Viral Cabbage Boil

If you’ve ever thought cabbage was boring, this recipe is here to change your mind. Between my Garlic Parmesan Cabbage and this Viral Cabbage Boil, you’ll never look at cabbage the same way again.

It’s hearty, flavorful, and so easy to make that it deserves a spot in your regular dinner rotation.

What makes this cabbage boil so special is how it transforms a simple head of cabbage into something bold and crave-worthy.

The cabbage soaks up all the butter, garlic, spices, and broth as it bakes, leaving you with tender, melt-in-your-mouth layers bursting with flavor.

And the best part? It’s keto-friendly, quick to prep, and a total crowd-pleaser.

Think of it as a seafood boil, but with cabbage as the star.

If you want that full boil experience, you can serve it with sausage, eggs, potatoes, and corn on the side.

It’s a fantastic alternative if you don’t eat seafood, but it still gives you those same comforting flavors you’d expect from a traditional boil.

And if you’re someone who loves extra sauce (like me!), you can easily double up the butter and seasoning mix to make a drizzle that ties everything together.

Ingredients You’ll Need For the Cabbage Boil

•  Cabbage: The star of the show! Cabbage soaks up all that buttery, garlicky flavor while becoming perfectly tender. It gives the dish its “boil-style” layers without any seafood required
• Salted Butter: Adds rich, savory flavor and helps caramelize the edges of the cabbage as it cooks. The salt in the butter enhances every seasoning in the mix.
• Onion Powder: Brings a warm, subtle sweetness and depth like sautéed onions, but without the chopping or tears.
• Garlic Powder: Adds a mellow, roasted garlic flavor that pairs beautifully with the minced garlic for a double hit of garlicky goodness.
• Paprika: Gives the dish a gentle smokiness and a pop of color. It ties in perfectly with the buttery base for that signature “boil” flavor.
• Old Bay Seasoning: The classic seafood boil seasoning! It adds a zesty, savory blend of celery salt, pepper, and spice that makes this recipe taste like a Southern boil, with zero seafood needed.
• Dark Brown Sugar: Just a touch of sweetness to balance the salty, spicy, and tangy notes. It helps caramelize the cabbage and deepen the overall flavor.
• Chopped Parsley: Adds freshness, color, and a light herby note that brightens up the rich, buttery sauce.
• Minced Garlic: Gives that bold, aromatic punch that garlic lovers crave. When cooked with butter, it infuses the entire dish with mouthwatering flavor.
• Lemon Juice: A quick squeeze adds brightness and acidity, cutting through the richness and bringing balance to every bite.
• Chicken Broth: Keeps the cabbage tender and juicy while creating that buttery “boil” sauce at the bottom of the pan, perfect for spooning over your serving.

Instructions

1. Preheat

Preheat your oven to 375°F.

2. Prepare the Cabbage

Clean the cabbage well, then use a sharp knife to carefully cut out the stem. You’ll want to carve out a deep hole in the center so the cabbage looks like a bowl.

This will be where all that buttery, garlicky goodness melts down into the layers.

3. Season Generously

Sprinkle the entire cabbage (inside and out) with onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, Old Bay seasoning, brown sugar, and minced garlic.

Don’t be shy, the seasoning is where the magic happens! Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice inside the hole for brightness.

4. Add Butter

Drop the butter right into the hollowed center of the cabbage. As it bakes, it will melt down into the leaves, creating that rich, savory flavor.

5. Wrap & Bake

Wrap the cabbage tightly in aluminum foil so it steams while baking. Place it in the oven and let it bake for 1 hour.

6. Add Broth & Finish

After an hour, unwrap the foil slightly, pour in the chicken broth, then reseal and bake for another 20 minutes or until the cabbage is tender enough to pull apart easily.

7. Make Extra Sauce (Optional)

If you like your boil saucy, melt additional butter with the same seasonings you used on the cabbage. Drizzle it over the cabbage and any sides you’re serving.

8. Serve & Enjoy

Slice or pull apart the cabbage and serve hot. Pair it with boiled sausage, eggs, potatoes, and corn for a full boil experience, or keep it simple with just the cabbage as the star of the show.

Storage and Reheating

How to Store

2. Freezer

Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Follow the same oven steps above, but bake for about 30–35 minutes to warm all the way through.

Tips for Reheating

In The Oven:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Place your leftover cabbage boil in an oven-safe dish.
3. Add a splash of chicken broth or a pat of butter to keep everything moist and flavorful.
4. Cover with foil to lock in the steam.
5. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until heated through.
6. For a little extra color or crisp edges, uncover and bake another 5 minutes at the end.

Viral Cabbage Boil

What makes this cabbage boil so special is how it transforms a simple head of cabbage into something bold and crave-worthy. The cabbage soaks up all the butter, garlic, spices, and broth as it bakes, leaving you with tender, melt-in-your-mouth layers bursting with flavor. 

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Servings 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 35 minutes minutes

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 head of cabbage
• ▢ ½ stick salted butter
• ▢ 1 tsp onion powder
• ▢ 1 tsp garlic powder
• ▢ 1 tsp paprika
• ▢ 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
• ▢ 1 tsp dark brown sugar
• ▢ 1 tsp chopped parsley
• ▢ 1 tsp minced garlic
• ▢ Squeeze of lemon juice
• ▢ ½ cup chicken broth

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 375°F.
• Prepare the cabbage – Clean the cabbage well, then use a sharp knife to carefully cut out the stem. You’ll want to carve out a deep hole in the center so the cabbage looks like a bowl. This will be where all that buttery, garlicky goodness melts down into the layers.
• Season generously – Sprinkle the entire cabbage (inside and out) with onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, Old Bay seasoning, brown sugar, and minced garlic. Don’t be shy—seasoning is where the magic happens! Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice inside the hole for brightness.
• Add butter – Drop the butter right into the hollowed center of the cabbage. As it bakes, it will melt down into the leaves, creating that rich, savory flavor.
• Wrap & bake – Wrap the cabbage tightly in aluminum foil so it steams while baking. Place it in the oven and let it bake for 1 hour.
• Add broth & finish – After an hour, unwrap the foil slightly, pour in the chicken broth, then reseal and bake for another 20 minutes or until the cabbage is tender enough to pull apart easily.
• Make extra sauce (optional) – If you like your boil saucy, melt additional butter with the same seasonings you used on the cabbage. Drizzle it over the cabbage and any sides you’re serving.
• Serve & enjoy – Slice or pull apart the cabbage and serve hot. Pair it with boiled sausage, eggs, potatoes, and corn for a full boil experience, or keep it simple with just the cabbage as the star of the show.

Video

@cookingwithdestiny_

Viral cabbage boil 🥬🔥

♬ original sound – Destiny Symone