Southern Fried Cabbage

If you're looking for the perfect side dish recipe look no further! Cozy, country comfort food at its best! You might also like these smothered green beans.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why you'll love it
• 🧾 Ingredients
• 🔪 Instructions
• 🥄 Cook along!
• 🥫 Storage
• 💭 Tips
• 👩‍🍳 FAQs
• 🎥 Video
• Related recipes
• 📞 The last word
• Southern Fried Cabbage
• 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

• Inexpensive
• Quick and easy one pot side dish
• Make it ahead and warm it up when you're ready to eat (but leave the cooked bacon in a ziploc by itself and add it in just before serving)

Southern fried cabbage and onions become sweet and tender as they cook; absorbing the flavors of the bacon, garlic, and chicken stock.

🧾 Ingredients

If you'd like to keep this vegetarian simply leave out the bacon and use 2 tablespoons of butter to saute in. Substitute vegetable stock for the chicken stock.

🔪 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.

Step 1

1. Chop the cabbage in small pieces.
2. Chop the onions.
3. Cut up the bacon.

Step 2

1. Fry the bacon in a large skillet until crisp.
2. Remove to a plate and set aside.
3. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease.
4. Add the onions and saute until they start to get translucent.

Step 3

1. Add the cabbage and garlic; saute, stirring often, about 10 minutes.
2. Add the chicken stock and seasoned salt.
3. Simmer over medium heat until the cabbage is as tender as you like.

Step 4

Stir in the bacon and serve immediately.

🥄 Cook along!

🥫 Storage

Leftover fried cabbage should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eaten within 4 days or so.

You can also freeze it after cooking. It'll be fine for up to 3 months.

💭 Tips

Expert Tip: The best variety for this southern fried cabbage recipe is the plain, ordinary green kind. Other types don't hold up as well.

• Any sauteed cabbage recipe should be cooked over medium heat so that it doesn't scorch.
• The cabbage core should be removed because it is tough and doesn't cook down well.
• Some people like to add a teaspoon or so of brown sugar to give this easy side dish a little sweetness.
• Make this a main dish by slicing up smoked sausage and adding it with the onions.
• Cut the cabbage into 1-inch pieces. If you slice it in thin shreds it's just not as good.
• Bacon grease adds flavor but you can use olive oil or butter if you prefer.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.

There are plenty of variations to this southern fried cabbage recipe. Here are some of my favorites.

• Fried cabbage and potatoes are another classic combination. Just add small, peeled and cubed potatoes with the cabbage and cook until they are cooked through. This is a great way to use up leftover potatoes, too!
• A Louisiana fried cabbage recipe is made by adding sliced andouille sausage in with the bacon and using about a tablespoon of Cajun seasoning instead of the salt and pepper. Serve over cooked white rice.
• Fried cabbage and noodles is another simple side dish. Just stir in ½ pound of cooked, drained egg noodles in during the last 5 minutes of cook time.

🎥 Video

Related recipes

• Easy Galumpkis {Cabbage Rolls} in a Crock Pot can be made "stuffed" or chop the ingredients and slow cook them "unstuffed" as a casserole.
• Braised Pork and Red Cabbage in the Slow Cooker is a classic! Tender pork roast and tangy cabbage... yummy!
• Bacon Bread is a unique sandwich bread recipe that makes the BEST grilled cheese!

My mom used to keep a pressed glass vinegar cruet filled with tiny, hot peppers and vinegar on the table. It had a matching stopper and you'd pull the stopper up and dribble some of that tangy, spicy goodness over your fried cabbage.... mmmm.... nothing like it!

📞 The last word

Here's my experience with this recipe...

• Make sure the bacon is extra crispy! It adds texture as well as flavor to the dish.
• Add the bacon JUST before serving. If it simmers with the cabbage it will get unappetizingly floppy.
• Give the cabbage time to soften but try a bite of it every couple of minutes. Some people like it with a little crunch and some like it very soft. If you taste it every few minutes then you'll know exactly how long to cook it next time!
• If you taste your southern fried cabbage and feel like it's just missing "something" sprinkle a little cider vinegar over it.
• I think this recipe works best in a cast iron skillet but any heavy skillet will do.

If you've got lots of cabbage on hand be sure to try these crockpot cabbage rolls!

Originally published March 29, 2021. Last updated June 28, 2021 for extra tips.