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Southern Dirty Cabbage

This Southern Dirty Cabbage is packed with flavor! Tender cabbage, ground beef, and smoky kielbasa sausage come together in a savory broth for a quick and easy one-pot meal that's perfect for busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients  

  • 1 medium head of cabbage chopped
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 package beef kielbasa sausage sliced
  • ½ yellow onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 packet Lipton Onion Soup Mix
  • 2 cups chicken broth divided
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • Cajun or Creole seasoning to taste
  • Onion powder to taste
  • Black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

Cook the sausage.

  1. In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the sliced beef kielbasa sausage until lightly browned. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Brown the ground beef.

  1. In the same pan, add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it into small crumbles as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.

Sauté the vegetables.

  1. Add the diced onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the ground beef. Sauté for about 3–5 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften and become fragrant.

Season everything.

  1. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, Cajun or Creole seasoning, onion powder, and black pepper. Mix until the ground beef and vegetables are well combined.

Build the flavor.

  1. Sprinkle the flour and Lipton Onion Soup Mix over the seasoned ground beef and vegetables. Stir until everything is well combined. Slowly pour in 1 cup of chicken broth, stirring to incorporate.

Add the cabbage.

  1. Add the chopped cabbage to the pot and stir to coat it in the seasoned beef mixture. Pour in the remaining 1 cup of chicken broth. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for approximately 15–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage has cooked down and reached your desired tenderness.

Add the sausage back in.

  1. Once the cabbage is tender, return the cooked kielbasa sausage to the pot. Stir everything together and allow it to simmer for another 3–5 minutes so all those delicious flavors come together.

Notes

  • Season to your liking: Cajun and Creole seasonings vary in salt and spice levels. Start with a little and adjust as needed, especially since the onion soup mix adds plenty of flavor.
  • Cabbage texture: For more tender cabbage, allow it to simmer a little longer. If you prefer cabbage with a slight bite, reduce the cooking time.
  • Broth: Start with 1 cup and gradually add more as needed. The cabbage releases moisture as it cooks, so you don't want to add too much liquid at once.
  • Make it a meal: This dirty cabbage is hearty enough to enjoy on its own, but it's also delicious served over white rice.