The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe is a simple six-ingredient recipe that combines cabbage, onions, and bacon cooked in butter and bacon drippings. This low-carb, easy side dish is full of flavor, low in calories, and loaded with fiber.
Fried Cabbage: The Perfect Side Dish
Get ready to wow your tastebuds with this simple and tasty fried cabbage recipe. It’s the perfect side dish for any meal and will quickly become a favorite. It is the perfect side dish for roasted chicken, grilled bratwurst, smoked sausage, and ham steak.
My family and I love cabbage. We are one crazy cabbage-loving family. It is just so nutritious, versatile, delicious, and quite economical. If you love cabbage like we do, try braised cabbage, cabbage soup, cabbage stir fry, and cabbage rolls.
Fried Cabbage Ingredients
For this recipe, you need bacon, butter, yellow onion, green cabbage, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and, if desired, Cajun seasoning and red pepper flakes.
How to make Fried Cabbage
Start by browning your slices of bacon until crisp. You can do this either in a large skillet, a large cast-iron skillet, or in the oven. Do whatever is easier for you, but reserve the bacon grease. Next, chop the browned bacon. Then melt a little butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat and add the reserved bacon grease. Add the onion and cook until tender. Add the bacon to the skillet and stir to combine with butter and onions. Increase to medium-high heat and add the cabbage. Cook until tender, stirring several times to ensure it does not burn and cooks evenly. Season to taste with salt, black pepper, and, if desired, a little Cajun seasoning and red pepper flakes.
Recipe Tips
- If available, use nitrate-free smoked bacon. It is healthier and tastes better.
- Reserve the bacon grease and add it to the skillet with the butter.
- Slice your cabbage thin to cook evenly, and soak up all that good butter and bacon grease.
- Are you in a big hurry and have to get supper on the table? No problem. Chop the raw bacon and place it in the skillet over medium heat. Cook it for 2-3 minutes, stirring several times, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Then add the butter and onions and cook as directed. The bacon will not be as crispy, but it will still be delicious.
- Add a splash of apple cider vinegar for a zippy tang.
- Serve this dish promptly. If held in the skillet too long, the cabbage will overcook.
- We like our cabbage with just a bit of crispiness and structure left, but you can adjust the cooking time to your preference for texture.
Recipe Variations
- Add 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning and a pinch of cayenne for some spice and pizzazz.
- Add a little sweetness with 2 pinches of brown sugar and 2 cloves of minced garlic.
- Make it a complete meal with thin slices of Polska Kielbasa or all-natural chicken sausage.
- For more color and nutrition, chop some red, orange, or yellow bell pepper and add them at the same time as the chopped onion.
- To reduce the saturated fat, use turkey bacon or vegan bacon. Omit the butter and bacon grease. Cook the onion and cabbage in 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
Storage and Reheat
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can be reheated in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop over low heat.
To freeze fried cabbage, fully cool it, then store it in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
More delicious cabbage recipes you will love!
Fried Cabbage
Ingredients
- 6 slices smoked bacon
- 2 tablespoons butter salted or unsalted
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 1 head green cabbage cored and thinly sliced
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 -1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning optional
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- In a large skillet or Dutch Oven over medium heat, brown the bacon (alternately, you can do this in the stove on a baking sheet). Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon. Reserve the bacon grease. Coarsely chop the bacon.
- Melt butter and heat bacon grease in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Add the chopped bacon to the skillet and stir to combine with butter and onions. Add the cabbage and cook until tender, stirring several times to make sure it does not burn and that it cooks evenly; approximately 5-7 minutes. Season to taste with salt, black pepper, and, if desired, Cajun seasoning and red pepper flakes.
Notes
- If available, use nitrate-free smoked bacon. It is healthier and really does taste better.
- Reserve the bacon grease and add it to the skillet with the butter.
- Slice your cabbage thin, so it cooks evenly and soaks up all that good butter and bacon grease.
- Are you in a super big hurry, and you have to get supper on the table? No problem. Chop the raw bacon and place it in the skillet over medium heat. Cook it for 2-3 minutes stirring several times, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Then add the butter and onions and cook as directed. The bacon will not be as crispy, but it will still be delicious.
- For a zippy tang, add a splash or two of apple cider vinegar.
- This dish is best served promptly. If held in the skillet too long, the cabbage will overcook.
- We like our cabbage with just a tiny little bit of crispiness and structure left, but you can adjust the cooking time to your texture preference.
Nutrition
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JONI
This recipe is so ‘delicious’…we couldn’t stop eating it and just kept saying through dinner…MMM…this is so GOOOOD!
Beth Pierce
I love it! Thank you! I am so glad that you enjoyed it.
Vana S
Such a delicious dish! I love to fry up the leftovers with spaghetti noodles for lunch the next day!
Nicola L
This easy fried cabbage was fabulous and makes the perfect side dish for any meal. We enjoyed with some grilled smoked sausage and homemade applesauce.
Beth Pierce
Sounds delicious, Nicola!
Charlene Sampson
Absolutely divine! This is by far the best way to eat cabbage. I like lots of butter and bacon!
Beth Pierce
Me too, Charlene!
Vicki N
I’ve always enjoyed cabbage, but cooking it this way brought out flavors I never knew it could have. I loved the mix of savory and a hint of sweetness. And bacon makes everything better! What a yummy side dish!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Vicki! We love it too!
Justyne Holloran
Love this! tender and flavorful, and the bacon totally makes it! It is delicious with grilled brats. We will make this again and again.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Justyne!
DEBORA CATO
Going to use this as an entree, so I’ll add extra bacon and egg noodles
Beth Pierce
Sounds like a plan!
Justly
Wow, I never thought fried cabbage could be so delicious and easy! Thanks for the tasty recipe. It is a new family favorite and it will be on regular rotation at our house.
Canopas
Your Fried Cabbage recipe took me by surprise!
I never knew such a simple dish could explode with so much flavor. The way you’ve detailed each step makes it feel like you’re right there in the kitchen with us. I’ll try this out for my next family dinner!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Canopas! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Zab
This was an awesome recipe that my husband loved. I served it some smoked chicken sausage and homemade applesauce. The meal was delicious.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Zab! So glad that you and your husband enjoyed the cabbage.
Marysa
This sounds pretty good! I don’t make much with cabbage, but I like the idea of frying it up. Nice to have some unique ideas for cabbage.
SONIA SEIVWRIGHT
This recipe for Southern Fried Cabbage sounds absolutely delicious! The combination of cabbage, onions, and bacon cooked in butter and bacon drippings sounds like a perfect blend of flavours that would be the perfect accompaniment to a variety of main dishes. I also love that it’s low in calories and loaded with fiber, making it a healthier option. I can’t wait to try this recipe myself and pair it with some mashed potatoes and green beans. Thanks for sharing!
Beth Pierce
That sounds delicious, Sonia! I sure hope you enjoy it as much as we do.