Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Why This Recipe is a Keeper!

When fried, cabbage develops a delicious nutty, slightly sweet flavor because its natural sugars caramelize. That savory, sweet flavor that results from the caramelization pairs perfectly with the smokiness of the bacon and the earthy, pungent flavor of onions in this Southern-inspired side dish.

A small amount of chicken broth helps to “deglaze” the skillet, so none of the flavorful browned bits from the bacon, cabbage, and onions stays behind. The fried cabbage is then finished with a touch of butter to create a delicate “sauce.”

Packed with nutrients and fiber, green cabbage is a versatile and budget-friendly vegetable that can go a long way. If you have a half-head of cabbage remaining from another recipe, you can use it to prepare this quick, easy, healthy low-carb side dish. Fried cabbage is great with many things, especially meatloaf, stracotto, and chicken pot pie!

This Fried Cabbage with Bacon recipe is:

• Easy!
• Budget-friendly!
• Low-carb!
• Super tasty!

How to Make Fried Cabbage with Bacon:

Recipe Ingredients:

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this Southern fried cabbage recipe. See the recipe card below for the exact quantities.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:

• Bacon: Bacon is the second most important ingredient in a fried cabbage with bacon recipe next to the cabbage! I used peppered bacon, which gives this dish a nice spicy kick! Use your favorite bacon; however, I would avoid something sweet like maple-flavored bacon. If you don’t consume pork, substitute turkey, beef, or plant-based bacon.
• Chicken Broth: You can also use vegetable broth.
• Cabbage: Use plain green cabbage or Savoy cabbage.
• Butter: I always use unsalted butter in cooking and baking because it’s easier to control the level of salt in whatever I’m making.
• Parsley: I recommend using flat-leaf Italian parsley.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

• Gather and prep all the ingredients.
• Slice the bacon widthwise into small pieces.
• Place the bacon in a cast iron skillet and cook over medium-high heat until the bacon is cooked and crispy, approximately 5 to 6 minutes, adjusting the heat as necessary so the bacon fat does not smoke.
• Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve all the bacon fat.

• Add the onion, reduce heat to medium, and cook for 5 to 6 minutes or until the onion softens.
• Add the garlic and cook briefly, 10 to 15 seconds, or until fragrant.

• Add the cabbage and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, frequently stirring until the cabbage wilts and is lightly browned.

• Push the cabbage aside and add the chicken broth. (Be careful not to pour the chicken broth over the cabbage as it will dilute the caramelization on the cabbage.)
• Bring to a boil and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until the chicken broth almost evaporates.

• Add the butter and stir to melt.

• Add the bacon back into the cabbage and stir to heat through.
• Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
• Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately.

• That’s it, friends! A Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon recipe!

Enjoy!

Chef Tip:

• While you can certainly cook the bacon strips whole and then crumble them into pieces, cutting the bacon into small pieces before cooking allows it to cook faster, and it looks nicer in your finished dish.
• Leftover fried cabbage makes a great addition to a pot of soup, especially bean soup.

Storage:

• Refrigerate any leftovers and enjoy them within 4 to 5 days.

Serve with:

• Boneless Short Rib Recipe (Mississippi-Style)
• Buttery Blackened Steak Bites with Gorgonzola
• Nashville Hot Fried Chicken
• Cheesy Cauliflower Grits with Blackened Shrimp
• Braised Pork Loin Roast in Dijon Mustard Sauce

More great cabbage recipes you’ll love!

• Stewed Cabbage Recipe
• Baked Cabbage
• Roasted Cabbage Steaks with Mustard Vinaigrette
• Roasted Red Cabbage Steaks Recipe

Get all my vegetable recipes at: Side Dishes – Vegetables – From A Chef’s Kitchen