dressing, Green Goddess dressing or Caesar dressing. Zesty chimichurri sauce is a fun way serve cabbage.
Optional marinades: Brush on homemade teriyaki sauce, homemade BBQ sauce or mustard BBQ sauce before and after grilling.
What is onion powder?
You can find it in the spice section at your grocery store.
Let us know if you have any questions!