Directions
Prepare the vegetables: Remove any tough or damaged outer leaves from the cabbage. Cut the cabbage into 6–8 wedges, keeping the core attached so the wedges hold together. Rinse and pat dry. Scrub the potatoes well and cut them into large chunks, about 1 1/2 to 2 inches, so they hold their shape during the long cooking time.Layer the potatoes in the slow cooker: Place the potato chunks in an even layer on the bottom of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. This gives them plenty of contact with the heat and lets them soak up the buttery juices as they cook.Add the cabbage wedges: Arrange the cabbage wedges on top of the potatoes, fitting them snugly but without packing them in too tightly. It’s fine if some wedges overlap; they will soften and sink down as they cook.Dot with butter: Scatter the pieces of salted butter over the cabbage and potatoes, tucking some pieces down between the vegetables so the butter melts throughout. If your butter is very cold, press it lightly into the vegetables so it doesn’t just sit on top.Cover and cook: Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours, or on HIGH for 3 1/2 to 4 hours, until the potatoes are very tender when pierced with a fork and the cabbage is soft, silky, and almost translucent around the edges. Do not stir during cooking; let the vegetables gently steam and braise in their own juices and the melted butter.Finish and serve: Once everything is tender, carefully lift out the cabbage wedges with a wide spatula so they stay mostly intact, and spoon the potatoes onto a serving platter or into shallow bowls. Drizzle some of the buttery cooking juices from the bottom of the slow cooker over the top. Taste a piece of potato and, if you like, add a small pinch of salt at the table. Serve hot, making sure everyone gets both cabbage, potatoes, and a spoonful of the savory juices.
Variations & Tips
If you grew up with a similar dish, you probably remember a few small flourishes that still fit within the three-ingredient spirit. For a deeper flavor, you can brown the butter in a small pan until it smells nutty before adding it to the slow cooker. If you only have unsalted butter, use it and let everyone sprinkle a tiny bit of salt on their own plate. Red potatoes can stand in for yellow; they hold their shape nicely and bring a slightly different texture. For a softer, almost mashed texture, cut the potatoes into smaller pieces and cook on LOW a bit longer, gently breaking them up with a spoon at the end so they soak up more of the buttery juices. Leftovers reheat well in a skillet: warm them over medium heat until the edges of the potatoes and cabbage pick up a bit of color, which adds a toasty note. You can also mash any remaining potatoes and chop the cabbage, then stir them together with the leftover juices to make a rustic, buttery cabbage mash that’s wonderful alongside whatever meat or beans you have on hand.
