Hungarian Fried Cabbage and Noodles (Haluska)

An authentic Hungarian fried cabbage and noodles recipe passed down by my great grandmother who emigrated from Austria-Hungary… Also known as Haluska, Krautfleckerl, or Káposztás Tészta, this simple buttery caramelized cabbage recipe packs a lot of flavor for VERY little money!

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Hungarian Cabbage and Noodles

Aside from the whole not allowing my food to touch thing, I was not a picky eater as a child. But there were a handful of foods that I would NOT eat: like asparagus, tomato soup, and this fried cabbage and noodles dish.

Strangely enough, I LOVE them ALL today! Though my aversion to different foods touching remains…

It was easy to tell when fried cabbage and noodles was on the menu for the evening. My mom would come home from the grocery store with an enormous green cabbage and a bag of No Yolks noodles. Even if I missed her unbagging the groceries, the smell of the cabbage cooking was a dead giveaway.

Back then, she’d always save some of the plain noodles before mixing the rest with the cabbage. I’d coat them with some melted butter and top them off with a generous shake of Parmesan cheese. Much as my own daughter does these days — pure comfort food!

But as I’ve grown older, I’ve gained a new appreciation for the Hungarian recipes my family has passed down. Also, I’m a sucker for budget-friendly dinners. And you can’t get much more economical than this delicious dish! I mean, cabbage is always affordably priced, AND it’s available year round.

Case in point: I picked up an massive green cabbage for $0.49/lb. and a bag of wide egg noodles for $1.99. Add in a little butter, salt, and pepper, and you’ve got a dinner big enough to feed an army for under $5 total.

Or at least a dinner that’s enough to feed MY army!

Cabbage and Noodles Ingredients

This simple dish starts with a package of No Yolks egg noodles. My mom used these pantry staple egg noodles in everything, including this fried cabbage and noodles recipe. But also in chicken paprikash, chicken noodle soup, tuna casserole, you name it.

These smooth, firm, and fluffy noodles are incredibly versatile! So it’s only natural that I continue to use them myself all these years later. My mom (and I) use the No Yolks Broad noodles variety most often. But they also come in Extra Broad, Fine, Kluski, Dumplings, and Stir-Fry cuts.

That’s it! Three simple ingredients just like my dédanyja always made it. As easy dinner recipes go, you can’t get much easier.

Recipe For Fried Cabbage Variations

As I’ve mentioned before in this sour cream cucumber salad post, it’s common to find many variations on a recipe within a culture.

I consider them ALL to be “traditional versions” of a dish, even if they’re different from my family’s authentic recipe. I realize that our cabbage and noodles recipe is a pretty stripped down, basic dish. But please know that it DOES NOT mean that I forgot an ingredient!

Read through the comments for more variations on this recipe for cabbage and noodles. Sugar, paprika spread, walnuts, and Szalonna are mentioned, along with many others. Fascinating stuff!

NOTE: There’s also a LOT of overlap in Eastern European cuisines. For example, you may be more familiar with this recipe as Polish Haluski (vs. Hungarian Haluska)…

Haluski is a very popular Polish dish in the Pittsburgh area. It features the same buttery noodles and cabbage base as this cabbage and noodles recipe. Essentially they’re one and the same!

How To Make Fried Cabbage and Noodles

Just as No Yolks noodles are versatile, so is cabbage. This hardy vegetable stays crispy in the produce drawer for AGES. Meaning you can keep a head on hand to make this comforting dish at a moment’s notice!

Start by removing the core from a whole head of cabbage. Slice the cabbage very thinly with a sharp knife. Melt the butter over medium heat in a large skillet and add the shredded cabbage. Sprinkle a half teaspoon salt over top, and give it a stir.

Cover and cook until the cabbage starts to wilt, stirring often. At this point, you can remove the lid and turn the heat up.

Add the remaining half teaspoon of salt, and cook over medium-high heat for about 15 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the cabbage is tender and caramelizes to a deep amber color.

In the meantime, cook the egg noodles in a large pot of water according to the package directions and drain well. Fold the sautéed cabbage mixture into the cooked noodles. Season with additional salt and the pepper and serve.

What To Serve With Cabbage and Noodles

This recipe for fried cabbage is super flexible! We eat it most often as a main dish, but it also doubles as a great side dish.

Noodles and cabbage pairs well with chicken paprikash and pork paprikash. It’s also perfect with a pork roast main course for Sunday dinner.

Or keep it super simple and serve it with some grilled bratwurst or kielbasa sausages. Perfect for busy weeknights!