Fried Cabbage With Bacon, with tender cabbage and savory bacon, makes a quick and easy, super flavorful Southern side dish for any meal, especially for St. Patrick’s Day.
Why You’ll Love This Fried Cabbage With Bacon Recipe
While this is a perfect side dish for St Patrick’s Day, I serve Fried Cabbage With Bacon all year round. As a traditional Southern side dish, it is one we grew up on. The combination of cabbage with the savory bacon, onions, and garlic gives it loads of flavor. However, what really takes it over the top and makes this recipe a little different, is the addition of Cajun Seasoning and hot sauce, which gives it that extra kick to really spice it up.
However, what I love most about this recipe is how quick and easy it is to make. With only 4 main ingredients plus seasoning, in 20 minutes you can have dinner on the table. It cooks up fast and all in one skillet, and for us Southern cooks, it must be a cast-iron skillet, just saying!
Another reason to love this Fried Cabbage with Bacon recipe is that it is very budget-friendly. Cabbage is very inexpensive, available all year round, and is so versatile.
What Type Of Cabbage Is Used For Fried Cabbage?
You will need to pick up a head of green cabbage in the produce section at the grocery store. Green cabbage has pale green leaves. If the outer leaves are wilted, those should be discarded.
Is Cabbage Good For You?
According to Healthline.com, cabbage is high in fiber, vitamin B6, Folate, and is especially high in vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that may help to prevent heart disease, cancer, and vision loss.
Is Cabbage Low Carb?
Again, according to Healthline, “One cup (89 grams) of chopped raw cabbage contains 5 grams of carbs, 3 of which are fiber.” See, you don’t need to worry. You can enjoy cabbage and be happy and guilt-free. It can fit into a Keto or other low carb eating plans.
What Do I Need To Make Fried Cabbage With Bacon?
Equipment
Below are tools that you will need to make this recipe. These affiliate links will allow you to see the product on Amazon.com. If you choose to purchase one of the items from Amazon, I will receive a very small commission on the product at no additional cost to you.
- Cast Iron Skillet – I recommend using a cast-iron skillet because it heats evenly. However, if you don’t have one, use a regular skillet and it will still taste delicious.
- Splatter Guard – To keep the bacon grease from splattering while cooking in the skillet.
- Cutting Board – You will need a good cutting board to chop the cabbage.
- Chef’s Knife – Again, you will need a good knife to cut the cabbage.
- Spatula – A spatula is needed to turn the baggage when it is cooking in the cast iron skillet.
Ingredients
- 8 slices thick-sliced bacon, cut into 1-inch strips
- 1 onion
- 3 Tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 small Head of Green Cabbage
- 1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning – If you don’t like a little spicy heat, then you can leave this out.
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Hot Sauce (like Tabasco) to taste – Likewise, if you don’t like the spicy heat, leave this out.
How To Cook Fried Cabbage With Bacon
Below are step by step instructions on how to cook Fried Cabbage With Bacon and just below the written instructions is a photo collage of the main steps for cooking Fried Cabbage With Bacon to help you know what the food should look like at each stage of the process.
Fry Bacon On Top of Stove
- Place a cold cast iron skillet on the stove over medium heat and spray with a little cooking spray. (This is just so the bacon won’t stick to the pan. No need to add oil because the bacon fat will generate plenty of fat.)
- Add the 1-inch cut uncooked bacon pieces in the skillet and cook for a few minutes until the bacon fat is rendered, about 3 – 4 minutes.
- Turn the bacon pieces and cook the bacon for a few minutes until both sides of bacon pieces are brown and crispy, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Remove the bacon from the skillet and place the bacon on a paper-towel covered plate. Drain excess fat from the skillet, leaving about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the skillet.
- TIP: Watch the bacon carefully while it cooks because it will cook very quickly. If you leave it too long, it could burn.
Saute Onions and Garlic
- In the same skillet used to cook the bacon, add the chopped onions and cook for about 3 or 4 minutes until the onions are softened. Then add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute more, stirring while the garlic cooks.
Cut Cabbage
- Wash and drain the cabbage, and remove any wilted outer leaves.
- Place the head of cabbage on a cutting board, and using a large chef’s knife, cut the head of cabbage in half from top to bottom. Then place each half on the cutting board with the cut side facing down on the cutting board and slice the cabbage top to bottom, making the slices about 1-inch apart. Then turn the cabbage half 90 degrees and make cuts about 1-inch apart again.
Fry Cabbage
- In the same skillet with the remaining bacon fat, on the stove over medium heat, add the cut cabbage. It will fill up the skillet. Don’t worry, the cabbage will cook down and wilt. Add the salt, pepper, and Cajun Seasoning and stir.
- Add the cooked bacon pieces back in the skillet with the cabbage. Add a dash or two of hot sauce, such as Tabasco, if desired. Remove the Fried Cabbage and Bacon from the skillet and into a serving bowl. Enjoy!
How To Store Leftover Cabbage?
- Place any leftover Fried Cabbage With Bacon in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. I recommend eating as soon as possible as the cabbage will get more soggy the longer it sits in the refrigerator.
Can You Freeze Fried Cabbage With Bacon?
- Yes, you can freeze uncooked cabbage in an airtight freezer-safe container or freezer bag for up to two months.
What To Serve With Fried Cabbage With Bacon
- Irish Soda Bread Muffins With Cheddar And Jalapeno
- Corned Beef
- Crockpot Chuck Roast
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork or Instant Pot Pulled Pork
- Black Pepper Sage Pork Chops
- Oven Baked Chicken Breast
More Cabbage Recipes You’ll Love
More Southern Recipes
- Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings
- Dr Pepper Chipotle BBQ Chicken
- Cheesy Bacon Ranch Hash Brown Casserole
- Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits
- Old Fashioned Chess Pie
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Fried Cabbage With Bacon
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon (cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 Tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 head green cabbage
- 1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3 dashes hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Fry Bacon On Top of Stove. Place a cold cast iron skillet on the stove over medium heat and spray with a little cooking spray. (This is just so the bacon won't stick to the pan. No need to add oil because the bacon fat will generate plenty of fat.) Add the 1-inch cut uncooked bacon pieces in the skillet and cook for a few minutes until the bacon fat is rendered, about 3 - 4 minutes. Turn the bacon pieces, and cook the bacon for a few minutes until both sides of bacon pieces are brown and crispy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the bacon from the skillet and place the bacon on a paper-towel covered plate. Drain excess fat from the skillet, leaving about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the skillet.
- Saute Onions and Garlic. In the same skillet used to cook the bacon, add the chopped onions and cook for about 3 or 4 minutes until the onions are softened. Then add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute more, stirring while the garlic cooks.
- Cut Cabbage. Wash and drain the cabbage, and remove any wilted outer leaves. Place the head of cabbage on a cutting board, and using a large chef's knife, cut the head of cabbage in half from top to bottom. Then place each half on the cutting board with the cut side facing down on the cutting board and slice the cabbage top to bottom, making the slices about 1-inch apart. Then turn the cabbage half 90 degrees and make cuts about 1-inch apart again.
- Fry Cabbage. In the same skillet with the remaining bacon fat, on the stove over medium heat, add the cut cabbage. It will fill up the skillet. Don't worry, the cabbage will cook down and wilt. Add the salt, pepper, and Cajun Seasoning and stir. Add the cooked bacon pieces back in the skillet with the cabbage. Add a dash or two of hot sauce, such as Tabasco, if desired. Remove the Fried Cabbage and Bacon from the skillet and into a serving bowl. Enjoy!
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