Fried Cabbage with Bacon - Dinner at the Zoo

This fried cabbage is cooked to tender perfection with bacon and onions. A super easy low carb side dish that’s perfect for any occasion!

Cabbage is such an underrated vegetable in my opinion – it’s inexpensive, available year round, and totally delicious! I also love to make other cabbage dishes like my flavorful cabbage roll soup and my tender and savory braised cabbage.

Fried cabbage with bacon, onions and parsley.

Cabbage is one of those things that most people never think to cook. Either you buy a bag of coleslaw mix or pick up a head of cabbage once a year on St. Patrick’s Day and make corned beef and cabbage, but otherwise the humble cabbage doesn’t typically make it onto the dinner table. I’m about to change that with this delicious fried cabbage. This simple preparation of is a classic Southern recipe that pairs green cabbage with bacon. After you try it, you’ll be eating cabbage every week!

Fried Cabbage Ingredients

To cook fried cabbage you will need green cabbage, bacon, white onion, salt, pepper, sugar and parsley.

How do you make fried cabbage?

This recipe starts with bacon, which gets cooked in a large pan or skillet until crisp. A pile of diced onions go into the bacon fat to cook, then chopped cabbage is added to the mix. Everything gets cooked together making sure to stir occasionally until the cabbage is tender. Add a little parsley and you’re ready to eat!

Tips for fried cabbage

You can make fried cabbage with different varieties of the vegetable, such as purple cabbage, Savoy cabbage and the traditional green cabbage.
Don’t be tempted to buy a bag of pre-shredded cabbage for this dish. The cabbage should be cut into bite-size 1 inch pieces for the most authentic results.
Fried cabbage makes great leftovers, so make a double batch and save some for the next day!

RECIPE FAQS

How do you core a cabbage?

A cabbage core is typically tough and not optimal for eating, so you’ll want to remove your cabbage core before proceeding with the recipe. To core the cabbage, cut your cabbage head in half and use a knife to slice around the core to remove it.

What are the health benefits of cabbage?

Cabbage is packed with nutrients including Vitamin K, Vitamin C, potassium and magnesium. Cabbage helps to improve digestion and curbs inflammation. It also has the potential to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Should you wash a cabbage before frying it?

Yes. Remove the outer leaves and wash the cabbage in cold water. Make sure you dry the cabbage before cooking it!

How do you cut cabbage for frying?

Remove the cabbage core and cut your cabbage into slices. Then further chop those slices into pieces that are about one inch squares. Try to cut the cabbage into pieces that are the same size so they cook evenly.

A bowl of fried cabbage topped with bacon and parsley.

Flavor Variations

Spicy: Feel free to add a little spice by tossing in some red pepper flakes while the cabbage is cooking.
Flavorings: You might want to try a splash of apple cider vinegar on the cabbage for some extra zing! You can also add a little extra savory flavor by mixing in some garlic powder when you place the cabbage in the skillet.
Bacon: You can make this dish with turkey bacon or vegan bacon if you prefer. Make sure to add some oil to the pan if you choose those options.
Meat: Don’t have bacon on hand? You can try another meat such as ham or smoked sausage. You’ll need to add some oil to the pan to compensate for the lack of bacon grease if you go that route.

More Recipes you’ll Love

Fried cabbage is the perfect accompaniment to a variety of proteins such as:

This fried cabbage is so good that it’s earned a regular spot on our dinner rotation, even the kids devour it. Your family is sure to love it too!

This fried cabbage is cooked to tender perfection with bacon and onions. A super easy low carb side dish that’s perfect for any occasion!

Heat a large pan over medium high heat. Add the bacon and cook until browned, 4-5 minutes.
Add the onions to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes or until they are translucent.
Add the cabbage, sugar salt and pepper.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is wilted. You may need to add a bit of water to help the cabbage along.
Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

You can make fried cabbage with different varieties of the vegetable, such as purple cabbage, Savory cabbage and the traditional green cabbage.
Don’t be tempted to buy a bag of pre-shredded cabbage for this dish. The cabbage should be cut into bite-size 1 inch pieces for the most authentic results.

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