Fried Cabbage with Bacon Recipe

May 12, 2020November 18, 2023

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Fried cabbage is a standard side dish in Southern cooking, or a great meal when served on its own. Learn how to make fried cabbage here.

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There’s something amazing about the combination of cabbage in bacon grease. The cabbage wilts down and becomes very tender, and crisp bacon bits give a little bite of texture. This Southern Fried Cabbage recipe has the perfect amount of salt, pepper and a hint of sugar to perfectly complement the dish.

I’m not sure where this recipe originated, but I found it in Granny’s notebook where it had been cut out of a newspaper and paper-clipped to a page. I have several go-to cabbage recipes including Cheesy Cabbage Casserole, Creamed Cabbage and Sweet and Sour Coleslaw, but this is the first time I had found this classic fried bacon and cabbage as a true recipe.

One of the best parts of this recipe is that the leftovers taste even better. Make some extra for your lunch the next day!

Fried Cabbage without Oil

You don’t need to put oil in your pan for this fried cabbage recipe since you are using bacon.

As bacon slowly cooks in the skillet, the bacon fat renders out into the pan, and then the bacon pieces get crispy. The bacon grease is the oil in this recipe; no other oil needs to be added.

Use that delicious, flavor-packed bacon grease as the base of this fried cabbage without oil recipe.

You might actually have too much bacon grease in the pan. If so, do as Grandma did, and save it in a dish in the refrigerator for later. You can use it to flavor up so many recipes.

Skillet Fried Cabbage with Bacon Ingredients

What do I need to make fried cabbage?

Green cabbage, chopped

Bacon, diced

Onion, chopped or sliced

Granulated Sugar

Salt

Black Pepper

Water

How do you make fried cabbage and bacon?

Step by Step Instructions

Fry bacon chunks in a large skillet until crisp; remove bacon onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
Chop cabbage and onions, and add with salt, pepper and sugar to the bacon drippings; sauté for 3 to 4 minutes.
Lower heat to medium low, and add water and bacon.
Cover the pan-fried cabbage with a lid; cook, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes.
For a tangy twist,stirin a dash of vinegar orapple cider vinegarat the end.

Storage Instructions

Let leftover cabbage cool completely. Transfer to an airtight container, and store in the fridge for up to a week. Rewarm in the microwave.

For the full recipe steps and ingredient amounts for how do I make fried cabbage with bacon grease, scroll to the bottom of this post.

Recipe FAQs

Use 4-6 slices of bacon for this recipe; it’s up to you!
If there’s an excessive amount of bacon grease, you can remove half before adding the cabbage. Save it for another recipe.
Use red or green cabbage, or try Savoy cabbage for an entirely different cabbage recipe.
If there’s water left over in the bottom of the pan after 20 minutes, raise the heat again and cook off the liquid with the lid off.
I like mine spicy, but if you don’t start with less black pepper! If you like it really spicy, sprinkle the cabbage with cayenne pepper while cooking.
Love a little heat? Try adding hot sauce to taste!
Corned beef, sausage, turkey bacon or bits of ham would be great substitutions for the bacon.
This German Red Cabbage Recipe is amazing too.

Recipe Variations

Use turkey bacon or vegan bacon if desired.
Add minced garlic or garlic powder for more flavor.
For a bit of heat, add a few red pepper flakes.

Southern Vegetable Recipes

Mom’s Cucumbers and Onions

Marinated Vegetable Salad

Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

Fried Cabbage with Bacon – Skillet Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Bacon and Cabbage are the perfect combination, and Fried Cabbage with Bacon might be my favorite side dish. This fail-proof recipe tastes just like Mom's. Pair it with steak, chicken or pork, or maybe you'll just eat it all by itself. It's that good!

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time25 minutes mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fried cabbage, fried cabbage and bacon, fried cabbage with bacon, fried cabbage with bacon grease, skillet fried cabbage with bacon, southern bacon fried cabbage

Servings: 8

Calories: 83kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

1 head green cabbage, roughly chopped
4-6 slices bacon, cut into chunks
1 onion, sliced thin
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 to 1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup water

Instructions

In a large skillet, fry bacon until crisp; remove bacon to paper towels to drain. (If there's an excessive amount of bacon grease, you can pour off half if desired).
To the bacon grease, add cabbage, onion, sugar, salt and pepper; saute over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes.
Add water and bacon; cover with a lid and reduce heat to medium-low.
Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally or until cabbage is very tender.
If there's water left in the bottom of the pan after 20 minutes, remove lid and increase heat until remaining liquid is cooked off.

Notes

Use 4-6 slices of bacon for this recipe; it’s up to you!
If there’s an excessive amount of bacon grease, you can remove half before adding the cabbage. Save it for another recipe.
Use red or green cabbage, or try Savoy cabbage for an entirely different cabbage recipe.
If there’s water left over in the bottom of the pan after 20 minutes, raise the heat again and cook off the liquid with the lid off.
I like mine spicy, but if you don’t start with less black pepper!
Love a little heat? Try adding hot sauce to taste!
This German Red Cabbage Recipe is amazing too.
Have extra cabbage? Try Creamy Cabbage or Cheesy Cabbage Casserole too!
Please note that the carb counts, calorie counts and nutritional information varies greatly depending on the products you use.The auto-calculation is an automated estimate and should not be used for specific dietary needs.

Nutrition

Linking up to Weekend Potluck.

Fried Cabbage with Bacon Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep cabbage crisp when cooking? ›

Once people started roasting them at a high heat, perhaps with a little extra salt and fat (like bacon), it was a game-changer. You can also try slicing cabbage thin and sautéing it to maintain some of its crunchy texture.

Learn More Now ›

Is fried cabbage healthy to eat? ›

As soon as the cabbage is tender and browned like the photos, it's ready to serve! This healthy Sautéed Cabbage is low in calories (just 77 per serving!). It also offers tons of vitamin C and fiber. Plus, it's rich in antioxidants, which may help reduce inflammation.

Find Out More ›

What is bacon and cabbage made of? ›

Bacon and cabbage (Irish: bagún agus cabáiste) is a dish traditionally associated with Ireland. The dish consists of sliced back bacon boiled with cabbage and potatoes. Smoked bacon is sometimes used. The dish is served with the bacon sliced, and with some of the boiling juices added.

Get More Info Here ›

Does cabbage reduce when cooked? ›

Loss of Vitamin C: Cabbage is a good source of vitamin C, which is sensitive to heat and can be destroyed during cooking. Boiling cabbage can result in a loss of up to 50% of its vitamin C content, while steaming or microwaving can cause less loss.

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Do you rinse cabbage before frying? ›

It's totally up to you, and probably depends on where you get your cabbage. Canbage isn't known for harboring parasites, but it can be dirty on the outside. Rinse it off and slice it in half. If it looks dirty on the inside, you can quarter it, then soak the quarters in a bowl of water.

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Why is my fried cabbage bitter? ›

Cabbage and onions contain sulfur-based compounds and enzymes that are kept apart — and nonreactive — in separate cells when the plants are whole. But when you cut the vegetables, the compounds and enzymes mix, creating pungent, bitter and foul-smelling compounds that repel insects (and people!).

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Is fried cabbage good for kidneys? ›

Stir-frying helps maintain the texture and flavor in vegetables. Vegetables such as asparagus, bean sprouts, bell pepper, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, snow peas and spring onions are kidney-friendly, low-potassium choices. Add sweetness with mandarin oranges, pineapple or grapes.

Is fried cabbage bad for diabetics? ›

Cabbage is low in calories and high in fibre content, so it becomes an ideal vegetable to choose for diabetics. It is also low on glycemic index with a rank of 10 (anything below 55 is considered low). GI is an indicator of how fast the carbohydrates will raise the blood glucose levels in your blood.

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What does fried cabbage do for you? ›

Here are some benefits of consuming fried or boiled cabbage leaves as an Indian salad: Rich in Nutrients: Cabbage is packed with essential nutrients such as vitamins (particularly vitamin K, vitamin C, and various B vitamins), minerals (including potassium and calcium), and dietary fiber.

Know More ›

How do you cook cabbage without making it soggy? ›

To work the magic of osmosis on your cabbage you'll need to shred all of it first. Then, put it in a bowl with a tablespoon of salt per head of cabbage used and let it rest for one to two hours. Then drain off the water, and dry your cabbage with a paper towel before continuing with your recipe.

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How do you keep shredded cabbage crispy? ›

How to store cabbage after it is cut

Either wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, in a large plastic bag, or in an air-tight container in your crisper. This will help to lock in your cabbage's natural moisture and reduce oxidation.
Cut cabbage should be used in 2-3 days.

Apr 7, 2022

Show Me More ›

How do you keep cooked vegetables crisp? ›

Your vegetables are about to get even crispier with this simple tip. The next time you roast vegetables, add some cornstarch. Yes, cornstarch—that box in your pantry is the secret to a super-crispy exterior on veggies, from potatoes to cauliflower.

Read On ›

How do you keep vegetables crisp when cooking? ›

What are some tips for cooking veggies so they aren't rubbery? I like to boil them for a few minutes, until they are ALMOST done, then take them out of the hot water, dump them into a big bowl of ice water, then return them to the boiling water for maybe one minute. Makes them crisp and not rubbery or floppy!