Fried Cabbage with Bacon

This Fried Cabbage with Bacon recipe is a simple, savoury side dish featuring tender cabbage cooked in smoky bacon fat with crispy bacon pieces. Quick to make and full of flavour, it’s a Southern classic that pairs well with almost any meal.

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 medium cabbage, cored and roughly chopped
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp butter
• ½ tsp paprika
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Fried Cabbage with Bacon: Instructions

1. Warm the pan – Place a large skillet on the stove and heat it over medium heat.
2. Cook the bacon – Toss in the chopped bacon and let it cook for about 5–6 minutes, stirring now and then, until it turns crispy and golden brown.
3. Set the bacon aside – Use a slotted spoon to lift the bacon out of the pan, leaving behind the flavorful fat that rendered out.
4. Melt the butter – Add the butter into the same pan along with the leftover bacon fat, and allow it to melt completely.
5. Soften the onions – Add the sliced onions and cook for 3–4 minutes, until they turn soft and translucent.
6. Add the garlic – Stir in the minced garlic and cook for just 1 minute, until it releases its aroma.
7. Add the cabbage – Gradually add the chopped cabbage in batches, tossing well each time so it gets nicely coated in the bacon fat and onion mixture.
8. Sprinkle over the paprika, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, if using.
9. Cook the cabbage, stirring occasionally, for 12–15 minutes, until tender and lightly browned in places.
10. Return the crispy bacon to the pan and stir it through the cabbage.
11. Cook for a further 2 minutes to warm the bacon through.
12. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
13. Serve hot as a side dish alongside your favourite main course.

This smoky, savoury fried cabbage is a fantastic low-carb side that’s ready in under 30 minutes — simple ingredients cooked together for maximum comfort-food flavour.