I am excited about sharing this recipe with you today for a quick and easy side dish, Fried Cabbage with bacon. Fried Cabbage is destined to fit in perfectly with all of your meal plans. It is something which I have been making for years. It is a tried and true family favourite down through the generations. This is a great family recipe. It is very convenient to make because of its simplicity. A delicious and healthy treat you can serve to them.
My children always loved it and they still cook it for their own children today. One of the things I like most about it is that it uses simple ingredients which most people already have in their kitchens and larders. It’s incredibly quick and easy to throw together as well as being very economical! This simple dish really is no fuss, no muss!
You can enjoy this tasty dish on its own or add it as a side dish to some of your favourite entrees. It goes very well with roasted or grilled meats of any kind. I especially love it with pork! And if that is too much meat for your taste, there is also the bacon-less variant here!
It tastes fabulous on the first day but be prepared as this is one of those kinds of dishes that tastes even better on the second or third day! A mouth-watering dish is what you need. It will be a perfect recipe for any time of the day. Try it out yourself and experience what I mean.
What You Need To Make Fried Cabbage And Bacon
There is nothing complicated or out of the ordinary here. These are simple ingredients put together in an incredibly delicious way!
| INGREDIENTS |
| 1 large onion, peeled and diced |
| 2 fat cloves of garlic, peeled and minced |
| 1 medium head of cabbage, trimmed, cored, and sliced |
| ¼ cup water |
| 1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped (optional) |
| 6 slices of smoked bacon |
| Salt and black pepper to taste |
| 1 TBS butter (optional) |
Hints And Tips
If you follow my sure-fire hints and tips there is no reason why your fried cabbage can’t be the tastiest ever!
1. Read through the recipe several times prior to beginning. This will help to familiarise you with any ingredients, equipment, or skills you may need to prepare the recipe.
2. Assemble everything you need before you begin. This can help to prevent you from leaving something integral out of the recipe and it will help to make the actual assembly and cooking time shorter.
3. I like to use hard cabbage for this recipe. Green or white. A hard type of cabbage is the best cabbage that is suited for this recipe and method of cooking.
4. Trim off any discoloured leaves and discard them, then remove the core from the cabbage. The easiest way to do this is to cut the cabbage into quarters and then just cut out the core. Discard the core.
5. I like to keep the shreds of cabbage fairly large. 1/3 to ½ inch inches wide is perfect. Don’t be tempted to shred it any thinner.
6. Use good quality bacon with a great ratio of fat to lean. Make sure it is not overly lean however as you will be frying the cabbage in the bacon fat. You want to use bacon that will give you plenty of drippings.
7. I like to use a skillet with a heavy bottom for this recipe. A heavy bottom helps to distribute the heat more evenly. If you use a skillet with a really thin bottom you run the risk of burning your vegetables. A cast-iron skillet is my recommendation if you have one.
8. I like to use just salt and pepper to season my cabbage. Be aware that bacon can be rather salty, so be a bit judicious when using salt. I like lots of pepper in mine.
9. Using carrots is optional, but I do find it adds a bit of colour and sweetness to the finish of the dish. The use of carrots is completely optional. I also use garlic, which you may or may not like. It is a personal choice.
10. I also like to add a knob of butter at the end. It adds to the flavour as well, but again this is optional.
How To Make Fried Cabbage With Bacon
Again there is nothing complicated here. You will be pleased with how amazingly simple and quick it truly is.
Prepare all of your vegetables. Peel and chop your onion and garlic. Core and shred your cabbage. Peel and chop your carrot if using.
Heat a large skillet. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat, just until crisp. Remove and set aside on paper towels to drain. Crumble and keep warm.
Add the onion to the bacon drippings. (If there isn’t a lot you can add a small splash of oil.) Cook, stirring until it begins to soften and caramelize a bit. Add the garlic. Cook, stirring, just until very fragrant.
Add the cabbage and carrot, if using. Cook, tossing and stirring over medium heat until the cabbage begins to soften. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the water and cover tightly.
Cook and steam over low heat until the cabbage has softened. Stir in the crumbled bacon. Taste and adjust seasoning as required. If desired stir in the butter.
Serve hot.
Suggestions For Serving Fried Cabbage With Bacon
Although this is particularly good on its own, this quick and easy dish makes a beautiful side dish to serve with many kinds of grilled or roasted meats, fish, or poultry. I am particularly fond of serving it with pork, instead of the sauerkraut in this pork and sauerkraut recipe, but have also been very happy to just sit and eat a bowl of this on its own.
You can also vary it somewhat by using sliced smoked sausage instead of bacon when you are preparing it. In this case, you may need to add some additional oil depending on how fatty your sausage is.
Some people like this with a bit of a tang. You can add some apple cider vinegar if you wish. About 1 TBS will do.
I often add a teaspoon or two of sugar to it. Brown or white each works very well.
You can increase the spice factor by adding some Cajun seasoning if you wish. You can also use smoked or sweet paprika.
I enjoy the leftovers the day after tossed together with buttered noodles, as well as with some grated cheese sprinkled over top.
To Wrap Up
One thing is for certain: this fried cabbage with a bacon side dish is destined to become a family favourite in your house as well. Deliciously seasoned, perfectly tender, well flavoured this quick one-pot recipe is suitable for any day, any time, any-how! Low Carb, gluten-free, and most addictive!
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Fried cabbage with bacon
This is a quick, easy, and delicious recipe that makes a beautiful side dish the whole family will love.
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, peeled and diced
- 2 fat cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 medium head of cabbage, trimmed, cored, and sliced
- ¼ cup water
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped (optional)
- 6 slices of smoked bacon
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 TBS butter (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat, just until crisp. Remove and se aside on paper towels to drain. Crumble and keep warm.
- Add the onion to the bacon drippings. (If there isn’t a lot you can add a small splash of oil.) Cook, stirring, until it begins to soften and caramelise a bit. Add the garlic. Cook, stirring, just until very fragrant.
- Add the cabbage and carrot, if using. Cook, tossing and stirring over medium heat, until the cabbage begins to soften. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the water and cover tightly.
- Cook and steam over low heat until the cabbage has softened. Stir in the crumbled bacon. Taste and adjust seasoning as required. If desired stir in the butter.
- Serve hot.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
Nutrition
- Calories: 156
Marie Rayner is a retired Chef, freelance writer, recipe developer, food blogger, and Cookbook author. She makes her home in Chester, UK, where she lives with her husband, Todd, and their much beloved English Cocker, Mitzie. Her motto is “Life is far too short to eat bad food,” and her goal is to share delicious and easy recipes which anyone can enjoy and cook in the comfort of their own home.
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