Fried Cabbage is a simple, delicious recipe that makes the perfect side dish for any meal. Made with just 5 ingredients, it’s easy to make and packed with the most amazing flavor. The combination of sweet, tender cabbage and salty, fried bacon is simply mouthwatering. It’s one of those dishes you can’t stop eating, and since it’s so easy, you don’t even have to!
There are some vegetables that are seriously underrated, and if you ask me, cabbage is one of them. It seems to make an appearance in most people’s lives once a year – on St. Patrick’s Day – but for the rest of the year, it’s completely forgotten.
Well, I’m here to say that’s about to change!! Because once you try this Fried Cabbage, I can guarantee you’ll be coming back for more.
Made with a head of fresh green cabbage and an entire pound of bacon, it’s one of the easiest, most satisfying side dishes ever. I think we can all agree that bacon makes ALL the difference… and in this recipe it definitely does. Combined with the sweet cabbage and yellow onion, it adds the perfect pop of flavor and gives it an almost addictive quality.
If you’re looking for a yummy addition to your St. Paddy’s Day menu and/or a quick and easy side dish you can enjoy any time of year, you’ll LOVE this recipe!
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🥓 Ingredients
One of the BEST things about this recipe is the short ingredient list, most of which you can probably find in your pantry. I used green cabbage, which is the most common type used, but you could also substitute purple cabbage.
For the onion, I chose a large yellow onion, which has the best flavor for this recipe. If you wanted to make a substitution, I would suggest a Vidalia onion as an alternative.
- 1 large head of green cabbage, chopped
- 1 lb. bacon
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1/4 c. beef broth (or broth of choice)
📋 Instructions
The two most important parts of this recipe are making sure the bacon is cooked all the way through and making sure you give the cabbage enough time to soften. Some people like their cabbage a little bit crunchy and some prefer it completely softened.
My suggestion is to taste it as you go, and remove it from the heat when it’s just slightly crunchier than you want it. Remember – it will continue cooking even after you remove it – so following this rule of thumb will help you achieve your desired result.
- Chop bacon into 1 inch pieces. Add to a large frying pan and fry for 5 minutes over medium heat.
- Add onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Saute until browned, stirring regularly, 5-10 minutes over medium heat.
- Slowly add cabbage, stirring constantly.
- Add broth and cook for 10-15 minutes until cabbage cooks down and reaches desired texture.
- Remove from heat; season with additional salt & pepper as desired.
🧀 Recipe variations
This is a super simple recipe that’s delicious on its own, but also has a lot of different possibilities! Here are some ideas for recipe variations… feel free to share your own ideas in the comments!
- Use purple cabbage in place of green cabbage
- Substitute vidalia onion for a sweeter flavor
- Use flavored bacon from the deli – there are so many fun options that will add another level of flavor!
- Substitute chicken or vegetable broth for the beef broth
- Substitute Guinness or your other favorite beer for the beef broth
- Add a touch of spice with cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes
- Sprinkle in some caraway seeds for an extra dose of Irish flavor
- Add fresh squeezed lemon juice for a touch of citrus
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese just before removing it from the heat
♨️ Storing & reheating
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. To reheat, transfer them to a frying pan and cook over medium until heated through.
🥩 Recipes to pair it with
Fried Cabbage makes a delicious side dish for any meal, and is particularly fitting for St. Patrick’s Day! Here are some of our favorite recipes to pair it with:
- Irish Potato Pancakes
- Guinness Glazed Meatballs
- Guinness Beef Sliders
- Baked Reuben Sandwiches
- Beef Stroganoff
- Glazed Salmon
- Grilled Steak
- Irish Mule
Fried Cabbage
Ingredients
- 1 large head of green cabbage chopped
- 1 lb. bacon
- 1 large yellow onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1/4 c. beef broth or broth of choice
Instructions
- Chop bacon into 1 inch pieces. Add to a large frying pan and fry for 5 minutes over medium heat.
- Add onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Saute until browned, stirring regularly, 5-10 minutes over medium heat.
- Slowly add cabbage, stirring constantly.
- Add broth and cook for 10-15 minutes until cabbage cooks down and reaches desired texture.
- Remove from heat; season with additional salt & pepper as desired.
Nutrition
Fried Cabbage is a simple, delicious recipe that makes the perfect side dish for any meal. Made with just 5 ingredients, it’s easy to make and packed with the most amazing flavor. The combination of sweet, tender cabbage and salty, fried bacon is simply mouthwatering. It’s one of those dishes you can’t stop eating, and since it’s so easy, you don’t even have to!
Lisa says
That looks delicious!
Vicki Roberts says
This is an awesome comfort food… I have been known to add cooked frozen egg noodles and smoked sausage. Family loves it… thank you for all of your amazing recipes!
Suzanne says
I make a similar dish – fry the bacon, then add the cabbage and some water and cover. As it cooks add more bacon grease (or ham juice if you have some saved from the holiday ham) to add more flavor, season with a little sea salt, pepper and dill weed. Will have to try the broth in lieu of water the next time I make this.