Description

This Creamy Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Cabbage is a comforting and flavorful side dish featuring a whole cabbage slowly cooked to tender perfection in a garlic-infused butter and Parmesan cheese sauce. Enhanced with fresh lemon zest and juice, seasoned with salt and pepper, and topped with chopped parsley, this easy slow cooker recipe delivers rich, savory flavors with minimal effort, making it an ideal make-ahead vegetable dish for any meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables

1 medium cabbage, whole
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Chopped fresh parsley for topping

Dairy

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Other

1 lemon, juice and zest
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup vegetable broth

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Instructions

Prepare the cabbage: Remove the core from the cabbage carefully while keeping the leaves connected to allow the flavors to penetrate between the layers during cooking.
Melt butter and cook garlic: Slowly melt the unsalted butter in a small pot over low heat. Add the finely chopped garlic and cook gently for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
Mix in Parmesan and lemon: Remove the pot from heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest, creating a flavorful, creamy sauce.
Assemble in slow cooker: Place the whole cabbage into the slow cooker and drizzle the garlic-Parmesan-lemon butter mixture evenly over the cabbage, making sure to get the sauce between the cabbage leaves for full flavor absorption.
Season: Sprinkle the salt and black pepper evenly over the top of the cabbage to season thoroughly.
Add vegetable broth: Pour the vegetable broth around the sides of the cabbage inside the slow cooker; this will help steam and keep the cabbage moist during cooking.
Slow cook: Cover with the slow cooker lid and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or until the cabbage becomes soft and has soaked up all the delicious flavors.
Serve: Using care, gently lift the cabbage from the slow cooker and transfer it to a serving plate.
Garnish and present: Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley on top as a vibrant, fresh finishing touch before serving at the table.

Notes

Ensure the cabbage leaves remain attached when coring for best flavor distribution and presentation.
For a richer flavor, Parmesan cheese can be increased or substituted with Pecorino Romano.
Vegetable broth can be substituted with chicken broth for non-vegetarian variations.
Cooking time may vary depending on your slow cooker; check tenderness starting at 6 hours.
Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days and gently reheated.