The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (2024)

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Katerina

4.94 from 15 votes

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Fried Cabbage is a delicious comfort food recipe prepared with fresh cabbage and smoky bacon! It is a quick and easy side dish perfect for a weeknight meal.

The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (2)

The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe

What comes together in 10 minutes, in just one pan, and with 3 main ingredients? FRIED CABBAGE! Sweet and tender cabbage cooked with bacon results in a delicious dish great to serve alongside lamb, beef, chicken, or pork. Growing up Macedonian, during the winter, we always had cabbage dishes. From Cabbage Soup with Rice to Cabbage Rolls and this Fried Cabbage, you just couldn’t escape it. But that’s AY-OK (now it’s okay, not when I was a kid and just wanted mac and cheese like everyone else) because cabbage is rich in nutrients and promotes detoxification; it’s also packed with antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins.

This Fried Cabbage Recipe is all about mixing it up – it’s got crunch, flavor, and the kind of side dish that leaves you wanting seconds. Thanks to a good dose of bacon, garlic, and onion, every bite is a little celebration of taste that goes great with just about any main dish you’re serving up. And because it’s so quick to prepare and made with readily available ingredients, this recipe is a practical choice for busy weeknights.

Why You Should Make This Fried Cabbage Recipe

  • Easy: With minimal ingredients and a short cooking time, this dish is perfect for busy families.
  • Nutrient-Rich: Cabbage is packed with essential vitamins and antioxidants, offering a healthy yet tasty side option.
  • Versatility: This fried cabbage pairs beautifully with various chicken, beef, or pork dishes.
  • Low-Carb Friendly: A great option for those watching their carb intake, delivering flavor without the carbs.
The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (3)
The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (4)

Ingredients for Fried Cabbage

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this tasty fried cabbage – you might already have most of these ingredients in your kitchen!

  • Thick-Cut Bacon: You’ll need to dice 4 slices of bacon.
  • Yellow Onion
  • Green Cabbage: Remove the core and coarsely chop the cabbage or shred it.
  • Garlic
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Adds a spicy kick for those who love a touch of heat.
  • Green Onions: Provides a colorful garnish and an extra layer of flavor.

How To Make Fried Cabbage with Bacon

This recipe comes together quickly. I advise you to prep your ingredients – dice the bacon, onion, garlic, and chop the cabbage – before you start to cook.

  1. Cook the diced bacon in a large nonstick skillet until crispy. Remove bacon and set aside, retaining the grease in the skillet.
  2. Sauté the onion in the bacon grease until tender. Add the chopped cabbage and minced garlic, seasoning with salt and pepper, and stir until the cabbage is tender.
  3. Mix the cooked bacon back into the skillet with the cabbage mixture.
  4. Garnish with red pepper flakes and green onions before serving.
The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (5)

Tips and Variations For Frying Cabbage

  • Cabbage Selection: Choose a cabbage with tight, compact leaves, which is a sign of freshness. The outer leaves should be vibrant and crisp, not wilted.
  • Shredding Technique: When cutting your cabbage, make sure to shred or chop it uniformly. This ensures even cooking.
  • Don’t overcook the cabbage. Remove the skillet from the heat as soon as the cabbage is just tender. Overcooked cabbage will result in limp, mushy, and smelly cabbage.
  • Flavor the cabbage to your taste. Add paprika to it, dried herbs, onion powder, curry powder, or whatever else you might like.
  • If you want a vegetarian dish, leave out the bacon and use 2 tablespoons of avocado oil or olive oil instead of the bacon grease.
  • Veggie Variations: Consider adding other vegetables to the mix, such as bell peppers or sliced Brussels sprouts, for added flavor and texture.

How To Serve Cabbage

Cabbageis a versatile vegetable, and it goes well with chicken, pork, beef, or whatever you like to make a hearty meal. Consider making these smothered pork chops or this pork tenderloin, and then there’s my corned beef or a juicy roast chicken.

The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (6)

Storing Leftovers

  • Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for 3 days.
  • Freezer: This dish tastes best when fresh, but you can freeze it for 2 months and then reheat it in a skillet.

More Cabbage Recipes

  • Balsamic Roasted Cabbage Steaks
  • Red Cabbage and Carrot Slaw Recipes
  • Classic Southern Coleslaw
  • Roasted Vegetable Salad
  • Cabbage Cucumber Salad
  • Corned Beef and Cabbage

ENJOY!

The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (7)

Fried Cabbage

Katerina | Diethood

Fried Cabbage is a delicious comfort food recipe prepared with fresh cabbage and smoky bacon. It is a quick and easy side dish perfect for busy days.

4.94 from 15 votes

Rate this Recipe!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1 small head green cabbage, cored and coarsely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • sliced green onions, for garnish, optional

Instructions

  • Cook the diced bacon in a large nonstick skillet set over medium heat for about 5 minutes or to a desired crispness. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon from the pan and set aside, leaving the bacon grease in the skillet.

  • Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Stir in cabbage and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is just tender, about 6 to 8 minutes.

  • Remove from heat and stir the bacon back into the skillet.

  • Garnish with red pepper flakes and green onions, and serve.

Notes

  • Cabbage: Choose a cabbage with tight, compact leaves that appear vibrant and crisp, not wilted.
  • Shredding/Chopping: When cutting your cabbage, make sure to shred or chop it uniformly. This ensures even cooking.
  • Taste As You Go: Especially when seasoning, taste as you cook. This will help you determine if you need to add more salt, pepper, or other seasonings.
  • Veggies: Add other vegetables, such as bell peppers or sliced Brussels sprouts.
  • Spice: If you like a bit of heat, consider adding a dash of chili powder or a sprinkle of cayenne.
  • Cooking Time: Be cautious not to overcook the cabbage. You want it to be tender but still retain some crispness for texture.
  • Stir: While the cabbage is frying, make sure to stir it occasionally. This will help it cook evenly and prevent it from sticking to the pan.

Nutrition

Calories: 148 kcal | Carbohydrates: 11 g | Protein: 5 g | Fat: 10 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Cholesterol: 16 mg | Sodium: 188 mg | Potassium: 338 mg | Fiber: 4 g | Sugar: 6 g | Vitamin A: 182 IU | Vitamin C: 57 mg | Calcium: 67 mg | Iron: 1 mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American/Southern, Balkans, Macedonian, Polish

Keyword: cabbage recipe, easy side dish, fried cabbage, keto friendly recipes, low carb side dish

Did you make this recipe?Leave a Rating!

Categories:

  • Dinner Recipes
  • Lunch
  • One Pot Meals
  • Quick Dinner Ideas
  • Side Dishes
The Best Fried Cabbage Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do you put baking soda in cabbage? ›

Adding baking soda to your boiling cabbage can help reduce the objectionable smell and maintain the green color long after when it typically turns grayish from cooking for too long. However, this may rid the cabbage of its nutritional value.

How do you get the gas out of cabbage? ›

To reduce the likelihood of experiencing gas after eating cabbage, consider cooking it thoroughly. This can help break down the fibers and make it easier to digest. Additionally, try adding caraway seeds or fennel seeds to your cabbage dishes, as these spices are known to help reduce gas.

How do you cook cabbage without making it soggy? ›

How To Steam Cabbage
  1. Cabbage wedges are recommended for this method of cabbage cooking. Insert a steamer basket inside a saucepan. ...
  2. Bring water to a boil, then add cabbage wedges to the steamer basket.
  3. Cover and steam for 10 to 12 minutes, or until cabbage is crisp-tender.
Feb 15, 2024

Is fried cabbage healthy to eat? ›

Here are some benefits of consuming fried or boiled cabbage leaves as an Indian salad: Rich in Nutrients: Cabbage is packed with essential nutrients such as vitamins (particularly vitamin K, vitamin C, and various B vitamins), minerals (including potassium and calcium), and dietary fiber.

How long to soak cabbage in baking soda? ›

Submerge the fruit or vegetables in the baking soda water. Let soak for 12 to 15 minutes. The time will help the baking soda do its job. Swish the produce around in the water or push it down several times to ensure all sides of the produce is being cleaned.

Why do you soak cabbage in vinegar? ›

An old trick to use is to leave the cabbage lightly doused in vinegar water for a couple of minutes before proceeding to wash the cabbage with water. Usually between two or four minutes. Vinegar kills some types of bacteria and helps killing mold and mildew that could have grown on the cabbage.

What happens when you eat too much cabbage? ›

Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage can cause gas, bloating and diarrhea. It's best to slowly introduce these vegetables into your diet and gradually increase your intake. Individuals with sensitive digestive tracts might want to limit cabbage or talk to your doctor.

What are the side effects of eating cabbage? ›

An increase in goitrin and thiocyanates inhibits thyroid function and benzyl cyanide can result in potential adverse effects (dermal and respiratory manifestations). Eating cabbage in excess can result in abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea and flatulence.

Does fried cabbage give you gas? ›

Certain vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, and cauliflower are known to cause excess gas. Like beans, these vegetables also contain the complex sugar, raffinose. However, these are very healthy foods, so you may want to talk with your doctor before eliminating them from your diet.

Why is my fried cabbage bitter? ›

One common reason is that the cabbage may have been overcooked. Overcooking cabbage releases sulfur compounds that can give it a bitter taste. Another possible reason is that the cabbage was not fresh. Old or spoiled cabbage can also taste bitter.

How do you keep cabbage crispy? ›

If you're not quite ready to use your head of cabbage, don't rinse it, put it in a plastic bag, and store it in the crisper drawer of the fridge. You will be shocked at how long it will remain vibrant and crisp.

Is cabbage good for high blood pressure? ›

Leafy greens: Cabbage, collard greens, spinach, kale, and other greens are high in nitrates, which have been found to offer blood pressure benefits. It's easier to get your daily dose of greens by varying how you eat them.

Is fried cabbage good for kidneys? ›

Stir-frying helps maintain the texture and flavor in vegetables. Vegetables such as asparagus, bean sprouts, bell pepper, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, snow peas and spring onions are kidney-friendly, low-potassium choices. Add sweetness with mandarin oranges, pineapple or grapes.

What are the benefits of fried cabbage? ›

The bottom line

It has an outstanding nutrient profile and is especially high in vitamins C and K. In addition, eating cabbage may even help lower the risk of certain diseases, improve digestion, and ease inflammation. Plus, cabbage makes a tasty and inexpensive addition to a number of recipes.

What happens if you add baking soda to cabbage water? ›

The cabbage juice is called an indicator because it can tell you the pH of a solution based on the color that it changes. The vinegar will turn the cabbage juice red because it is an acid (acetic acid). The baking soda will turn the cabbage juice greenish-yellow because it is a base (sodium bicarbonate).

What can you put on cabbage to stop bugs from eating it? ›

I've had good luck using diatomaceous earth if I end up with the cabbage moth larvae, plus you can use products with Bt such as Thuricide. With the organic means, you'll have to reapply the products after a rain or using the sprinler.

What is the disadvantage of using baking soda to vegetables? ›

This is a bad practice, however, and you should avoid adding baking soda when boiling any type of vegetable. It has various unwelcome effects, such as softening the vegetable, altering the vegetable's flavor, destroying thiamine content, and hastening the loss of vitamin C.

How do you cook cabbage to prevent gas? ›

A few whole cloves added to the boiling water for cabbage impart a delicately complementary flavor and aroma and may help to prevent gas during digestion. Other sweet spices that may be carminative include allspice, cinnamon and ginger.

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