Fried Cabbage is one of the easiest comfort-food recipes you can make. When you add in bacon, onions, and garlic, this five ingredient southern staple is perfect as a side dish, or as your main meal with a big hunk of cornbread on the side!
The humble and economical cabbage is the star of today’s recipe, and makes this quick and easy meal a regular in our dinner rotation. It’s right up there with Sheet Pan Sausage and Potatoes and Instant Pot Mac and Cheese for when I need a simple dinner that’s ready in a pinch.
Growing up, we spent a few years living with my grandma, and fried cabbage was a meal that she used to make for us all the time.
She made it with bacon, sausage, spam, or lots of the time meatless and simply seasoned with salt and pepper.
My favorite way to prepare it these days is with thick cut bacon and a heavy hand of minced garlic and Cajun seasoning.
Necessary Ingredients
- bacon
- onion
- garlic
- green cabbage
- Cajun seasoning
- salt + pepper
- red pepper flakes
How to Make Fried Cabbage – Step by Step
1 .In a large skillet or dutch oven, fry chopped bacon until crispy, about 5-8 minutes over medium high heat. Remove bacon from pan using a slotted spoon and place in a bowl for later. Leave bacon drippings in the pan.
2. Reduce heat to medium and add the onions. Cook until soft and translucent, about five minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
3. Add the cabbage to the skillet along with the Cajun seasoning, salt and pepper to taste. Stir everything well. Reduce heat to medium low and cover the pan. Cook for 10 minutes, removing the lid to stir occasionally.
4. Once cabbage is cooked, remove lid and stir in the bacon. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately.
Tips and Notes
- Feel free to substitute sausage for the bacon in this recipe. I’ve made it with sliced smoked sausage and followed the same recipe as below and it’s delicious as well.
- I like to sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes on at the end for a little heat, but this is optional!
- Fried cabbage is perfect as a side dish, especially for a big family or potluck meal.
- It also makes an excellent main dish when you serve it with cornbread on the side.
- Store fried cabbage in the fridge in a tightly sealed container for up to 3-4 days.
Is Fried Cabbage Keto Friendly?
Yes! Fried Cabbage is low carb, Keto, and even Paleo and Whole30 friendly if you purchase a compliant brand of bacon.
Whole30 compliant bacon contains no added sugar or additives. Paleo bacon is free of nitrates or nitrites.
Cabbage itself is packed with good for you nutrients like vitamin C, Vitamin K, fiber, folate, and antioxidants. It’s excellent for reducing inflammation, aiding in digestion, and even has potential cancer fighting abilities.
Bacon’s health benefits are more debatable, but as with all things, enjoy in moderation!
What to Serve with Fried Cabbage
Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon, chopped into small pieces (I prefer thick cut bacon)
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 large green cabbage, chopped into square pieces
- 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
- salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet or dutch oven, fry chopped bacon until crispy, about 5-8 minutes over medium high heat. Remove bacon from pan using a slotted spoon and place in a bowl for later. Leave bacon drippings in the pan.
- Reduce heat to medium and add the onions. Cook until soft and translucent, about five minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add the cabbage to the skillet along with the Cajun seasoning, salt and pepper to taste. Stir everything well. Reduce heat to medium low and cover the pan. Cook for 10 minutes, removing the lid to stir occasionally.
- Once cabbage is cooked, remove lid and stir in the bacon and sprinkle with red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Feel free to substitute sausage for the bacon in this recipe. I've made it with sliced smoked sausage and followed the same recipe as below and it's delicious as well.
- I like to sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes on at the end for a little heat, but this is optional!
- Fried cabbage is perfect as a side dish, especially for a big family or potluck meal.
- It also makes an excellent main dish when you serve it with cornbread on the side.
- Store fried cabbage in the fridge in a tightly sealed container for up to 3-4 days.
Sue says
Instead of Cajun seasoning I used a little celery salt and instead of bacon I used the horseshoe link of beef smoked sausage cubed. I also used a little olive oil as the sausage has plenty of grease in it. It’s been awhile since I made this but I think I sauteed the cabbage a few minutes stirring often and then added the beef and cooked until tender.
Bella says
oh yum!!! I love anything with bacon lol! I actually make my brussel sprout like this last night
Jen @ JENRON DESIGNS says
We do not eat a ton of cabbage but this looks like a great way to add more into to meal times.
Marisa says
I’m so glad you shared this! We love cabbage and I’m always looking for new recipes to make with it!!! This is perfect because I love Bacon too LOL
Julie says
Cabbage is so underrated! What a yummy way to cook and serve it. This was a hit at my dinner.
Heather says
Cabbage and bacon are two of my favorite things! I can’t wait to try this recipe.
Long says
I followed the recipe exactly and it was so yummy! Everyone loved this . We will definitely be making this again soon!
Lola Osinkolu | Chef Lola's Kitchen says
Such a refreshing dinner this would make!
Santosh says
What an amazing recipe Ashlyn…and it looks soo good & sound too delicious with more easy to make…i really loved your new way of cooking cabbage…Thanks for sharing….!
Radwa says
Looks delicious! I love new ways of cabbage so much.
Rachel says
This sounds SO good! I LOVE bacon and cabbage together!
Kimberly K Croisant says
This is a recipe I’d like to try. I think my son would like cabbage this way.
Heather @ US Japan Fam says
What a unique idea, I would never think of frying cabbage like this but it’s kinda like a hot salad haha! Sounds delicious, I gotta try it!
Jordan | Read. Eat. Repeat. says
Would you believe I’ve lived in the south my whole life and newer had fried cabbage? Sounds like something I need to try!
Mimi says
So yummy and easy to make, I need to try it
Marisa says
This sounds amazing!!! I love cabbage and Im always looking for new ways to enjoy it!! Love this recipe I just pinned it for later!
Lisa Favre says
Whoa! I would have never thought of putting cabbage and bacon together but your recipe looks amazing! I would definitely love to try this out this summer.
Jordan | Read. Eat. Repeat. says
I’ve never had fried cabbage before but I’ll try anything with bacon in it! 😉