Easy Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon is the perfect southern comfort food side dish. In less than 15 minutes you can have a great cabbage side dish that everyone loves.
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Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon
I was talking with my sister-in-law the 1st time I made southern fried cabbage to make sure I had the family recipe just right. My husband grew up in Alabama, and his sister still lives there.
She is my go-to source for perfecting southern family recipes. She told me that she likes to add cooked egg noodles to her fried southern-style cabbage and bacon. Her husband prefers it piled on a plate all on its own but she likes the addition of the egg noodles to make it more of a meal.
I made this recipe with bacon but you can also make it with smoked sausage to add more protein to the dish.
Enjoy this vegetable side dish on its own or make it a meal by pairing it with an epic piece of cornbread and some iced tea. This is the perfect easy side dish that doesn't take hours to prepare.
This fried southern cabbage recipe is a family favorite that tastes amazing. Pair it with mashed potatoes, a side salad, or enjoy it on its own.
This southern fried cabbage recipe side dish pairs perfectly with pork chops.
Ingredients
- Bacon
- Butter
- Onion
- Green Cabbage
- Salt and Black Pepper
Optional - Cajun Seasoning, red pepper flakes, olive oil, garlic powder, ham pieces, bell pepper, carrots, celery, or onion powder.
If you prefer a sweet fried cabbage you can sprinkle in a bit of sugar.
For a spicy cabbage add in ¼ to ½ teaspoon of your favorite Cajun seasoning.
Bacon - We prefer using thick cut bacon, it produces a nice amount of bacon grease and is thick enough to add flavor with the cabbage.
Butter - You can use salted or unsalted butter. We tend to use unsalted butter so we are in control of how much salt gets added to this great recipe.
Cabbage - Use a medium cabbage so it all fits in the skillet. You want all the pieces to be coated with the bacon butter mixture for epic flavor.
Equipment Needed
Large skillet/Large pot - This fried cabbage recipe can be made in a large skillet or a Dutch oven.
Wooden spoons
Sharp knife
If you love cabbage make sure to check out our Corned Beef and Cabbage, Slow cooker cabbage rolls, cabbage roll soup, and kielbasa and cabbage.
How to core a cabbage
Cut the cabbage in quarters. Remove the thick hard core portion from each section before cutting the cabbage into slices.
How to make Southern Fried Cabbage
Step 1 - cook slices of bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until cooked to desired consistency. Reserve the bacon grease in the pan, Remove the bacon drippings/pieces to the side.
Make sure you don't burn the bacon. The burnt flavor will transfer to the fried cabbage.
Step 2 - Add butter to the skillet and combine with bacon grease over medium heat. add in the onion to the melted butter bacon grease mixture and cook until tender approximately 3-5 minutes depending on the how hot the pan is.
Add in bacon pieces and stir together.
Step 3- Add in the cabbage and cook until tender, stirring to prevent pieces from burning and evenly coating with butter bacon grease mixture. Cook the cabbage, stirring occasionally to evenly coat it.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
This vegetable side dish is best served right after you make it.
If it sits in the pan and continues to cook the cabbage starts to lose its crunch.
Recipe Tips
Make sure you use a large enough skillet that you can easily stir the cabbage and not have it fly all over the kitchen.
If you like your cabbage tender you can cook this a little longer. If you like a bit more crunch you can cook it less until you reach the desired texture.
We suggest using fresh head of cabbage that you cut right before making this dish. I know they sell pre-cut cabbage but it has a tendency to turn mushy quickly when cooking it.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Great Side Dishes
Do you love recipes? Check out our copy cat recipes, dessert recipes, and our Crock Pot Recipes.
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Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Ingredients
- 8 slices Bacon cooked, chopped, keep the bacon grease
- 1 Onion medium, chopped
- 2 Tablespoon Butter
- 1 Cabbage medium, cored and sliced thin
- Salt and pepper to taste to taste
Instructions
- Cook bacon to desired texture, remove bacon from the skillet but reserve the bacon grease.
- Add butter to bacon grease over medium low heat. Stir together.
- Add in chopped onion and cook until tender. Add chopped bacon into pan and stir together.
- Add the thinly sliced cabbage and cook until tender. Stir together to evenly coat with bacon butter mixture.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste
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