ChilliFridgeToTable

What to Make With Chicken and Cabbage: 3 Easy Dinners

Half a head of cabbage tends to sit in the crisper drawer for a while. The good news is that it keeps for weeks and goes with chicken in almost any style. Slice it thin and raw for crunch, or cook it down until it's soft and sweet.

A few kitchen tips: slice the cabbage thin so it cooks evenly, salt it a little ahead to soften it for tacos, and add it near the end if you want it to keep some bite.

Got more in the fridge? Tell Chilly what you have, or snap a photo, and we'll pick a dinner for you. Free. → Find tonight's dinner

Tonight's picks

1. Chicken tacos with cabbage (one pan, kid-friendly)

Uses: chicken, cabbage, corn tortillas, garlic, oil

  1. Cook the chicken with garlic in oil until browned and cooked through.
  2. Slice the cabbage and toss it with a pinch of salt.
  3. Warm the tortillas in a dry pan until they bend.
  4. Fill and serve.

Keeps: chicken and cabbage keep separately for 3 days.

Full recipe

2. Ginger chicken with cabbage and noodles (one pan plus a pot)

Uses: chicken, cabbage, noodles, garlic, oil

  1. Boil the noodles in salted water until tender, then drain.
  2. Cook the chicken with the garlic and cabbage in oil until the chicken is cooked.
  3. Toss everything together with the noodles.
  4. Serve. A splash of soy sauce is nice if you have it.

Keeps: good cold for lunch the next day.

Full recipe

3. Jeera chicken with cabbage and potatoes (one skillet, Indian-style)

Uses: chicken, cabbage, potatoes, cumin seeds, garlic, turmeric

  1. Cut the potatoes and boil them until just tender.
  2. Warm the oil and let the cumin seeds crackle.
  3. Brown the chicken with the garlic until cooked through.
  4. Stir in the turmeric, cabbage, potatoes and salt, then cover until the cabbage softens.

Keeps: reheats well in a covered pan.

Full recipe

Each recipe serves 2. Double it for 4.

More chicken and cabbage dinners

Mexican chicken soup with cabbage and rice · Southern chicken with cabbage and potatoes · Ginger chicken with cabbage and potatoes

Make it with leftovers

Leftover or rotisserie chicken works in all three. Shred it and add it at the end so it just warms through.

Pantry staples you'll need

Oil, garlic and salt. Cumin seeds and turmeric for the jeera chicken. Noodles or tortillas, depending on the dinner.

No cabbage: use shredded lettuce for tacos, or spinach in the cooked dishes. Add spinach at the very end.

Picky-eater tweaks

  • Cook the cabbage longer. Soft cabbage tastes milder and sweeter.
  • Serve the cabbage on the side for kids who don't want things mixed.
  • Cabbage adds bulk and crunch.

Have something else in the fridge?

Try chicken and rice, chicken and potatoes, shredded chicken or just chicken. Or tell Chilly what you have.

FAQ

What goes well with chicken and cabbage?

Garlic, ginger, cumin, lime and soy sauce. Potatoes or noodles too.

What's the easiest chicken and cabbage dinner?

Tacos. Cook the chicken, slice the cabbage raw and warm the tortillas.

Can I use leftover chicken?

Yes. Add cooked chicken at the end and warm it through.

Is it a full meal?

With tortillas, noodles or potatoes, yes.

Is it kid-friendly?

Tacos are the safest bet. Let kids add their own toppings.

What if I only have red cabbage?

Use it the same way. It's a little firmer, so slice it thinner.