Dirty Cabbage
Dirty Cabbage
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Cabbage is having its moment in 2026 — and this Dirty Cabbage recipe is exactly why. Ground beef, smoked sausage, and chicken tenderloin all cooked together with the Cajun holy trinity of celery, onion, and green pepper, then tossed with shredded cabbage and simmered in beef consommé until everything is tender and loaded with flavor. It's hearty, bold, low carb comfort food that'll have everyone coming back for seconds.
🥬 The Proteins
- 12 oz smoked sausage
- ¾ lb chicken tenderloin
- 1 lb lean ground beef
🥄 The Liquids & Paste
- 1 can beef consommé
- ½ can water
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- Olive oil for cooking
🫑 The Veggies
- 1 medium green cabbage, shredded
- ¾ cup celery, diced
- ¾ cup onion, diced
- ¾ cup green pepper, diced
🧂 The Seasoning
- 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp Killer Hogs TX seasoning
- Salt, pepper, garlic to taste
How to Make It
- Heat a large cast iron pan over medium heat. Add a couple teaspoons of olive oil.
- Brown the smoked sausage until nicely caramelized. Remove and set aside.
- Immediately add the diced chicken tenderloin to the same pan. Cook until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Add the ground beef. Cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Once the beef is browned, add the celery, onion, and green pepper. Cook until vegetables are tender.
- Add the shredded cabbage to the pan and stir to combine.
- Pour in the beef consommé and water. Cover and cook until the cabbage is tender.
- Remove the lid — the liquid should be reduced by about half.
- Add the tomato paste in the center and fold everything together until well combined.
- Add the sausage and chicken back to the pan. Stir to incorporate.
- Taste and season with salt, pepper, and garlic as needed. Serve hot!
- Brown each protein separately and in order — sausage first, then chicken, then beef. Each one leaves flavor in the pan that builds on the next.
- Don't drain the fat after the beef — those drippings season the vegetables and cabbage. Only drain if there's an excessive amount.
- Shred the cabbage yourself rather than buying pre-shredded — it holds up better during the cook and gives you more control over the texture.
- The tomato paste fold-in at the end is the key step — let it cook into the mixture for a couple of minutes before serving for the deepest flavor.
- This is a one pan meal that gets even better the next day — make a big batch and reheat all week.
- Serve it as a standalone meal or alongside cornbread for a complete Southern comfort food spread.
Why This is the Recipe of 2026
Dirty Cabbage is essentially a low-carb version of Dirty Rice — same bold, savory flavors but with shredded cabbage taking the place of rice. Cabbage is the breakout ingredient of 2026, and for good reason — it's affordable, incredibly versatile, and takes on seasoning beautifully. With three proteins and a rich consommé base, this version from Big Daddy's BBQ Pit takes the trending recipe to the next level.
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