19 of our favourite red cabbage recipes for Christmas 2024
Red cabbage is a classic recipe for your Christmas dinner. Here are our favourites from over the years.
Red cabbage is an essential side dish on any Christmas dinner table. Gently cooked in a pan with apples and spices – such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg – the deep ruby colour of red cabbage recipes sings of the festive season.
The best bit? It's so easy to make. In fact, there’s very little prep involved (other than chopping), and then it’s a case of letting it cook slowly on the hob, checking and stirring to make sure it doesn’t stick.
Our cookery team has spent years developing and testing Christmas-worthy red cabbage recipes. These are some of their favourites...
This braised beetroot and cranberry red cabbage recipe is oh-so festive, the beetroot adds a sweet earthiness to the dish, while the cranberries add a pop of vibrant colour.
Butter and stock make a super glossy and tender fondant red cabbage recipe. You can make this dish a day in advance and reheat with a splash of wine to stop it drying out before you’re ready to serve.
This may sound unusual but our blackcurrant red cabbage uses the secret ingredient of Ribena (or any blackcurrant cordial), which adds extra sweetness and balances out the cider vinegar.
This spiced red cabbage recipe is cooked with apples, thyme and red wine vinegar with the addition of several tablespoons of redcurrant jelly.
For a truly show-stopping meal where red cabbage is the star we recommend braised guinea fowl with red cabbage and juniper shallots. Great for a dinner party in the lead up to the big day.
Read on for our most popular red cabbage recipes over the years...
Pomegranate braised red cabbage
Much of the work here is done by the hob, with only the occasional stir needed. A great side for boxing day banquets with roast ham or leftover turkey, too.
Recipe: Pomegranate braised red cabbage
Slow Cooker Red Cabbage
Using a crockpot makes this flavoursome side dish so simple and completely fuss-free. It’s the perfect pair to a Christmas dinner, wintery roast or game.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Red Cabbage
Tangy Braised Red Cabbage
Orange juice adds a subtle tang to this classic side. Swap the wholegrain mustard for Dijon, if you like.
Recipe: Tangy Braised Red Cabbage
Braised beetroot and cranberry cabbage
Beetroot adds a lovely sweetness to this classic red cabbage recipe. Once the initial softening is done, this dish is pretty hands-off, leaving you time to do other festive prep.
Roasted cabbage with blue cheese dressing
Roasting the red cabbage really brings out its earthy sweetness, while the moreish blue cheese dressing is one you'll want to repeat time and time again.
Mulled cranberry cabbage
If you’ve only ever had braised red cabbage, you’re missing out! This stir-fried recipe lets the cabbage retain a little bite, and it takes a fraction of the time to cook.
Recipe: Mulled cranberry cabbage
Braised red cabbage
This red cabbage recipe with apples is a perfect side dish for a winter meal, like this slow cooker sausage casserole.
Recipe: Braised red cabbage
Fondant red cabbage
The butter and stock mingle to make for a red cabbage dish that’s tender, glossy and seriously flavourful.
Recipe: Fondant red cabbage
Honey mustard red cabbage
Once the initial softening is done, this red cabbage recipe requires little attention, while the honey mustard adds a sweet piquant flavour.
Recipe: Honey mustard red cabbage
Braised red cabbage and beetroot
This delicious dish tastes even better made in advance as the ingredients have time to mingle. A must-have on any Boxing Day spread.
Recipe: Braised red cabbage and beetroot
Blackcurrant braised red cabbage
Braising red cabbage in Ribena adds sweetness to balance the cider vinegar – trust us, you'll love it!
Recipe: Blackcurrant braised red cabbage
Spiced red cabbage
This vibrant and colourful red cabbage recipe will steal the show at any festive dinner party.
Recipe: Spiced red cabbage
Red cabbage and grapefruit slaw
The easy red slaw is full of fresh, citrussy flavours and great for vegetarian and vegan guests, too.
Recipe: Red cabbage and grapefruit slaw
Braised guinea fowl with red cabbage and juniper shallots
Perfect for a dinner party, this braised guinea fowl dish is surprisingly easy to prepare.
Recipe: Braised guinea fowl with red cabbage and juniper shallots
Red cabbage timbales with mushroom stuffing
This is a great vegetarian recipe to use as an alternative to turkey on Christmas Day. Make double the quantity of stuffing and use it to also stuff your butter-roasted turkey.
Mulled red cabbage
This is a perfect Christmas side dish and is delicious with traditional roast turkey and trimmings.
Recipe: Mulled red cabbage
Red cabbage and beetroot salad
Opt for a salad with a difference, this colourful red cabbage dish has a delicious combination of flavours and textures.
Recipe: Red cabbage and beetroot salad
Red cabbage with pears
A tasty alternative Christmas dinner side dish recipe, using seasonal pears for added sweetness.
Recipe: Red cabbage with pears
Spiced red cabbage with apples
This special cabbage recipe is so delicious and sweet, it's a great way to get children to eat their Christmas veg!
Recipe: Spiced red cabbage with apples
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