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!

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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 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. Balsamic vinegar: Apple cider vinegar works just fine, too, but I like the flavor balsamic adds, and it's a tad sweeter so I don't add as much sugar.

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. However, this may rid the cabbage of its nutritional value.

How to stop cabbage from giving you gas? ›

One way to cut down on some of the gas-producing effects is to choose cooked cabbage over raw. “Generally speaking, cooking can help reduce this effect by 'softening' the fiber, making it a little bit easier on the digestive system,” explains Cording.

What does eating a lot of cabbage do to your body? ›

Cabbage, especially red cabbage, seems to raise levels of beta-carotene, lutein, and other heart-protective antioxidants. It also helps lower something called “oxidized” LDL, which is linked to hardening of the arteries. And since it eases inflammation, it can help prevent heart disease.

Is cabbage bad for high blood sugar? ›

Cabbage is a low glycemic index food, meaning it does not cause a rapid increase in blood sugar levels. Additionally, cabbage contains compounds that have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation, both of which can help regulate blood sugar levels.

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 does cooked cabbage do to your stomach? ›

It helps improve digestion

If you want to improve your digestive health, fiber-rich cabbage is a great option. This crunchy vegetable is full of gut-friendly insoluble fiber, a type of carbohydrate that can't be broken down in the intestines.

Can you cook cabbage too long? ›

You want to cook until tender, but err on the side of caution—overcooked cabbage will turn limp and give off a less-than-pleasant smell.

Why can't you lay down after eating cabbage? ›

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are very good for health in general but are probably not the best thing to load up on before you head to bed. These vegetables can interfere with your ability to sleep soundly because you're likely still digesting all that fibre while trying to fall asleep.

Why does my stomach hurt after eating cabbage? ›

Cruciferous Vegetables

Vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower are high in sulfur and can cause bloating and gas.

Why does my body hate cabbage? ›

Researchers have now discovered that enterochromaffin cells are also specially adapted to sense irritants released by diet. Specifically, the cells are able to sense allyl isothiocyanate found in cabbage, which irritates the gut by causing inflammation.

Do you rinse cabbage before frying? ›

Cabbage
  1. Remove the thick outer leaves of the cabbage head.
  2. Cut the cabbage into wedges.
  3. Rinse the wedges in a colander under running water.
  4. Shake them dry as best as you can, then pat them with a clean cotton towel to remove additional moisture.
Dec 7, 2023

Can dogs have 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.

What makes cabbage taste sweet? ›

These plants can take cool weather and some say they are sweeter after a frost has dusted their leaves. This is because as the temperatures drop, the cold causes the plants to break down the energy and convert it into sugar, leading to a sweeter, tastier flavor.

Why is cooked cabbage sweet? ›

Curried Roasted Cabbage has sweet flavors, since high heat brings out the natural sugar in the cruciferous vegetable.

Does cabbage have a lot of sugar? ›

Cabbage is low in sugar compared to many other fruits and vegetables, and it also helps to regulate blood sugar in several ways. This vegetable is low in calories and packed with fiber.

How do you sweeten bitter cabbage? ›

Salt is your friend: Salt acts as a natural counter to bitter tastes. Adding a bit more salt or something salty like capers to bitter-tasting cabbage will dampen the bitter tastes and increase the sensation from the natural sugars.

References

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