Crock Pot Cabbage and Ham

This easy crock pot cabbage and ham recipe takes simple ingredients, and elevates them to something truly special! Chunks of ham and cabbage are slowly cooked in a flavorful broth with celery salt, garlic, onion, and a dash of apple cider vinegar.

I know that cabbage may not always seem exciting, but to me, it's a filling, versatile, and inexpensive ingredient that goes well with so many flavors. And, it lasts for quite a while in the fridge!

If you've already tried my recipe for cabbage and sausage soup and are looking for another delicious way to enjoy this hearty vegetable, then this easy crock pot recipe is just what you need! You only need about 15 minutes for prep, and the crock pot does the rest for you.

And even better, this recipe goes so far beyond simply cooking the ham and cabbage together. This dish is layered with aromatic flavors from onion, apple (adding sweetness!), tons of garlic, celery salt, and the game-changer ingredient - apple cider vinegar! This adds a subtle tanginess that brings out the flavors of the other ingredients.

Jump to:

• Recipe ingredients
• Step by step photos
• Tips and tricks
• Recipe variations
• Storage and reheating
• Recipe FAQs
• What to serve with ham and cabbage:

Recipe ingredients

Ingredient notes

• Ham: you need cooked (ready-to-eat) ham, not fresh (uncooked) ham. Here's a guide on the different types of ham.

• Broth: any kind of broth will work, such as chicken, beef or vegetable.

• Apple: you can use any kind you have on hand. An apple with both tartness and sweetness would be nice, such as Honeycrisp or Braeburn.

• Butter: the butter is optional, but it adds a nice richness to the dish.

Step by step photos

Here's how to make the crock pot cabbage and ham, step by step. If you would like to view a brief slideshow of these steps, check out my ham and cabbage in a crock pot web story!

1. The first step is to prep the cabbage. You will need about ½ of a medium cabbage (1 ½ pounds). So, first remove the tough outer leaves. Then carefully cut out the core. Chop the cabbage into chunks of about 1 - 1 ½ inches (2.5 - 3.4 cm) in size.

2. Next, we will prep the remaining produce. So, chop the apple and onion, and finely chop the garlic. Add the onion, apple, and garlic to the crock pot, along with the cabbage.

3. We are now ready to move on to the ham! All you need to do is to chop it into bite-sized pieces, and then add the ham pieces into the crock pot.

4. Now let's add the broth, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and celery salt to the crock pot. Give everything a good stir to combine the liquids and seasonings with the other ingredients.

After stirring, press the ingredients back down into the crock pot. Do this gently, you are just settling the ingredients back down after stirring, not crunching or mushing anything!

5. And, right before cooking, dot the top with pats of the butter, if using (this step is optional). Cover the crock pot and cook on high for 4 hours, or low for 8.

6. Once the cook time is over, remove the lid and give everything a good stir. Taste the ham and cabbage, and add a little more salt and/or pepper if you think it needs it.

Tips and tricks

• This recipe makes quite a lot, so you need a crock pot or slow cooker with a 6-quart capacity, or slightly larger.

• When chopping the cabbage, be mindful to keep the pieces on the chunky side! If you cut them too small, the cabbage may become too soft after cooking.

• When you are gently pressing down the ingredients after stirring (before cooking), don't worry if the ingredients aren't fully submerged in the liquid. This is normal, as the cabbage will release quite a bit of liquid as it cooks.

• During the cook time, avoid lifting the lid, because this will slow down the cook time due to the escaping steam.

Recipe variations

There are so many ways you can customize this recipe for crock pot cabbage and ham. Try one of these recipe variations:

• Replace a portion of the cabbage with other cut vegetables, such as potatoes, cauliflower, celery, and/or carrots.

• Try adding additional seasonings such as dried thyme, coriander, red pepper flakes, and/or fennel seeds.

• If you don't have celery salt, you can substitute ¼ teaspoon ground celery seeds, plus an extra ¼ teaspoon salt.

Storage and reheating

• This ham and cabbage crock pot recipe is easy to store, and it reheats very well! Store it in the fridge in a covered container (even in the crock pot insert itself!). It will keep well in the fridge for 3 - 4 days.

• The easiest way to reheat it is to microwave individual servings in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover the bowl with a paper plate to catch any spatter, and microwave on high in 1 - 2 minute increments, stirring in between, until heated through.

• Alternatively, you can reheat the ham and cabbage in a saucepan set over low heat, stirring occasionally. Be sure to add some of the broth to the pot to help the ham and cabbage heat more evenly.

• You can also freeze the ham and cabbage in an airtight container. Be sure the food is cooled down completely before freezing it. And, don't forget to leave some head room to the container to allow the liquids to expand as they freeze.

• The cabbage will keep well in the freezer for 2 - 3 months. When ready to eat, allow the ham and cabbage to thaw in the fridge overnight, before reheating it as described above.

Recipe FAQs

What to serve with ham and cabbage:

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