Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon is a delicious, easy side dish. You only need 4 ingredients to get this classic recipe on the table.

Do you know someone that swears that they aren’t a fan of cabbage? No matter how you serve it, they just turn up their nose? Or maybe it’s you. Maybe you just can’t get behind it. Well, today I am here to change some minds with this Southern Fried Cabbage With Bacon.

If you, on the other hand, are a cabbage lover like me, I am going to remind you exactly why you love this cruciferous vegetable. Not only is cabbage hearty, its also packed with vitamins and can help digestion. And when prepared well (read: no boiled cabbage over here!), it is insanely delicious.

Take this Southern Fried Cabbage with bacon for instance. It is hearty, tender, flavorful and oh so easy to make. With just 4 ingredients and 15 minutes you can have this deliciousness on your dinner table.

What ingredients do you need?

CABBAGE: A regular head of green cabbage is what you need for this recipe. Simply remove the core and then rough chop into large pieces or slices. You don’t have to be too precise on the cut, it will cook just fine. 

BACON: I prefer to use thick cut bacon in this recipe. It’s crisp, yet chewy so it adds great texture to the tender cabbage. You’ll also need to save the bacon grease. It is the liquid gold that makes this recipe soar. 

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR: This gives the cabbage just a little bit of tang. Trust me, you’ll love the flavor boost it gives in this recipe. 

CRUSHED RED PEPPER: I love to add just  a pinch for some extra heat. You can totally leave it out if spice isn’t your thing. 

SALT AND PEPPER: Fresh cracked black pepper sprinkled over this dish after cooking is superb. 

How do you cook fried cabbage?

STEP #1: Cut bacon into 1-inch diced pieces and cook in a large skillet over medium heat. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate, reserving the bacon grease in the skillet. 

STEP #2: To the same skillet that you cooked the bacon, add the chopped cabbage.  Cook until the cabbage starts to wilt and become tender. 

DES’ TIP: Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to start out in batches adding more cabbage as the other cabbage cooks down.  

STEP #3: Add in the vinegar, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the cabbage is tender. About 5 more minutes. 

STEP #4: Return the cooked bacon to the pan and stir to combine. Transfer to a serving bowl and season to taste with salt and fresh cracked black pepper. Serve immediately. 

How long is fried cabbage good for?

Because the bacon is best when crisp, I prefer to serve this the day it is made. That being said, this will keep for a couple of days in the refrigerator. Simply reheat in a skillet before serving. 

Can you make this cabbage vegetarian?

Yes! Of course you can. While the bacon is a big part of this recipe because you use the bacon drippings, you could make this dish vegetarian by substituting 2 tablespoons of butter for the bacon grease. 

Trust me when I say that this Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon will be a hit with the whole family. If you’re looking for a main dish to serve along side, try these: 

Brined Fried Chicken 

Southern Fried Pork Chops And Gravy

Kielbasa and Potatoes

Looking for more ways to cabbage to your diet? Here are some of my favorite recipes: 

Cabbage Salsa Recipe

Kielbasa and Cabbage Tater Tot Casserole

Filipino Pancit Recipe

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich

Fried Fish Tacos with Slaw