Southern smothered cabbage is cooked with onions, garlic, spices, and smoked turkey meat. This is one of my all-time favorite Southern side dishes!
Hey cousins! It’s been a minute since I’ve shared a smothered recipe. Since you all have loved my past smothered recipes, such as my smothered chicken, smothered sausage & potatoes, and my smothered oxtails, I’ve decided to share another smothered recipe—my Southern smothered cabbage with smoked turkey! Unlike many of my other smothered recipes, this one doesn’t include gravy.
This smothered cabbage recipe is easy and uses minimal ingredients. All you need is cabbage, onions, garlic, and the perfect mix of spices, all cooked in a flavorful broth. In this recipe, I use Creole spices. I use smoked turkey, which is packed with flavor, so I don’t need to add a whole lot of seasoning to this Southern cabbage dish.
It’s one simple cabbage recipe that’s not time-consuming. Cooking the turkey takes the longest! And it’s foolproof. I hope you all give it a try! Let’s jump into how to make Southern smothered cabbage with smoked turkey.
What is Smothered Cabbage?
The first thing we should talk about is what exactly smothered cabbage is. As I said before, I don’t make this recipe with any gravy, so what’s it smothered with? Besides being smothered with zesty Creole flavor, the “smothered” in this recipe actually refers to how it’s cooked.
Smothered cabbage is cooked on the stovetop in a covered pot over medium heat with little liquid. This cooking method is called smothering. It’s basically the stovetop equivalent to braising and is a very common cooking method in Louisiana cuisines like Cajun and Creole. You can smother all sorts of meats and vegetables, but it doesn’t always require gravy.
Ingredients for Smothered Cabbage with Smoked Turkey
Now, some of the ingredients you need might be obvious–cabbage and smoked turkey, right? It couldn’t be easier than that! So here’s what y’all need to make this stupid-simple Southern-smothered cabbage recipe.
- Cabbage: I use savoy cabbage, which I prefer as the best cooking cabbage. You could also use green cabbage or red cabbage if you prefer (check out my Cajun fried cabbage recipe, where I use both!).
- Smoked Turkey: For this recipe, I use turkey wings. More on that preference in a bit!
- Onion & garlic: These aromatics are crucial for flavor since we don’t use excessive seasonings. Chopped onions add a crunch to the smothered cabbage, and garlic amplifies the flavor.
- Spices: I like to keep it simple—I only use two! I use Creole seasoning and black pepper. My favorite Creole seasonings are my very own Rosamae Down by the Bayou Creole seasoning and the classic Tony Chachere’s Creole seasoning.
That’s it! That’s all you need! Now, of course, we can talk about variations—I’ll get into that a little bit later. But as far as simple cabbage recipes go, I think five ingredients is pretty dang simple!
Cooking Smoked Turkey for Smothered Cabbage
The second most important ingredient for Southern smothered cabbage is the meat. In this case, flavorful smoked turkey! I use one large smoked turkey wing. To cook the smoked turkey perfectly, simply place it in a deep pot and fill it with just enough water to cover the wing (about 4 cups). Bring the pot to a boil and cook until the turkey is nice and tender, which takes me about 30-35 minutes.
Now, here’s the important part. When that smoked turkey is done, very little liquid will be left in the pot. This is what we want—and don’t you DARE toss it out! We want every last drop of flavor in that itty bitty little liquid! So keep it in the pot and set it aside; we’ll come back to it!
Take the turkey out of the pot and chop it up into bite-sized chunks, and then it’s ready. You’ve completed the most challenging step of this recipe!
What’s the best part of the turkey to use?
As I said, I’m using a smoked turkey wing, so that’s what I would recommend using for smothered cabbage. However, a smoked turkey leg would work just as well. You could even use turkey necks if you wanted!
Can I cook the smoked turkey in broth?
Yes, you could absolutely use broth instead of water. Now, the smoked turkey makes its own kind of broth when it cooks down—that’s what we’re going to use for all that flavor. However, you can find turkey broth or stock at Walmart (or your local grocery store) or Better than Bouillon on Amazon.
How to Make Smothered Cabbage with Smoked Turkey
Once you’ve got the smoked turkey cooked, it’s smooth sailing! I swear, this smothered cabbage recipe couldn’t be easier. It’s a delicious one-pot recipe that’s perfect as a main or a side. Here are quick steps to making Southern smothered cabbage with smoked turkey:
- Cook the turkey wings in a large pot with water for 30-35 minutes until tender. Save that flavorful broth!
- Cut up the turkey meat and set it aside. Dice up an onion (you can use a yellow or white onion—a medium-sized one will be enough!) and garlic cloves.
- Prep the cabbage. I remove the outer leaves and then chop the rest of the cabbage into large chunks. Separate the cabbage leaves and clean them with water and white vinegar to get rid of all that hidden dirt and grime.
- Toss the onions and garlic into that flavorful turkey broth and cook on medium-high heat until translucent. We’re infusing all those yummy aromatics with that broth.
- Next, toss in the cabbage. If it doesn’t all fit on the first try, that’s fine! Stir, cover, and let it cook down a bit before adding the rest of the cabbage.
- Toss in the smoked turkey meat, Creole seasoning, and black pepper. Stir well, then cover and cook over medium heat until nice and tender.
FAQs, Recipe Variations, and Video Tutorial for Smothered Cabbage with Turkey
With so many classic Southern cabbage recipes in the world, there are plenty of ways to spice this smothered cabbage recipe up to your liking. Y’all know I will always suggest following the recipe as written for the best results. I even have an easy-to-follow video tutorial on my YouTube channel. So, here are some frequently asked questions and variations for Southern-style smothered cabbage!
What other meats can I use in smothered cabbage?
The possibilities are endless, my friend! Ham hocks are probably the most popular option, as well as cabbage and bacon or sausage. Combine cabbage and collard greens with bacon for a more soulful combination. Corned beef and cabbage are perfect any time of year, especially in the Springtime around St. Patrick’s Day!
How long should I cook smothered cabbage?
The cooking time isn’t exact because it depends on your tastes. Do you prefer your cabbage to be more tender? You’ll cook it for longer. Like a bit of crunch in your cabbage? Cook it for less time. Typically, the perfect smothered cabbage takes 20-30 minutes to cook. The longer the flavors have to meld together, the better! So, check the doneness of your cabbage around 15 minutes, see if it’s to your liking, and go from there.
What else can I add to smothered cabbage for flavor?
This smothered cabbage recipe is already pretty dang flavorful, with smoked turkey and a simple Cajun seasoning. But if you want to amp up the flavors, it totally depends on your tastes!
Add more seasonings and spices to your smothered cabbage, like:
- Onion powder and garlic powder.
- Seasoning salt (a great alternative if you don’t have Cajun seasoning on hand).
- Red pepper flakes for some heat.
- Rosamae Greens seasoning (which also hits differently on some old-fashioned collards!).
Thinking vegetables? You can kick smothered cabbage up a notch with:
- Bell peppers (to add a sweet crunch).
- Jalapeno peppers (to add a kick of heat).
- Potatoes (soak up all that flavor into tender chunks).
Ready to get cookin’? You can make this easy smothered cabbage with smoked turkey anytime. Whether it’s for a holiday side dish or just a quick dinner to toss together, Southern smothered cabbage is a hit. It’s cheap, delicious, and ready fast!
If you make this recipe, leave a comment below and let me know what you think! Print out the recipe using the recipe card with the exact ingredient measurements and directions. Don’t forget to follow along with all things Rosie and I Heart Recipes by following me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and check out all my cookbooks! I just released a brand new cookbook, Super Soul Food with Cousin Rosie, with many recipes you can’t find anywhere else.
Southern Smothered Cabbage with Smoked Turkey
Ingredients
- 1 large head of savoy cabbage, or regular green cabbage chopped
- 1 large smoked turkey wing
- 4 cups water
- 1 medium yellow or white onion chopped
- 2 1/2 tsp creole seasoning
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 4-6 cloves garlic
Instructions
To Make the Smoked Turkey Wing:
- Place the smoked turkey into a large pot and pour in 4 cups of water.
- Bring the water to a boil and cook until the turkey is tender. At this time, there will be very little liquid in the pot, but do not get rid of it (it's flavor, baby!!).
- Next, turn the heat off and remove the turkey from the pot.
- Chop the turkey meat into bite-sized pieces, then set to the side.
To Make the Smothered Cabbage:
- Place the pot back on the stovetop and turn the heat to medium-high.
- Add in the onions, and garlic then cook until they are translucent.
- Start adding in the cabbage, and stir. Cover the pot and let the cabbage cook down some.
- Toss in the smoked turkey meat and sprinkle in the creole seasoning and black pepper.
- Stir everything, then place the lid on the pot and let the cabbage cook down. (You can start to check doneness after about 15 minutes, and stir occasionally).
- Cook the cabbage until it's nice and tender to your liking.
- Serve and enjoy!
Looks good, can’t wait to try it. I love your recipes, they have made me a better cook.
Thanks so much for trying my recipes!! XOXO
This sounds so delicious anxious to try this lovely dish yummy in my tummy
I am going to prepare this for dinner tomorrow. It looks delicious.
I have been waiting for recipes…..
Thanks
which creole seasoning do y’all like?
Tony Chachere. XOXO
I love your channel. I used a few of your recipe ideas on Turkey Day this past November. Using this one for NYE Dinner tonight! I’ll upload a picture to show you the finished product. Happy NYE all
I use a similar recipe. I replace the smoked turkey with thick sliced bacon ,and add sliced onion and red pepper. For a larger family or gathering, I add cooked flat noodles to the dish.
Is this the frozen smoked turkey that is down from the frozen ham hocks? Do I need to take the skin off the turkey? This recipe sounds very good. This week my husband brought home ahead Of cabbage instead of lettuce . Would like to try it. I do have 2 Hanmhocks.. Out store is running out of turkey wings
Yes, the smoked turkey wing that’s by the ham hocks.
Hey Rosie, this dish looks delicious. Is this a one dish meal or can I serve a side meat. If so what would you recommend
Hi Ronnie! It can be a side or main dish… I like serving it with smothered chicken, rice, and cornbread. 🙂
That look amazing and I can’t wait to try it my family just will love it
Love this recipe I usually add bacon and just to add a little twist I added rice vinegar to kick up the flavor
Sista gal, you had me looking a PRO in the kitchen with this recipe! Do ya hear me? Folks asking who cooked the cabbage and I proudly boasted “ME!!” I usually don’t come back to leave reviews but I had to come back to give you your props!
Yassssss!!!! So glad to help my luv!!
Hi Rosie! I made your smothered cabbage and candied yams yesterday. My husband enjoyed both side dishes. We had leftovers and I fixed the leftovers for my husband’s lunch. Instead of eating it for lunch, he ate it for breakfast and then came home on his lunch break to finish off the rest. I really appreciate the video tutorials you include with your recipes. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for trying my recipe Aretha! XOXO
Love cabbage and these look great!
I’m exited to try this recipe!
I love cabbage, and this looks and sounds amazing!
Cabbage is always a good choice!
Hey Rudolph won’t you guide my sleigh.
This is one of my favorite recipes make! So so good.
I love cabbage. This recipe is easy to make and more importantly delicious!
Literally one of my favorite dishes! Now I want cabbage!
Made this today and OMG it was soooooooo good!!!
This is great and simple to fix. I added cubed yellow potatoes to it with cornbread on the side to make it a little more filling.
Hi Rosie,
Can I make this cabbage in a cast iron skillet?
Hi Marvella! If it’s well seasoned, or enamel coated you should be fine. 🙂
Both my boy’s and my husband love this dish it’s super tasteful!! Thanks for sharing
I made this dish as a side for Thanksgiving and it was delicious. Thank you making me look like I know what I’m doing in the kitchen.
Hi Rosie,
Do you have a slowcooker recipe for smothered cabbage?
Hi Alicia! No, I don’t have one posted.
Does anyone else prepare a side with this meal? I typically make a sweet cornbread.
I made it so many times. Very delicious
This was so good I made it two days in a row!.. My kids raved about it with their greasy faces both times lol. I NEVER thought I would be able to make cabbage, but thank you for making it so easy for us Cousin!!…God Bless you…After that boost of confidence, I am following it up with your sweet potato pie that’s baking in the oven now(I’ll write a rave review on that next lol)-I know by now I cannot go wrong with your recipes!!
Love,
DeSean(She/Her)
All the family loved this!
THANKS, WILL LOVE TO MAKE SMOTHERED CABBAGE … VEGGIE STYLE. APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.
How do I find smoked turkey wings or legs. I live in New York City. Are they available already smoked. I don’t remember seeing in super markets although I never looked for it.
Hello there! Yes, supermarkets usually have them. Local butchers as well.
Is there any other meat that can be used? Turkey wings are only available (in my area) during the holidays.
You can use any smoked meat.
I was food shopping today. Needed ham hocks to cook soup beans. The price for 2 medium-sized hocks was over $8. Yep, hard times indeed. (No I couldn’t to buy em.)
Next time out I’ll make this recipe If I can buy a few turkey wings. I had forgotten all about this dish…I it. Thanks.
Yeah the prices are ridiculously high now. 🙁
Very good dish! My family loves it.
Delicious!. I cooked it exactly as you said to do, and it is awesome. Thank you for sharing your recipes. God bless you and your loved ones. Take care❤️
Sooooo good.. thanks for the recipe