This simple cabbage recipe can be made on the stovetop right next to your main dish. Using a Dutch Oven, our cabbage and bacon recipe with onions on the stove is cheap and can be made Southern style with a bit of spicy heat too if you like.
Fried cabbage with bacon and onions is one thing that has been served in our family for years. It originated from an Old Fashioned Dutch Oven cabbage dish my Grandmother made when her kids were little, like that long ago. She LOVED using these leaves for all sorts of dishes. (affiliate links present)
Dutch Oven Cabbage and Bacon Recipe
These two ingredients go so well together. Since the head itself has very little flavor you really want something to pack a punch to wilt and soften each bite + add a lot of YUM. Instead of Boiling Cabbage you are instead doing more of a saute of sorts in the butter, bacon grease and all the flavors. Submerged in water to soften means NO flavor.
Same goes for our slow cooker cabbage recipe. I mean you can add seasonings and get it tender but with a bit more texture in a pan on the stovetop is better if you ask me. I mean each has itโs place and time but for overall goodness Iโd try this one.
Now you could make this more of a meal with heartier meat, or more than one. Instead of or in addition to the bacon you could brown beef with it too like our cabbage casserole with ground beef recipe does. You could use leftover ham too after the holidays. It is easy to tweak to your liking for sure.
Fried Cabbage and Bacon Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon diced, not drained because bacon fat means flavor yโall
- 1 head of cabbage is used in this case unless you want less then you could cut everything in half.
- Onions and garlic too if youโd like, minced
- Butter or olive oil for a dairy free option
- Vegetable broth or chicken
- Soy sauce gives it a umami flavor
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- Old Bay is a must for us
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes if youโd like a little heat or to make it spicy
I use a deep Dutch Oven for pan fried cabbage but a large pot with a tight lid would work too. I do not add a lot of heat to this one. Sometimes when I make our Pigs in the Blanket with Cabbage I will add a bit more. That is up to you and you could leave it out entirely.
How to Cook Cabbage with Bacon on the Stove
- Cut stem off of green cabbage and discard, slice in half and then into 1ร1 inch cubes, set aside.
- I like using a Dutch Oven but you can use a large pot with a lid over medium high heat.
- Add butter or olive oil. Add bacon and add the onions.
- Stirring occasionally, cook until bacon is a bit crispy and onions are softened.
- Add into pot and mix together.
- Cook together for 2-3 minutes.
- Pour in vegetable broth and all seasonings, stir together. Saute for another 2-3 minutes.
- Cover with a lid, turn heat to low
- Cook for 5 minutes or until leaves are as soft as youโd like them to be. Serve an easy side dish like this immediately for best results.
How to cut a cabbage for fried cabbage
This is How to Cut Cabbage in a number of ways but in this case 1ร1 squares is best in this case. You donโt want the pieces to be too small or they will wilt too quickly and you want a bit of a โbiteโ to them so itโs not soggy.
Can you fry cabbage in bacon fat?
Absolutely, I suggest that you do! If you didnโt want the meat in there but wanted all the flavor you could follow the instructions of sauteeing but then remove the bacon and leave the grease, or use olive oil instead with no meat or grease at all. NO idea why you wouldnโt want BACON yโall but okay I guess if you donโt we might still be able to be friends. ๐
in Instant Pot
Now if you want to make an entire meal with this same main ingredient you could. Grab 2, one to make this and another to dice and make Pressure Cooker Fried Cabbage as the main meal. If you used smoked sausage like kielbasa that is already cooked I would dice small and still fry in the butter to warm and caramelize.
You do want it in smaller bite size pieces so they can absorb the flavors in the pan. I like squared 1ร1 inch pieces for our bacon and cabbage recipe here. Works well for sauteeing in butter and with meat.
Keep a close eye on it. Remember that it doesnโt take long for cabbage leaves to wilt and soften. Tenderness is subjective so check often as 1 minute too long may become mushy to your tastebuds. Stick with sauteeing and do not boil as that will get leaves quite soft.
Cabbage and Bacon Recipe
Equipment
- 1 dutch oven
Ingredients
- 1 head cabbage, cut into 1ร1 inch squares
- 6 slices bacon, diced
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 2 tbsp butter, or olive oil
- 1/2 c broth, vegetable or chicken are best
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- 1/2 tsp Old Bay
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, if you want a bit of heat
Instructions
- Cut stem off of cabbage and discard, slice in half and then into 1ร1 inch cubes. Add into pot and mix together. Set aside.
- I like using a Dutch Oven but you can use a large pot with a lid over medium heat. Add butter or olive oil. Add diced bacon and onions. Cook until bacon is a bit crispy and onions are softened.
- Add cubed cabbage. Cook together for 2-3 minutes. Pour in vegetable broth and all seasonings, stir together. Saute for another 2-3 minutes.
- Cover with a lid, turn heat to low, and cook for 5 minutes or until leaves are as soft as you'd like them to be. Serve immediately for best results.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Great recipe! I added an extra half cup of chopped onions, a half cup of shredded carrots, and 1 Tbs brown sugar at the end for a touch of sweetness. We cook reduced salt due to my wifeโs heart condition, so I omitted the salt, used garlic powder instead of garlic salt, and white wine instead of broth. Bacon and soy sauce provided plenty of salt for us. Great side dish!
oh yeah
I love fried cabbage with bacon or smoked susage. I agree fried is so much better than boiled cabbage.
Crumble bacon on top. Stir. Then itโs voila !
Love fried cabbage. I cook bacon. Remove bacon from large frying pan. Toss in a dolop of butter. Toss in onions and shredded carrots. Then add cabbage. Stir. Stir. Stir. Finish with a little bit of brown sugar and a shake of red pepper flakes.
Voila ! Serve immediately!