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You don’t need fancy ingredients to make something great, and this fried cabbage proves that! Bacon, cabbage, a little seasoning, and a hot skillet. That’s it. And it works every single time.
Proof Cabbage Deserves the Spotlight
- Bacon Makes it Better: Crispy bacon and a little reserved bacon grease add rich, savory flavor that turns tender cabbage into something SO good.
- Quick and Weeknight-Friendly: From start to finish, this recipe is ready in about 25 minutes, making it great for busy dinners or last-minute sides.
- Pairs With Everything: This fried cabbage tastes wonderful with pork chops, sausage and potato skillet, roasted chicken, or just about any comfort food main you’re serving.
Fried Cabbage Ingredients
- Cabbage: Chop the cabbage into bite-sized pieces.
- Bacon: Frying the bacon first adds flavor to the cabbage!
- Granulated Sugar: A hint of sugar helps to balance the flavors and cut through any bitterness from the cabbage.
- Want a Little Heat? Add some red pepper flakes!
How to Make Fried Cabbage
This recipe comes together fast with just a few basic steps. Everything cooks in one skillet, making prep and cleanup nice and simple. I love using cabbage because it is cheap and naturally high in fiber, which makes this cozy side surprisingly filling.
- Cook the Bacon: In a large skillet, add the diced bacon and cook until fried and crispy, about 7-8 minutes. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set it aside. Drain off most of the bacon grease, but leave about 2 tablespoons in the skillet to cook the onion and cabbage.
- Cook the Onion and Cabbage: Add the sliced onion and cabbage to the skillet. Cook and stir until the onion and cabbage are tender, about 8 minutes.
- Season: Add granulated sugar, kosher salt, and black pepper, then cook for 2 minutes.
- Serve: Add the cooked bacon back to the skillet, stir to combine, then serve the fried cabbage warm and enjoy!
Alyssa’s Pro Tip
Don’t Overcrowd the Pan! Cook the cabbage in a wide pan with enough space, so it softens and lightly browns instead of steaming.
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Southern Fried Cabbage
Ingredients
- 6 slices diced thick-cut bacon
- ½ medium sliced yellow onion
- 6 cups chopped green cabbage
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt or more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or more to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet, add 6 slices diced thick-cut bacon and cook until fried and crispy, about 7-8 minutes. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set it aside. Remove most of the bacon grease from the skillet, but leave 2 tablespoons of bacon grease to cook the onion and cabbage.
- Add ½ medium sliced yellow onion and 6 cups chopped green cabbage to the skillet. Cook and stir until the onion and cabbage are tender, about 8 minutes.
- Season with 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the cooked bacon back to the skillet and stir to combine. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- In the Refrigerator: Store any cooled leftovers in an airtight container. They will keep for up to 4 days in the fridge.
- Reheating: To keep your cabbage from becoming soggy, I recommend reheating it over the stove on medium heat until warmed through.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Cabbage Recipes
Cabbage is one of those veggies that goes a long way. It’s cheap, easy to cook, and works in so many meals! Here are a few more cabbage recipes to try next.
I have been making fried cabbage for years. I make it every New Years day to go with my ham and blackeyed peas (southern tradition). This year I actually added small new potatoes that I par boiled and cut in half. Wonderful tasty dish.