Southern Fried Cabbage & Bacon

Seasoned cabbage fried in butter, then tossed with extra-crispy bacon, caramelized onions, garlic, and spices!

Visual learner? Watch me make this Southern Fried Cabbage from start to finish! 

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Amazon boxes have been coming to my house left and right! I’m sure my neighbors are wondering what the heck is going on. Well, I’m knee-deep in decorating my Woman-Cave!!

It’s not a fancy she-shed like Sheryl’s that burned down, but it’s my little magical sanctuary that I don’t have to share with anyone! 

I believe every woman deserves a space that is all about her, filled with fun and girly decorations. Especially when you’re the only girl in a house full of males.

For the past 2 weeks, this has been my labor of love project. As soon as my husband finished putting up the drywall, painting, hardwood floors, and all the other stuff that goes into turning a cold dormer attic room into a living space, I was chomping at the bit to start decorating.

I’ve decked it out in all white with a girly purple couch, crystal chandelier, fluffy white fur rug, and fresh purple tulips. Everything that makes me smile. Sometimes I go into that room and don’t want to leave. It’s so restoring & peaceful. Pics soon, ok.

What does a Woman-Cave have to do with fried cabbage? Umm…well….nothing really. It’s what I made for lunch for a quick, filling, low-calorie lunch after a long afternoon of putting together furniture, and I thought Ohhh, let me do a video on this real quick.

So here we are! About to make some bomb diggity cabbage overflowing with BACON!

Southern-fried cabbage with bacon is everything!!! It’s a quick, easy, hearty, and delicious meal or side dish. To be so simple, it’s so loaded with flavor!

How does Southern Fried Cabbage taste?

Southern-fried cabbage tastes like pure contentment. It’s one of those meals that makes you wanna do a happy dance when you eat it. 

And then relax back in your chair and say “now that’s some good eating” when you’re done and full as a tick.

 It’s smoky and salty from all that bacon, with pops of sweetness from the caramelized onions, a hint of heat from the red pepper flakes and black pepper, and plenty of savoriness from the garlic and butter. It’s sooooo good!

What goes good with fried cabbage?

Southern fried cabbage is hearty enough to serve as is! But add a side of cornbread and iced tea for an amazing meal. If you want to serve this fried cabbage as a side dish, it goes great with meatloaf or roasted chicken.

How do you cut a head of cabbage for fried cabbage?

To cut cabbage, first remove the large outer leaves, which are often wilted or discolored. 

Give the cabbage a good rinsing. 

Cut the cabbage in half and then in fourths. Next, cut out the hard core from each piece. Then cut each quarter into 1-inch thick strips. (see video)

I add A LOT of bacon to this fried cabbage. A LOT. Because well…I felt like that’s what my ancestors wanted me to do. And I need lots of bacon with every single bit of savory cabbage. It makes me happy, and it’ll probably make you happy to so don’t be shy.

Cook this dish in a super large, cast-iron or stainless steel deep skillet. That will give you a perfect crispiness that’s way better than what you get with a non-stick skillet.

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Here’s What You’ll Need

INGREDIENTS

• head of cabbage 
• bacon diced into small pieces
• small yellow onion diced
• granulated sugar
•  garlic minced
•  unsalted butter
•  red pepper flakes
• Spices: sea salt, coarse black pepper, onion powder, & garlic powder 

How to Make Southern Fried Cabbage Recipe

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat a very large stainless steel or large cast-iron skillet, and add diced bacon. (You may need to add a little olive oil if using turkey bacon)
2. Cook the bacon pieces until extra crispy, then remove them from the pan with a slotted spoon.
3. Leave about a tablespoon of bacon grease in the pan along with any burnt pieces stuck to the bottom of the pan (this has lots of flavor)
4. Add onions to the pan and toss them with sugar.
5. Cook until onions are tender and caramelized.
6. Add garlic and cook until garlic is fragrant.
7. Add butter and stir until butter is melted.
8. Stir in red pepper flakes.
9. Add the cabbage to the pot and toss until it’s coated in the butter mixture.
10. Let the cabbage fry uncovered until tender (not mushy), stirring frequently.
11. Season cabbage generously with sea salt/seasoning salt, cracked black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. (If using turkey bacon, I like to add a bit of liquid smoke, smoked paprika, or smoked salt.)
12. When ready to serve, stir in bacon (or add it to individual bowls if you want it to remain extra crispy)

Tips for the Best Southern Fried Cabbage

Want to make the BEST Southern fried cabbage? Here are a few tips to keep in mind! 

• Use a cast-iron skillet or stainless steel. This helps everything achieve that rustic, caramelized flavor that makes the dish so loved.
• Don’t overcook. You want the cabbage to be tender with a little bite, not mushy.
• Add seasonings in layers. It’s easy to over-season cabbage, so sprinkle it in a little at a time, tasting before adding more.
• Use thick-cut bacon if possible. It gives you meatier bites and more rendered fat for flavor. I only eat turkey bacon, which is much thinner, but it still works!

FAQs

1. Can I add other meat to this cabbage? Sure can! Smoked sausage, such as kielbasa or ground sausage, pairs well with cabbage. Smoked turkey legs pair perfectly with fried cabbage.
2. Can I add other vegetables? This dish is a classic with just onion and garlic, but other vegetables also taste great. I’d go with sweet corn or green peppers.

Southern fried cabbage is hearty enough to serve as is! But add a side of sweet honey cornbread and iced tea for an amazing meal.

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