Roasted cabbage steaks with bacon

Roasted cabbage steaks with bacon and a garlicky, creamy mustard sauce. Perfection! This delicious side dish goes perfectly with dishes like corned beef, roasted chicken and pork chops.

I once heard that to make the perfect steak you need to offset the fat with a little citrus and salt. So when you’re done grilling a steak, squeeze a little lemon over it and sprinkle with some flaky sea salt.

I’ve taken that concept and applied it to these roasted cabbage steaks. The citrus plays a role in the garlicky crème fraîche sauce and the salt comes from the crispy, smoky bacon. These two play so well together, guys…

Now let’s talk about the real star of the show: the cabbage.

What are cabbage steaks?

• Cabbage steaks are thick slices of cabbage that are roasted in the oven. These cabbage steaks take on an almost caramelized quality and the best part (the edges) gets nice and crispy and charred.

Ingredients needed

• Green cabbage – For this recipe I used 2 medium heads of cabbage. For even cooking, look for heads that are approximately the same size. You can also use red cabbage.
• Olive oil
• Bacon – For a vegetarian version of this recipe, feel free to omit the bacon.
• Creme fraiche – Or you can use sour cream. Sour cream is a little spicier and less thick, so you may want to use less lemon juice. Mayonnaise will also work.
• Lemon juice – Fresh is best here!
• Dijon mustard – Or replace it with whole grain mustard. Or see more suggestions below.
• Garlic – For best results, you want to make sure you get the garlic very finely grated. I use one microplane. However, if you don’t have one, you can also throw all the sauce ingredients into a saucepan blender or food processor and let it become nice and smooth there. You can also use half a teaspoon of garlic powder.
• Salt pepper

How to make cabbage steaks

1. Using a long, sharp knife, cut the cabbage into rounds of half a centimeter thick.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Divide the steaks over baking trays. I like to line my pan with parchment or aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
4. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 18 minutes. Turn and bake for another 18 minutes until cooked through and crispy.

Pro tip: The key to the best flavor is roasting the cabbage steaks over high heat. We also give them plenty of cooking time: 36 minutes in total with one turn in between. Make sure you drizzle them with a generous amount of olive oil and a good dose of salt and pepper before placing them in the oven as well.

Look at this beautytyres…

When they come out of the oven, dress them with as much or as little of the garlicky crème fraîche sauce as you like (you’ll have extra). And you can pile on as much bacon as you want… I often nibble on it as it cools, so I always make maybe an extra strip or two just for that reason.

Plus, Sammie the Labradoodle looks at me with those eyes… And she usually gets some bacon too.

Recipe variations

• Cheesy: For extra indulgence, you can sprinkle the cabbage steaks with grated mozzarella, Parmesan or Gruyere cheese halfway through the cooking time.
• Vegetarian: Make the recipe vegetarian by omitting the bacon. For a vegan option, replace the crème fraiche/sour cream with a dairy-free alternative.
• Sauce options: Try one of these 9+ delicious cabbage sauces in place of the mustard cream sauce.

How to Make Ahead and Store

For best results, store the cabbage steaks and sauce separately. Wrap the leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to five days. Heat in the oven at 350°F for 4-5 minutes, or until heated through. You can also microwave them for a minute, but they may lose some crispiness.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you cut cabbage into rounds?

I find it easiest to use a long knife for this recipe. Simply cut off the end of the stem, but leave the core intact. I like to place it on the end of the stem and then cut a thin slice from each side of the head. Then cut the cabbage into slices about 3/4 inch thick.

Can you freeze cabbage steaks?

I find that the cabbage loses a lot of texture when frozen. It is best to eat these fresh.

What can I do with too much cabbage?

Make these cabbage steaks! Or try one of the cabbage recipes below.

What you can serve with it

More cabbage recipes

More roasted vegetable recipes

Have you tried these fried cabbage steaks with bacon?

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This post was originally published in 2018. It was updated in 2024 to add new information and new photos. The recipe for cabbage steaks with bacon remains the same. To enjoy!