We have heard all our life that eating vegetables are good for our overall health and well-being and that’s true. But you’ve also probably heard that you cannot consume starchy vegetables when you’re on a keto diet.
Not to worry, though because cabbage is a low-carb vegetable that you can enjoy freely on a low-carb or keto diet. In fact, it is one of the best vegetables for your diet because it’s bulky and will make you feel full longer.
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In this article, we’re going to discuss the nutritional value of cabbage, whether it is keto-friendly or not, and share some of our favorite delicious recipes made with cabbage.
What Is Cabbage?
Cabbage is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family that includes several other kinds of veggies like bok choy, zucchini, broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, etc. Cabbage can be used both in its raw and cooked form and you can make a variety of low-carb recipes from cabbage.
Types of Cabbage

There are almost 400 different types of cabbage that come in various colors and textures but the most important one is green cabbage. A few of the common cabbage types are discussed below.
- Green cabbage – Green cabbage resembles mostly iceberg lettuce in which the outside leaves are darker and the inside leaves are white or pale. It can be used both in its raw form where it gives a rubbery texture or in the cooked form where it turns out sweet and soft.
- Red cabbage – This cabbage is purple in color and often called purple cabbage. This cabbage is mostly used in its raw form in different salads or wraps because when cooked it changes its color to blue or sometimes transparent.
- Savoy cabbage – Unlike red cabbage, savoy cabbage is tender similar to green cabbage with deep green crinkly leaves. Among all other types, savoy cabbage is the sweetest and tenderest type.
- Napa cabbage – This cabbage is also called Chinese cabbage with thick stems and yellow-green color. It has a mild flavor unlike other members of the family and is soft and sweet. It has the least amount of carbs per serving.

How Many Carbs Are in Cabbage?
Cabbage is hands down the best low-carb vegetable that is on the keto food list. It’s also packed with rich nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. One cup of raw chopped cabbage contains just 22 calories, 3 grams of carbs, 1 gram of protein, and 2 grams of fiber. You can’t beat that.
We have listed the nutritional value of each cabbage just for your convenience. Let’s have a look. These totals are for 1 cup of shredded cabbage.
- Green cabbage:
- Total calories: 27
- Carbs: 5.2 grams
- Fiber: 2.2 grams
- Net carbs: 3 grams
- Red cabbage:
- Calories: 22
- Carbs: 5 grams
- Fiber: 1.5 grams
- Net carbs: 3.5 grams
- Savoy cabbage:
- Calories: 19
- Carbs: 4.3 grams
- Fiber: 2.2 grams
- Net carbs: 2.1 grams
- Napa cabbage:
- Calories: 13
- Carbs: 2 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Net carbs: 0 grams

Is Cabbage Keto-Friendly?
All types of cabbage are low in carbs hence we can safely safe it’s fine to consume cabbage on the keto diet. It can also provide you with a variety of other nutrients that you may be missing on a keto diet.
You can make a variety of recipes with cabbage from casseroles to wraps to salads to soups or you can simply stir fry or roast the leaves alongside with a protein.
Using the chart above, you can decide which cabbage is appropriate for your diet. If you’re looking for the lowest net carb count, then Napa cabbage should be your go to, however they all have a place in a keto diet.

Keto-Friendly Recipes with Cabbage
You can make plenty of mouth-watering recipes with cabbage. Here are some of the delicious recipes that you can easily try at home.
- Keto Cabbage Rolls – Keto Cabbage Rolls are stuffed with seasoned meat and cauliflower rice, then covered with a flavorful tomato sauce and baked to perfection.
- Asian Cabbage Salad with Mandarin Oranges – This Asian Cabbage Salad with mandarin oranges is packed with crisp, fresh vegetables and topped with a punch of flavor from the sweet and salty dressing.
- Keto Cole Slaw Recipe – This Keto Cole Slaw recipe is crunchy and tangy with just 2 net carbs per serving thanks to the delicious sugar-free cole slaw dressing.
Conclusion
Cabbage is a perfect keto-friendly vegetable that you can consume without disrupting your ketone levels. Just add the right ingredients in the right amount and you’re good to go. Not only this, you can easily find cabbage everywhere from small to big supermarkets.
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Laura is dedicated to a low-carb lifestyle after losing 52 pounds on the keto diet. As many of us do, she struggles with her weight and has found that one of the only diet lifestyles that allows her to maintain a healthy weight is a low-carb diet. She shares her favorite low-carb recipes here that are both easy to make and full of flavor, so you don’t even miss the carbs.