Fried cabbage with bacon and onion is one of the most delicious and best cabbage dishes.
Plus, it comes together in less than an hour! It is one of the easiest ways to make cabbage so dive in!
Fried Cabbage With Bacon And Onion
The savory cabbage (skillet cabbage) and rich, salty bacon drippings with the sweetness from the caramelized onion and brown sugar make this a crave-worthy cabbage meal that is pure comfort food.
Hunting for more tasty recipes with cabbage? Try my other incredible homemade cabbage recipe: Ukrainian lazy cabbage rolls.
Serve either recipe with a side dish like sweet potato mash and grilled smoked sausage.
🛒 Fried Cabbage Ingredients
- Bacon (pork or turkey) - The best way to fry cabbage is with thick-cut bacon for a smoky, savory base.
- Onion - Adds a sweet taste to your shredded cabbage dish.
- Garlic cloves - Minced garlic infuses the cabbage with a deep, aromatic flavor.
- Head of cabbage - Choose the best looking cabbage in the store - firm and bright green for your easy fried cabbage.
- Apple cider vinegar - A splash of apple cider vinegar brightens up the flavors.
- Light brown sugar - This adds a subtle sweetness and balances the rich bacon and cabbage.
- Salted butter - Enriches the dish with a creamy texture and some saltiness.
👩🍳 You'll find the complete list of ingredients below the recipe card.
How do you cut cabbage for frying? Cut the cabbage into thin strips, cubes or shreds for even cooking.
🥘 How To Cook Cabbage With Bacon
- Cook the bacon until crispy. Transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Cook the onions in the same skillet with some bacon grease, until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add chopped cabbage, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir and cook for 7-10 minutes until cabbage is tender.
- Add bacon back to the pan, stir in butter, and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve warm. Store leftovers in the fridge for 2-3 days and reheat on the stove.
📋 Tips for Fried Cabbage, Bacon and Onion
- Use fresh Ingredients: Fresh cabbage, onions, and garlic will enhance the dish’s flavor.
- Crisp the bacon: Cook the bacon until it's crispy for the best texture and flavor.
- Control the grease: Pour out some of the bacon grease to make the dish healthier without losing the smoky taste.
- Cook onions properly: Make sure the onions are translucent before adding garlic to prevent burning.
- Balance the flavors: Adjust the vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper to taste for a perfect balance.
- Serve warm: This dish is best enjoyed warm for the fullest flavor.
- Why is my cabbage bitter after cooking? Cabbage can become bitter if overcooked or if it's an older, less fresh head.
- Should bacon be fried in butter or oil? Bacon does not need additional butter or oil; it renders its own fat.
🍱 Storage Instructions
- 🍱To Store. Keep leftover cabbage in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.
- 🥶Freezing. Place cooled cabbage in a freezer-safe container or bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- 🔥To Reheat. Warm the cabbage on the stove over medium heat until heated through.
What To Eat With Fried Cabbage, Bacon and Onion
- Grilled sausages: Cabbage side dishes like this are great with smokey sausages and the richness of bacon fat.
- Mashed potatoes: You'll love creamy mashed potatoes with bacon and cabbage.
- Roasted chicken: Make fried cabbage and serve it with Juicy roasted chicken.
- Cornbread: Sweet, crumbly cornbread provides a delightful contrast to the savory cabbage mix.
- Sweet and tart apple sauce or honey mustard sauce is refreshing against the rich flavors of the fried cabbage and bacon.
Fried Cabbage Variations
🌶️ Spicy fried cabbage: Add red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños for a kick of heat.
🧈 Garlic butter cabbage: Remove the bacon grease and swap it with garlic-infused butter.
🌭 Cabbage and kielbasa: Swap bacon for sliced kielbasa sausage for a hearty, Eastern European twist.
🌿 Vegan: Use olive oil instead of bacon grease and add smoked paprika for a smoky flavor without the meat.
🫚 Asian-inspired cabbage: Stir in soy sauce, sesame oil, and sliced green onions for an Asian flair.
🍏 Cabbage with apples: Add thinly sliced apples to the fried cabbage recipe.
🧀 Cheesy cabbage: Sprinkle shredded cheddar or Parmesan cheese over the cooked cabbage for a creamy, cheesy variation.
🥕 Cabbage with carrots: Add shredded carrots when pan-frying cabbage.
More Easy Cabbage Dinner Ideas
📖Recipe
Fried Cabbage With Bacon And Onion
Ingredients
- 12 oz thick-cut bacon, pork or turkey bacon, about ½ inch or smaller
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 head of cabbage, cored and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar, packed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
Instructions
- In a large cast iron Dutch oven or a big skillet, cook the bacon until it's crispy over medium heat for about 12-15 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. You can also cook the bacon in the oven if you prefer.12 oz thick-cut bacon
- In the same skillet with the leftover bacon grease (you can leave it all in, but I like to pour out about half to make it a bit healthier while still keeping the smoky flavor), add the onions and cook until they are translucent.1 small onion
- Add the minced garlic and cook until you can smell it.3 garlic cloves
- Add the chopped cabbage, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together and cook for 7-10 minutes until the cabbage is tender.1 head of cabbage, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Put the crispy bacon back in the pan. Stir in the butter, taste to check the seasoning, and serve the dish while it's warm.2 tablespoons salted butter
- You can store any leftover cabbage in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Reheat it on the stove.
Video
Notes
- To Store. Keep leftover cabbage in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.
- Freezing. Place cooled cabbage in a freezer-safe container or bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- To Reheat. Warm the cabbage on the stove over medium heat until heated through.
Nutrition
🤷Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can cook bacon and onions together, but start with the bacon first and then add the onions.
Fried cabbage can be healthy if cooked with minimal fat and seasoned simply.
Vinegar adds a tangy flavor and helps to tenderize the cabbage.
How long to soak cabbage before cooking?
Cabbage does not need to be soaked before cooking; just rinse it thoroughly.
Southern fried cabbage is a delicious dish made by sautéing chopped cabbage with bacon, onions, and seasonings until tender and flavorful.
Can you cook cabbage too long?
Yes, overcooked cabbage can become mushy and lose its flavor.
The calorie count of fried cabbage varies, but a typical serving has around 100-150 calories depending on the ingredients used.
Joann
Easy and delicious meal, our favorite!
Casey Bumpsteed
Utterly delicious recipe, thank you!
Mary Adams
So so