When you want a dinner that is healthy, comforting, and on the table in under 20 minutes, this Chicken Sausage and Cabbage Stir Fry is the ultimate answer.
It is the perfect balance of a light, fiber-packed vegetable base paired with savory, lean protein. Even better? It’s highly adaptable, meaning you can easily pivot the dish to match whatever craving—or pantry staple—you have on hand.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Minimal Prep: All you need to do is thinly slice up a head of cabbage and your favorite pre-cooked chicken sausages.
Naturally Healthy: Cabbage is incredibly low in calories but packed with Vitamin C and fiber, while chicken sausage offers a lean, high-protein alternative to traditional pork sausage.
One-Pan Cleanup: The entire stir-fry comes together in a single skillet, meaning you won't be stuck scrubbing dishes all night.
*Additional Read: Is Sausage Safe For Your Family? Plus 10-Minute Easy Recipes
How to Make It (Step-by-Step)
Prep your veggies and protein: Thinly slice half a head of green or savoy cabbage. Slice your chicken sausage links into 1/2-inch rounds.
Sear the sausage: Heat a splash of olive or avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken sausage rounds and sauté for 3–5 minutes until they get a beautiful, caramelized golden brown color. Remove them from the pan and set aside.
Stir-fry the cabbage: In the same skillet that now has all of that flavor, toss in the sliced cabbage. Stir-fry frequently for about 8–10 minutes until it wilts down, turns tender-crisp, and starts to pick up those delicious charred edges. Tip: Season simply salt, and pepper.
Combine and serve: Toss the browned chicken sausage back into the skillet with the cabbage. Stir everything together for another minute or two until it's piping hot, then get ready to plate!
Choose Your Base: 5 Ways to Serve It
While this skillet is amazing on its own, layering it over a hearty base turns it into a complete, restaurant-worthy bowl. Here are five healthy, gluten-free ways to serve it:
The Irish Colcannon Mashed Potatoes Vibe: Turning this into a deconstructed Colcannon offers pure, creamy comfort food while keeping it naturally gluten-free.
Low-Carb & Light Spaghetti Squash: Roasting up spaghetti squash strands provides a noodle-like texture that keeps the meal incredibly light and keto-friendly.
Cozy & Creamy Polenta: Serving the stir-fry over a warm bed of yellow cornmeal polenta adds a rich, rustic, Italian-inspired twist.
Classic Comfort of Gluten-Free Pasta: Toss the sausage and cabbage directly with your favorite brown rice or chickpea pasta for a filling, high-fiber dinner.
Traditional Stir-Fry Style with Rice: Keep it simple by scooping the mixture over fluffy rice to soak up all of the savory pan juices (adding a little Tamari to this taste divine).
Whether you go the comforting mashed potato route for those cozy Colcannon vibes or keep it light with spaghetti squash, this dinner is guaranteed to save your weeknights.
*Skillet sausage and cabbage served over spaghetti squash.