Southern Dirty Cabbage with Beef and Smoked Sausage

Y’all, this Southern Dirty Cabbage is loaded with the kind of flavor that’ll have everybody coming back for seconds. Tender cabbage cooks down with juicy ground beef, smoky sausage, onions, peppers, and plenty of Cajun seasoning. It’s a simple Dutch Oven dinner that’s meaty, filling, a little smoky, and packed with Southern flavor.

Dirty Cabbage

Dirty Cabbage is a simple Southern dish that proves you don’t need special ingredients to put something downright delicious on the table.

Cabbage has been a staple in Southern kitchens for generations. It’s affordable, stretches a long way, and has a way of soaking up every bit of flavor you cook along with it. And this Dirty Cabbage recipe gives that humble head of cabbage a whole lot of personality.

Smoky sausage, seasoned ground beef, onions, peppers, garlic, and tender cabbage all cook together in one skillet. A little Cajun seasoning gives it just the right kick without making it too spicy.

It’s an easy, budget-friendly meal made with simple ingredients you can find at just about any grocery store.

Ingredients for Dirty Cabbage

• Green Cabbage: A whole head of cabbage sliced, will cook down significantly and release liquid.
• Smoked Sausage: Adds a hearty, smoky flavor to the dish.
• Ground Sirloin: Extra protein for an extra filling meal.
• Olive Oil: Prevents sticking to the pan.
• Yellow Onion: Chopped onions sweeten the dish as they cook.
• Celery Stalks: Adds a little extra crunch.
• Rotel Original Tomatoes: The perfect combo of tomatoes and green chilies.
• Salt: Salt brings all the flavors together.
• Garlic Cloves: Adds some kick to the dish.
• Cajun Seasoning: Homemade Cajun seasoning gives this one pot meal a nice smoky Cajun flavor.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Its tanginess adds balance to the meat and spice.
• Chicken Broth: The base liquid for helping everything cook together.

How to Make Dirty Cabbage

Cook the Meat: Grab your Dutch Oven and generously add olive oil to the pot. Heat up and add in the smoked sausage and ground sirloin. Cook over medium heat until browned, and cooked all the way through. 

Simmer the Veggies: Add in your onion, celery, and can of Rotel. Cook until your veggies are tender. Mince the garlic cloves and add your minced garlic and Cajun seasoning to the pot. Stir until well combined.

Fill the Pot with Cabbage: Add in all the cabbage, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, and salt. It’s gonna look like a lot of cabbage overflowing, but don’t worry it will cook down to a manageable amount.

Cook for 30 Minutes: Turn down the heat slightly, cover, and cook down until your cabbage is tender and shrunken up. This takes about 30 minutes.

Stir it All Together: Give everything a nice stir to get all the liquids combined. You can simmer for a few more minutes before serving if you need some of the liquid to evaporate, or you can ladle over rice, noodles or potatoes.

Ways to Serve:

• Serve as is in a bowl for a low carb meal.
• Pair it with a side of fluffy white rice.
• Add a few dill pickles or pickled onions for a little tang.
• Round out the meal with a simple green salad.
• Top it with a few dashes of hot sauce, or red pepper flakes if you like more heat.
• Serve it alongside Swamp Potatoes for another comforting meal.

How to Store Leftovers:

The best way to store leftovers is to let everything cool, then place the tender cabbage, smoked sausage, and veggies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

It tastes even better the next day, once the smoky Cajun flavor and bold seasoning have had even more time to come together. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat, adding a little oil if needed, and enjoy!

More One Pot Cajun Recipes

• Fried Dirty Cabbage with Noodles
• Easy Viral Swamp Potatoes
• Homemade Cajun Seasoning