How to Make Haluski, or Buttery Cabbage and Noodles (2024)

Growing up around the Rust Belt of northeastern Ohio, we ate haluski regularly. The dish harkens back to the Polish, Slovakian and Hungarian immigrants who settled in that part of the country in the early 20th century—especially areas around Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown, and in northwestern Pennsylvania around Pittsburgh.

Pronounced ha-loosh-key, my mom often cooked up big batches of fried cabbage and egg noodles, sometimes adding potatoes, bacon or ham to stretch out the meal. For her, it was an economical way to feed a horde of kids (one of us inevitably had one or two friends over for dinner).

When made without bacon or ham, haluski can be a quick and easy meal to make during Lent. But it’s also a delicious side dish any time of year. To me, it’s the ultimate comfort food.

What Is Haluski?

Like many dishes that originated in Central and Eastern Europe, haluski varies depending on the country it hails from and family recipes. In general it’s either dumplings or noodles combined with cabbage cooked in a lot of butter, plus onions and sometimes meat like bacon or kielbasa.

My Slovak grandmother made hers with potato dumplings similar to Italian gnocchi (they could’ve even been store-bought dumplings!). Noodles, especially easy-to-find egg noodles, are common in versions from other countries, like Poland and Hungary.

I prefer haluski with egg noodles because that’s how my mom made it. Whenever I tuck into a big bowl of cabbage and noodles, it reminds me of her and home. Here’s an easy vegetarian version that’s super customizable to your own personal tastes.

How to Make Haluski, or Fried Cabbage and Noodles

Ingredients

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• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 medium head green cabbage, thinly sliced
• 2 cups uncooked wide egg noodles
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1: Cook the cabbage

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To cook the cabbage, in a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the cabbage, cover and cook on low until it’s just tender, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Editor’s Tip: You can use pre-shredded cabbage or slice it yourself for this recipe (here’s how to shred cabbage if you need a primer).

Step 2: Cook the noodles

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Meanwhile, cook the egg noodles according to package directions. Try not to overcook because they can get too soft in the final dish. Drain the noodles.

Step 3: Combine everything, season and serve

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Stir the drained egg noodles into the skillet with the buttery cabbage. Season with salt and pepper, and mix well until everything is combined and heated through. Serve in bowls or alongside your favorite main course.

Tips for Making Haluski

What are some variations on cabbage and noodles?

Many haluski recipes call for browning onions with the cabbage, which is utterly delicious. Here you can add about a 1/2 cup of sliced onion to the pan with the cabbage. You can also add other aromatics like garlic and chives.

For meat, cook up some bacon or pancetta first, then cook the cabbage in the drippings (similar to this southern fried cabbage recipe), or add kielbasa or ham to cabbage and noodles.

If you want an extra-filling carbo load, add diced potatoes to the mix. For dumplings, try it with homemade potato gnocchi or spaetzle. And an extra pat or two of butter never hurts for added flavor, either!

Can you use red cabbage for haluski?

You can use red cabbage for haluski, but we don’t recommend it because the whole dish turns purple. If that’s the effect you’re after, then go for it! You can use other varieties of cabbage, including the softer and sweeter savoy or napa cabbage, but keep in mind the different cooking times. Here’s more on how to cook cabbage for any number of dishes.

What can you serve with haluski?

Honestly, haluski can be a meal on its own, especially if you add some sort of protein to it. But haluski also makes a great side dish for breaded pork chops, any kind of sausage or kielbasa, baked ham or fried chicken.

How do you store haluski?

Because of the fried cabbage, haluski will last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Store in a tightly covered container to keep the cabbage fresh, and to prevent odors from seeping into other foods in the fridge.

Can you freeze haluski?

Freezing noodles can cause them to get mushy, but you can preserve the fried cabbage in an airtight freezer-friendly container. When you want to use it, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, add to a pan with a little extra butter, and combine with cooked noodles.