This quick and easy cabbage salad makes a perfect, healthy side to any meal. A simple mix of sweet cabbage, carrots and radicchio tossed with a simple zesty and sweet dressing, this cabbage salad pairs well with seafood, chicken, beef, and so much more!

A large bowl of cabbage salad with a wooden spoon on a dark wooden background.

I love the taste of freshly picked, sweet farmer’s market cabbage in the spring and fall when it’s most abundant! It’s just so delicious as is, without even having to cook it. It’s fiber-rich and packed with nutrients like Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and Folate which are all essential for our bodies.

Cabbage is also the perfect choice when thinking about making a quick side to your meal. Chop it up and toss it with a delicious dressing and you’ve got yourself an outstanding companion to any main! I love to make this salad when I’m serving seafood, beef, poultry, pork, sandwiches, burgers, and SO much more. You can pair it with anything on the grill or bring it to a cookout or party. It works well as a quick and healthy side dish when you don’t have much time to cook.

Since the cabbage is the star of the show in this recipe, it’s important that you pick the best and tastiest. You don’t want to be stuck with a bland old cabbage – read on to find out how to pick the best and tastiest one!

How to pick the best Cabbage for a Salad

It’s important to know how to pick the best and freshest produce when you’re shopping at the grocery store or farmer’s market. When picking a cabbage, look for a very solid, firm, and heavy cabbage. Don’t pick the biggest one, but rather a smaller or medium cabbage that’s relatively dense. The leaves should be bright green and crisp (not wilted).

Always check to make sure there is no bruising or dark spots. Pick a cabbage with not too many loose leaves hanging around it. Keep in mind cabbage tastes sweeter after a frost, so if you are shopping at the farmer’s market you can ask if the cabbage was picked after a frost if you are looking for a yummier and sweeter taste.

What ingredients do I need?

Ingredients for salad - shredded cabbage, shredded radicchio, and matchstick carrots

The list is quite simple – cabbage, carrots, and radicchio. The radicchio is optional as it’s sometimes tricky to find at the grocery store and the salad is just as delicious without it. I love to add radicchio when I can since it adds a wonderful boost of nutrition and some more color to this salad. If you have never tried radicchio keep in mind that it does have a strong bitter flavor on its own. In the salad, the flavors are balanced out by the sweet cabbage and dressing.

Bottle dijon mustard, honey, a lemon, garlic powder, olive oil, a salt grinder, and black pepper grinder on a countertop

For the dressing you’ll need:

Olive oil
Lemon juice
Garlic powder
Dijon mustard
Honey (or sugar)
Sea salt
Black pepper

How to make this easy cabbage salad

The salad is a breeze to make: first prepare all the veggies. Finely chop the cabbage, julienne the carrots (or grate on the coarse side of the box grater), and finely chop the radicchio (if using). Add all the veggies to a large salad bowl.

Combine all the dressing ingredients in a mason jar and shake vigorously to combine. Toss the salad with the dressing and serve immediately. If not serving right away, wait to add the dressing right before serving. Done! So easy and so flavorful. This one is definitely a favorite side salad to go with any meal.

What should I serve this Cabbage Salad with?

This cabbage salad is so easy to pair with tons of different dishes. It goes beautifully with…

Beef, pork, and lamb: meatballs, steak, meatloaf, pulled pork, ribs, sausages, burgers
Seafood: salmon, crab cakes, any type of white fish
Chicken: grilled, baked, pan-fried
Casseroles, tacos, sandwiches, shepherd’s pie, and so much more!

Other Recipes You Might Like

Caprese Avocado Salad with Balsamic Drizzle – an easy and healthy salad featuring the best sweet balsamic drizzle, mozzarella pearls, and juicy tomatoes.
Garlic Parmesan Roasted Asparagus – super quick & easy, perfectly seasoned healthy side

As always, let me know in the comments below how your cabbage salad came out and don’t forget to leave a rating! I always LOVE to hear from you 🙂 Bon Appetit!