Fried Cabbage with Bacon Recipe: Easy Southern Comfort Food

The sizzle of bacon in a hot skillet, followed by the sweet aroma of cabbage wilting in those smoky drippings—fried cabbage with bacon turns an ordinary vegetable into something crave-worthy. This humble dish has graced tables for generations, transforming inexpensive cabbage into a savory side that pairs perfectly with almost any meal. The bacon adds just enough smoky richness to make the cabbage irresistible, while onions caramelize into sweet pockets throughout.

What Makes This Special?

Fried cabbage has roots in Irish-American kitchens, where resourceful cooks knew how to make the most of inexpensive vegetables. During the Depression and other lean times, this dish provided filling nutrition with just a small amount of meat for flavor. Cabbage cost pennies, bacon was used sparingly, and together they created something greater than the sum of their parts.

Recipe Quick Stats

Ingredients You’ll Need

Main Ingredients:

• 1 head green cabbage (about 2 pounds)
• 6 slices bacon, diced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (optional)

How to Make Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Preparing the Ingredients

Step 1: Cut cabbage in half through the core. Lay each half flat and cut out the tough core. Slice into thin strips, about ¼-inch wide. Dice bacon into ½-inch pieces. Chop onion and mince garlic.

Cooking

Step 2: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook diced bacon over medium heat until crisp, about 7-8 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving drippings in pan.

Step 3: Add chopped onion to bacon drippings. Cook until soft and lightly golden, about 5 minutes.

Step 4: Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly.

Step 5: Add all the cabbage along with sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir well to coat with bacon drippings.

Step 6: Cover and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The cabbage will wilt dramatically.

Step 7: Uncover and cook another 5-10 minutes until cabbage is tender with some caramelized edges.

Step 8: Return crispy bacon to pan. If using vinegar, add now and stir. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve hot.

How Do You Cook Cabbage with Bacon?

The key is rendering bacon fat first, then using those drippings as your cooking medium. This infuses smoky flavor throughout. Cook onions in the fat to build an aromatic base. Add cabbage and coat thoroughly. Cover initially to steam and wilt, then uncover to evaporate moisture and allow caramelization. The two-stage cooking creates tender cabbage with sweet caramelized edges.

Why This Is Easy Fried Cabbage with Bacon

This recipe requires minimal prep and no special skills. Everything cooks in one pan with simple timing. The cabbage is forgiving—a few extra minutes won’t ruin it. Just cook bacon, soften onion, wilt cabbage. In 30 minutes, you have a side dish that tastes like far more effort.

Can Fried Cabbage with Bacon Be Reheated?

Yes, and it reheats beautifully. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or microwave covered for 2-3 minutes. The flavor actually improves overnight as bacon and seasonings penetrate the cabbage more deeply.

Is Fried Cabbage with Bacon Healthy?

Cabbage is incredibly nutritious—low in calories, high in fiber, loaded with vitamins C and K. The bacon adds fat and sodium, but 6 slices divided among 6 servings means about 1 slice per person—reasonable. You can reduce bacon to 4 slices if preferred. Compared to cream-based sides, this is relatively healthy comfort food that gets people to eat their vegetables.

Simple Recipe Tips

1: Don’t crowd the pan. If your skillet is smaller than 12 inches, cook in batches or the cabbage will steam instead of caramelize.

2: The sugar is essential. It balances cabbage’s slight bitterness and helps with caramelization.

3: For extra sweetness, add a grated apple or tablespoon of brown sugar with the cabbage.

Mistake to Avoid: Don’t cook covered the entire time. You need uncovered cooking to evaporate moisture and develop caramelized edges.

Southern Style Fried Cabbage with Bacon

In the South, fried cabbage is soul food, often served alongside buttermilk biscuits, fried chicken, or pork chops. Southern cooks add red pepper flakes for heat and cook until some edges become deeply caramelized. The generous use of bacon drippings is distinctly Southern—waste not, want not, and make it taste good.

What Is the Best Bacon for Fried Cabbage?

Regular sliced bacon works perfectly—no need for thick-cut varieties. Standard bacon provides enough fat for cooking and flavor without overwhelming. Avoid center-cut bacon, which is too lean. Hickory-smoked or applewood-smoked adds different notes; choose based on preference. Turkey bacon works but provides less cooking fat—add a tablespoon of oil.

Fried Cabbage with Bacon and Onions

The onions aren’t optional—they’re essential. As they cook in bacon fat, they caramelize and add sweet, savory depth that balances the cabbage’s earthiness. The onions also add textural variety. For more onion flavor, increase to 2 medium onions. Some cooks add sliced bell peppers for color and sweetness.

Perfect Pairings

This versatile side pairs with almost anything—roasted chicken, pork chops, ham, or meatloaf. Serve with our classic white bread for soaking up juices. It complements rich, fatty meats beautifully. For a complete meal, add our rhubarb pie for dessert.

Variations

With Spices: Add ½ teaspoon smoked paprika or ¼ teaspoon cayenne for different flavor profiles.

With Potatoes: Add 2 diced potatoes with the cabbage for a heartier one-pan meal.

Vegetarian: Omit bacon, cook onions in 2 tablespoons olive oil, and add 1 teaspoon liquid smoke.

Fried Cabbage with Bacon Weeknight Dinner

This qualifies as the perfect weeknight side—fast, uses common ingredients, requires minimal attention. While it cooks, prepare the rest of dinner. One head of cabbage serves 6 people for under $5 total. The affordability means you can make this weekly without straining the budget.

Storage and Leftover Advice

Cool completely before storing in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The cabbage releases some liquid as it sits—normal. Reheat in a skillet to evaporate moisture. Use leftovers in omelets, scrambled eggs, or as baked potato topping.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use red cabbage?
Yes, it adds gorgeous color. Cook 5 extra minutes as it takes longer to become tender.

2. My cabbage is watery. What happened?
Cook uncovered for the final 5-10 minutes so moisture evaporates. Increase heat slightly if needed.

3. Can I make this without bacon?
Yes, use 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter and add ½ teaspoon liquid smoke for depth.

4. Can I add other vegetables?
Absolutely. Carrots, bell peppers, or celery work well—add with the onions.

5. How do I prevent garlic from burning?
Add garlic only after onions cook and stir constantly for just 30 seconds before adding cabbage.

A Note from the Author

Fried cabbage with bacon embodies the resourcefulness of cooks who made delicious meals from humble ingredients. This dish reminds us that comfort food doesn’t require luxury—just simple vegetables, a little meat for flavor, and technique that respects both. For more recipes celebrating simple, satisfying cooking, subscribe to our Vintage Life of USA YouTube channel.

Conclusion

This homemade fried cabbage with bacon proves that simple ingredients create extraordinary flavor when treated right. The smoky bacon, sweet onions, and tender-crisp cabbage come together in 30 minutes to create a side dish that outshines far more complicated recipes. Whether you need an easy weeknight side, want to stretch your grocery budget, or simply crave comfort food, this skillet recipe delivers.

Ready to transform ordinary cabbage? This bacon fried cabbage takes 30 minutes and costs just a few dollars. Find more simple recipes at NostalgicEats.com!