The simplest fried cabbage recipes is nothing but bacon, cabbage, salt and pepper. My Bacon Fried Cabbage takes it up a notch by using onion and a pinch of sugar. A whirlwind of flavor for your tastebuds!
What Goes Into It
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this bacon fried cabbage recipe. Check out the full printable recipe for more details.
- Bacon – Most fried cabbage recipes use butter, vegetable or olive oil. Why in the world you do that when you have this wonderfully flavorful bacon grease?
- White onion – I love the flavor and texture that onion adds to this dish. Feel free to omit if you don’t like onion.
- Sugar – Sugar added to sauteed onions gives the essence of caramelized onions without actually having to go to the trouble of caramelizing for an hour. It also helps to cut through potential bitterness of cabbage.
- Salt and pepper – I used a simple blend of Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to season this cabbage.
- Green cabbage – Make sure the center is removed. Check the section below on tops for cutting cabbage and picking the best cabbage from the grocery store.
This is How We Do It
Making this bacon fried cabbage is so easy, you’ll want to make it all the time!
- Cook bacon. In a large skillet over medium heat, cooked cut bacon until just crispy. Drain and set aside, reserving rendered bacon grease.
- Sauté onion. Add onion to the still hot bacon grease, sauté over medium heat until it starts to soften.
- Add seasonings. Stir in sugar, Kosher salt and ground pepper, cooking for an additional minute.
- Add cut cabbage. I find it easier to toss using tongs instead of as spoon. Toss over medium heat until leaves start to wilt, but still have some snap.
- Mix in bacon. Add bacon back into the mixture and serve.
5S Philosophy 👩🏻
- Salt – I like to use salt to bring out the other flavors of the dish. I used kosher salt ere. If using a different one, keep in mind that different salts measure differently.
- Seasonings – I love the flavor the bacon and onion bring to this dish, but you can certainly add other seasonings. Brown sugar adds a hint of molasses, garlic or onion powder can replace or enhance the already present onions and red pepper flakes give it a little heat.
- Swaps – You can use shallot instead of white onion, add smoked paprika, two minced garlic cloves, add red cabbage in addition to green cabbage or even crumbed sausage instead of bacon.
- Sauces – Not every dish needs a sauce. However, I am the queen of sauce! If you want to add a little something to this bacon fried cabbage, try something like a garlic aioli.
- Senses – With the smell of bacon frying and the slight crunch to the cabbage and onions, this dish will take your senses on a journey of deliciousness.
Tasty Companions
You can serve this bacon fried cabbage with anything you want! It is actually a versatile side dish recipe. It’s great with Guinness and Cheddar Meatloaf for St. Patrick’s Day, or any day of the year!
You can also serve with Crockpot BBQ Chicken in lieu of traditional coleslaw or Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken because it’s an excellent side for any grilled recipe.
Tips and Tricks
When making this bacon fried cabbage, or any cabbage recipe, follow these simple tips and tricks.
- Choose a bright green cabbage. Select a head of cabbage that is vibrant green with no wilting or browning.
- Cabbage season is late fall through winter, but readily available throughout the year from hot houses.
- Cut cabbage by turning the cabbage so the stem end is flat against the cutting board. Cut the cabbage in half from top to bottom. Slice to create quarters, remove the stem and core from each wedge by cutting diagonally across to remove the solid parts. From there, shred or dice the cabbage as required for the recipe.
- Keep your cabbage refrigerated until ready to use. Refrigerated cabbage will last up to 2 weeks when chilled.
Storage and Freezing
How to Store
Store any leftovers in an airtight container. The cabbage will last up to three days in the refrigerator. Reheat in a single layer on a baking dish, or in a pan on the stove to crisp back up before serving.
Can I Freeze Bacon Fried Cabbage?
In general, leafy greens do no freeze all that well. Think about what you see in the freezer section. Spinach, yes, but it is already wilted with most of the water sweat out.
Other types of lettuce like iceberg or even cabbage, would need to be sweat out, but then just get limp, slimy and gross when frozen and thawed, so I don’t recommend it.
Quick Q&A
I suppose it is if you omit the sugar. I am not a keto expert, so if you have any input, please let us in the comments!
I am not a health expert or certified nutritionist and although the main ingredient is a health beneficial leafy green, the addition of bacon pretty much makes this a hard no.
My version is savory with a little bit of sweet. My 1 year old ate it and loved… so if that gives you any indication, there ya go!
More Recipes That Use Cabbage
Cabbage can be prepared raw, steamed, boiled, fried or even in a crockpot. It is a hearty leafy green making it super versatile yet widely underused. Here are some of our favorite ways to use it.
Bacon Fried Cabbage
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound bacon , cut into 1 inch slices
- 1/2 white onion , diced
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 head green cabbage , center removed and cut into 2-3 inch pieces
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cooked cut bacon until just crispy. Drain and set aside, reserving 1 tablespoon rendered bacon grease.
- Add onion to the still hot bacon grease, saute over medium heat until it starts to soften, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Stir in sugar, Kosher salt and ground pepper, cooking for an additional minute.
- Add cut cabbage. I find it easier to toss using tongs instead of as spoon. Toss over medium heat until leaves start to wilt, but still have some snap.
- Add bacon back into the mixture and serve.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!
Nutrition
Delicious! Just the way my grandmother made it!!
Yay! Love to hear that, Gail!
Simple yet so delicious dinner. I love both bacon and cabbage. This is something I must make for my boys next week. I’m saving this recipe.
I grew up on Haluska, which is fried cabbage and egg noodles. I’m inspired to toss some bacon in next time I make it!
I just made colcannon with bacon and I half a head of cabbage left! I have been trying to decide what to do with it! Now I know! Great recipe! Thanks for the inspiration!
I find cabbage to be a little bit boring on its own, but fried with bacon?? Oh yes, I am so on board with this!!
You had me at ‘bacon’. Perfect to go along with our corned beef this year!