Cajun Cabbage Skillet

This easy skillet dinner comes together quickly, making it a perfect option for a weeknight. We used spicy andouille sausages to give the dish a little kick, but any type of sausage would work. Cooking at medium-high heat allows the sausage and vegetables to get nice and caramelized in a short amount of time, but if they ever start to overcook, stir in a splash of cold water to cool the pan down.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil

  • 8 ounces chicken andouille sausages, sliced diagonally 1/4-inch thick (about 1 heaping cup) 

  • 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced (about 2 scant cups) 

  • Kosher salt  

  • 1/2 small head green cabbage, cored, halved crosswise and sliced 1/4-inch thick (about 6 cups) 

  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper 

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced 

  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter  

  • 1/2 small sweet-tart apple such as Gala or McIntosh, cored and sliced 1/8-inch thick (about 3/4 cup) 

  • 1 large scallion, thinly sliced (about 1/4 cup) 

  • Hot sauce, for serving 

    Directions

  • Heat a large cast-iron skillet or high-sided saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the oil and swirl the pan to coat evenly. Add the sausage slices in a single layer and cook until browned on the first side, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the second side, about 2 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the sausage slices to a bowl and set aside.

  • Add the onion, a splash of water and large pinch salt to the pan and cook over medium-high heat, using a wooden spoon or heatproof rubber spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is lightly browned in spots and starting to get tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the cabbage, crushed red pepper and another pinch salt and cook until cabbage is crisp-tender, 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the pan seems dry at any point, stir in another splash of water.  

  • Add the garlic and cider vinegar and cook until the vinegar is mostly evaporated, about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in the butter until melted, then return the sausage to the pan along with the apple and cook until the apple slices are just tender, 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.