The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (2024)

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Katerina

4.94 from 15 votes

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Fried Cabbage is a delicious comfort food recipe prepared with fresh cabbage and smoky bacon! It is a quick and easy side dish perfect for a weeknight meal.

The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (2)

The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe

What comes together in 10 minutes, in just one pan, and with 3 main ingredients? FRIED CABBAGE! Sweet and tender cabbage cooked with bacon results in a delicious dish great to serve alongside lamb, beef, chicken, or pork. Growing up Macedonian, during the winter, we always had cabbage dishes. From Cabbage Soup with Rice to Cabbage Rolls and this Fried Cabbage, you just couldn’t escape it. But that’s AY-OK (now it’s okay, not when I was a kid and just wanted mac and cheese like everyone else) because cabbage is rich in nutrients and promotes detoxification; it’s also packed with antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins.

This Fried Cabbage Recipe is all about mixing it up – it’s got crunch, flavor, and the kind of side dish that leaves you wanting seconds. Thanks to a good dose of bacon, garlic, and onion, every bite is a little celebration of taste that goes great with just about any main dish you’re serving up. And because it’s so quick to prepare and made with readily available ingredients, this recipe is a practical choice for busy weeknights.

Why You Should Make This Fried Cabbage Recipe

  • Easy: With minimal ingredients and a short cooking time, this dish is perfect for busy families.
  • Nutrient-Rich: Cabbage is packed with essential vitamins and antioxidants, offering a healthy yet tasty side option.
  • Versatility: This fried cabbage pairs beautifully with various chicken, beef, or pork dishes.
  • Low-Carb Friendly: A great option for those watching their carb intake, delivering flavor without the carbs.
The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (3)
The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (4)

Ingredients for Fried Cabbage

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this tasty fried cabbage – you might already have most of these ingredients in your kitchen!

  • Thick-Cut Bacon: You’ll need to dice 4 slices of bacon.
  • Yellow Onion
  • Green Cabbage: Remove the core and coarsely chop the cabbage or shred it.
  • Garlic
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Adds a spicy kick for those who love a touch of heat.
  • Green Onions: Provides a colorful garnish and an extra layer of flavor.

How To Make Fried Cabbage with Bacon

This recipe comes together quickly. I advise you to prep your ingredients – dice the bacon, onion, garlic, and chop the cabbage – before you start to cook.

  1. Cook the diced bacon in a large nonstick skillet until crispy. Remove bacon and set aside, retaining the grease in the skillet.
  2. Sauté the onion in the bacon grease until tender. Add the chopped cabbage and minced garlic, seasoning with salt and pepper, and stir until the cabbage is tender.
  3. Mix the cooked bacon back into the skillet with the cabbage mixture.
  4. Garnish with red pepper flakes and green onions before serving.
The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (5)

Tips and Variations For Frying Cabbage

  • Cabbage Selection: Choose a cabbage with tight, compact leaves, which is a sign of freshness. The outer leaves should be vibrant and crisp, not wilted.
  • Shredding Technique: When cutting your cabbage, make sure to shred or chop it uniformly. This ensures even cooking.
  • Don’t overcook the cabbage. Remove the skillet from the heat as soon as the cabbage is just tender. Overcooked cabbage will result in limp, mushy, and smelly cabbage.
  • Flavor the cabbage to your taste. Add paprika to it, dried herbs, onion powder, curry powder, or whatever else you might like.
  • If you want a vegetarian dish, leave out the bacon and use 2 tablespoons of avocado oil or olive oil instead of the bacon grease.
  • Veggie Variations: Consider adding other vegetables to the mix, such as bell peppers or sliced Brussels sprouts, for added flavor and texture.

How To Serve Cabbage

Cabbageis a versatile vegetable, and it goes well with chicken, pork, beef, or whatever you like to make a hearty meal. Consider making these smothered pork chops or this pork tenderloin, and then there’s my corned beef or a juicy roast chicken.

The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (6)

Storing Leftovers

  • Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for 3 days.
  • Freezer: This dish tastes best when fresh, but you can freeze it for 2 months and then reheat it in a skillet.

More Cabbage Recipes

  • Balsamic Roasted Cabbage Steaks
  • Red Cabbage and Carrot Slaw Recipes
  • Classic Southern Coleslaw
  • Roasted Vegetable Salad
  • Cabbage Cucumber Salad
  • Corned Beef and Cabbage

ENJOY!

The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (7)

Fried Cabbage

Katerina | Diethood

Fried Cabbage is a delicious comfort food recipe prepared with fresh cabbage and smoky bacon. It is a quick and easy side dish perfect for busy days.

4.94 from 15 votes

Rate this Recipe!

Servings : 6 serves

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1 small head green cabbage, cored and coarsely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • sliced green onions, for garnish, optional

Instructions

  • Cook the diced bacon in a large nonstick skillet set over medium heat for about 5 minutes or to a desired crispness. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon from the pan and set aside, leaving the bacon grease in the skillet.

  • Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Stir in cabbage and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is just tender, about 6 to 8 minutes.

  • Remove from heat and stir the bacon back into the skillet.

  • Garnish with red pepper flakes and green onions, and serve.

Notes

  • Cabbage: Choose a cabbage with tight, compact leaves that appear vibrant and crisp, not wilted.
  • Shredding/Chopping: When cutting your cabbage, make sure to shred or chop it uniformly. This ensures even cooking.
  • Taste As You Go: Especially when seasoning, taste as you cook. This will help you determine if you need to add more salt, pepper, or other seasonings.
  • Veggies: Add other vegetables, such as bell peppers or sliced Brussels sprouts.
  • Spice: If you like a bit of heat, consider adding a dash of chili powder or a sprinkle of cayenne.
  • Cooking Time: Be cautious not to overcook the cabbage. You want it to be tender but still retain some crispness for texture.
  • Stir: While the cabbage is frying, make sure to stir it occasionally. This will help it cook evenly and prevent it from sticking to the pan.

Nutrition

Calories: 148 kcal | Carbohydrates: 11 g | Protein: 5 g | Fat: 10 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Cholesterol: 16 mg | Sodium: 188 mg | Potassium: 338 mg | Fiber: 4 g | Sugar: 6 g | Vitamin A: 182 IU | Vitamin C: 57 mg | Calcium: 67 mg | Iron: 1 mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American/Southern, Balkans, Macedonian, Polish

Keyword: cabbage recipe, easy side dish, fried cabbage, keto friendly recipes, low carb side dish

Did you make this recipe?Leave a Rating!

Categories:

  • Dinner Recipes
  • Lunch
  • One Pot Meals
  • Quick Dinner Ideas
  • Side Dishes
The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do you put baking soda in cabbage? ›

Adding baking soda to your boiling cabbage can help reduce the objectionable smell and maintain the green color long after when it typically turns grayish from cooking for too long.

Is fried cabbage good to eat? ›

It pairs well with just about any protein and could even be served alongside pasta, casserole (like Broccoli Quinoa Casserole), or anything else you enjoy! Cabbage Is Good for You. Cabbage is a powerhouse of vitamins (particularly vitamin C), minerals, and antioxidants.

Why do people add sugar to cabbage? ›

Sugar: Plain ol' granulated sugar, the amount also to taste. It brings out the subtle, natural sweetness of Southern Fried Cabbage.

Why do you soak cabbage before cooking? ›

Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water. This also helps cut the pungent edge. Drain well before combining with other ingredients.

What can I add to cabbage to prevent gas? ›

Add herbs. Adding the right herbs can also help ease digestion. A few of Cording's favorites that pair particularly well with cabbage include ginger and turmeric.

Why should cabbage not be eaten raw? ›

2. Cabbages. They're notorious for harboring tapeworms and tapeworm eggs, which is invisible to the naked eye. Some of these tapeworms have survived some of the harshest insecticides and pesticides, so your vegetable washes are too mild for them.

Why is my fried cabbage bitter? ›

What's more, prolonged cooking can alter the flavor of cabbage, making it taste more bitter or bland rather than retaining its natural sweetness and mildness. To avoid these issues, it's best to cook green cabbage until it's tender but still retains some crispness and its vibrant color.

What is the healthiest way to eat cabbage? ›

Although you get different nutrients if you cook or ferment it, raw red cabbage in particular might give you the best nutritional boost per serving. Slice it very thinly and leave it for about 10 minutes to help bring out the fullest, most complex flavors. Then add it to salads or sandwiches or turn it into coleslaw.

Can dogs have cabbage? ›

Cabbage. All varieties of cabbage are not only tasty to your dog, they are also very healthy. Cabbage helps your dog's digestive system and is good for their skin. It can cause flatulence (gas) in dogs, so remember to feed cabbage in small amounts, and introduce it into their diet slowly.

Can you freeze cabbage? ›

Once it's washed and cut up, cabbage can be frozen, but for longer-term storage, it's best to blanch it first. Blanched cabbage can be frozen for up to nine months, while unblanched cabbage will only keep for one to two months.

Why do I feel so good after eating cabbage? ›

Improved immune system.

The vitamin C found in cabbage is good for your whole body. Not only is it an antioxidant that fights free radicals, but it also helps to fight heart disease, cancer, and even the common cold. Vitamin C also helps your body to absorb the iron it needs.

Should diabetics avoid cabbage? ›

Cabbage can be particularly beneficial for people with diabetes, but its high nutritional value makes it a healthy choice. This vegetable is loaded with nutrients, including vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, and folate, and it is also high in fiber.

What happens to the body when you eat cabbage everyday? ›

Many studies have suggested that increasing consumption of plant-based foods like cabbage decreases the risk of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and overall mortality. It can also help promote a healthy complexion, increased energy, and overall lower weight.

What happens when you mix cabbage juice and baking soda? ›

The cabbage juice is called an indicator because it can tell you the pH of a solution based on the color that it changes. The vinegar will turn the cabbage juice red because it is an acid (acetic acid). The baking soda will turn the cabbage juice greenish-yellow because it is a base (sodium bicarbonate).

What can you put on cabbage to stop bugs from eating it? ›

Growing aromatic plants amongst the cabbage-type plants — like hyssop, thyme, wormwood, celery, dill, sage and onions — will all help to confuse these insects. BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) or Dipel, if you spray each week, can also control these insects.

What is the disadvantage of using baking soda to vegetables? ›

This is a bad practice, however, and you should avoid adding baking soda when boiling any type of vegetable. It has various unwelcome effects, such as softening the vegetable, altering the vegetable's flavor, destroying thiamine content, and hastening the loss of vitamin C.

Why do people put baking soda in greens? ›

Baking soda is an alkali salt possessing the tenderizing and flavor-enhancing properties of regular salt. As an alkaline ingredient, it will make boiling water alkaline, effectively protecting the chlorophyll in green vegetables from breaking down.

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