A delicious and easy recipe for Slow Cooker Red Cabbage, the ultimate side dish for Christmas Day!

Red Cabbage is one of my favourite side dishes to serve up on Christmas Day. It’s vibrant, hearty and absolutely perfect for this time of year.
The only issue with cooking it is space. When you already have so much cooking on the hob or stove top and in the oven you may run out of space for any more dishes.
Instead, I dig out my trusty slow cooker and cook it in that.We absolutely love using the slow cooker at this time of year and if you want to see what else we use our slow cooker for at Christmas, then check out our post on 15 Ways To Use Your Slow Cooker This Christmas!

How To Cook Red Cabbage in the Slow Cooker
This recipe really couldn’t be any easier. Simply add:
- Red Cabbage
- Onion
- Apple
to a slow cooker and then mix in:
- Apple Juice
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Brown Sugar
- All Spice
Cook on High for 3 hours or Low for 5 hours, stirring a few times.
When it’s ready I like to squeeze in some lemon juice as this helps to maintain that vibrant purple colour. Then it’s ready to serve alongside your Christmas Dinner!
Can I Make This Recipe In Advance?
Absolutely!
If you really want to get ahead of the game on Christmas Day then you can make this red cabbage recipe in advance and free it.
After cooking, allow it to cool and then add to freezer bags or an airtight container and then freeze.
Simply defrost overnight in the fridge and cook on the hob to reheat. Et voila! The perfect side dish with non of the fuss!

If you’re looking for other Christmas recipes that can be made in advance, then you’ll love my Get Ahead Christmas Recipes Collection!
I’ll show you how to take the hard work out of Christmas by preparing your Christmas Gravy, Roast Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes and much more in advance!

Slow cookers aren’t just for Christmas though! We use ours at least weekly during the winter months and we’ve heaps of Slow Cooker Recipes that will not only see you through the holiday season but beyond!
For more instructions check out my video showing exactly how I made this recipes and all ingredient measurements are in the recipe card below.

If you try any of my #FussFreeXmas recipes please do leave a comment below and share your pictures with me on Instagram. I always love to see your creations!
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Slow Cooker Red Cabbage
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 5 minutes
Yield: 8 1x
Category: Side Dish
Method: Slow Cooker
Cuisine: Christmas
Description
A delicious and easy recipe for Slow Cooker Red Cabbage, the ultimate side dish for Christmas Day!
Ingredients
- 1 head red cabbage
- 1 onion
- 2 apples
- 100ml apple juice
- 2 tablespoon cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp All Spice
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- Slice the cabbage and add to the slow cooker.
- Finely dice the onion and add that too.
- Finally dice the apple, keeping the skin on and add to the slow cooker.
- Pour in the apple juice and cider vinegar.
- Add the brown sugar and All Spice and mix well until all the ingredients are well combined.
- Cook on High for 3 hours or Low for 5 hours, mixing a couple times to ensure all the flavours are evenly distributed.
- When cooked, turn off the heat and squeeze on some lemon juice to help maintain the colour of the cabbage. Serve immediately.
Notes
This recipe can be made in advance and frozen. Allow it to cool and then add to freezer bags and containers and then freeze. Defrost overnight in the fridge and cook on the hob to reheat.
If you liked this recipe you may also enjoy:
One Pan Christmas Morning Breakfast

gbgm game says
This Slow Cooker Red Cabbage recipe looks amazing! I love how simple it is to prepare and that it can be made ahead of time. Can’t wait to try it with our family dinner this week! Thanks for sharing!
Vicky says
Hope the whole family enjoy it, thanks for your comment.
tv express Apk says
I tried this Slow Cooker Red Cabbage recipe, and it was absolutely delicious! The flavors blend so well, and it was so easy to make. My kids even enjoyed it, which is a win in my book! Thanks for sharing!
Vicky says
Thank you for this great comment, so glad you all enjoyed.
Lauren says
Is it also possible to cook this the day before and keep in the fridge, instead of the freezer? Or will it affect the color? Thanks!
Ciara Attwell says
Yes you can keep it in the fridge. If it loses a little colour just add a touch more apple cider vinegar or a squeeze of lemon. Hope you enjoy!
Kristyn says
Red cabbage is always a debate in our house over Christmas, the adults love it and the kids hate it. But this is the best recipe I’ve ever had, so thank you for sharing.
★★★★★
Vicky says
Enjoy! Happy Christmas.
Laura P says
Am m making this for Christmas again this year. Cooked it this way last year and it was a godsend being able to just put it in the slow cooker and forget about it! Also saves on cooker space which was a big help for sure.
★★★★★