EASY Southern Fried Cabbage Recipe — Be Greedy Eats

A simple and easy side dish that can be made in no time! Made with bacon, onions, and garlic, this Southern Fried Cabbage recipe will make any weeknight meal even better! It won’t disappoint!

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The Perfect Side-Dish

I have been craving vegetables lately and I have no clue why. I guess it’s a good thing because you can never have enough vegetables. I have been especially craving cabbage! It’s a vegetable that doesn't get enough love. But, that stops here with this recipe! You’ll be craving cabbage after reading!

My Easy Southern Fried Cabbage Recipe is an easy side dish that is full of flavor! It takes 35 minutes or less and can be made by pretty much anyone. Made with bacon, onions, and garlic, this recipe will have your mouth watering. It won’t disappoint at all! Trust me, I had at least 4 servings by myself!

TIPS & tRICKS FOR MAKING THE BEST FRIED CABBAGE

Southern Fried Cabbage is not complicated to understand or make, but here are some tips and tricks to make this recipe even easier:

ALWAYS USE A CAST-IRON SKILLET OR NON-STICK PAN. A good pan or skillet will prevent a lot of sticking and burning. You’ll be using medium-high to high heat for most of the recipe. So, you’ll want to be mindful of how the ingredients are cooking.
Render the Bacon as much as possible. Since this is the only fat that you will be using in the recipe, you’ll want enough to cook the vegetables in. The bacon should be crispy by the time that it is finished rendering.
Evenly cut the Cabbage as best as you can. This will help the cabbage cook evenly. The smaller the cut of cabbage, the faster it will cook. So, be mindful of how large your slices are.
Add additional Fat if necessary. If your bacon does not render enough fat to cook all of the cabbage, add some additional fat such as butter, extra virgin olive oil, grapeseed oil, etc.

Southern Fried Cabbage Ingredients

The ingredients are not complicated at all! But, let’s walk through them to fully understand. A majority of them are basic household pantry items that are available pretty everywhere.

For this recipe you will need the following simple ingredients:

Bacon: I love pretty anything with bacon in it! But, for this recipe, we really want the bacon fat. There is a lot of flavor in bacon fat. I love to use it in fried cabbage because of it. Plus, you get two uses out of the bacon! I like using thicker cut bacon, but normal sliced bacon will work just fine.
Yellow Onion & Garlic: As I have said before, onions and garlic make everything better! The onions get tender and caramelized making the cabbage taste even better. The garlic adds that small bit of punch that the cabbage needs to stand out. I always suggest using freshly cut garlic, but the jarred minced garlic will work as well.
Bell Pepper: For some added texture and color, I added in some chopped bell peppers. They get sauteed with the onions and garlic making the recipe taste even better. Onions, Peppers, and Garlic is a trio that can’t be matched!
Cabbage: For the cabbage, I would stick to white, green, and red cabbage. They are easily found in the grocery store and easy to use. You want to make sure that you cut and clean the cabbage very well to avoid any dirt or small insects in the final product.
Chicken Stock or Broth: The chicken stock or broth will help the cabbage to cook faster. But, in order for the cabbage to be browned and caramelized, the liquid has to be fully cooked out. I suggest using stock, but a broth will work as well. You can also substitute the chicken stock or broth for vegetable stock or broth.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Fried Cabbage should have a very slight twang to it. ACV does a great job of adding the perfect amount of acid to the dish. It’s slightly sweet and not too overpowering. You only need 2 tablespoons total.
Liquid Smoke: If you can get your hands on some Liquid Smoke, I highly recommend using it in your fried cabbage. It does exactly what it is supposed to do. The additional smokiness made this recipe so warm and flavorful!
Onion Powder & Garlic Powder: To enhance the actual flavor of the onions and minced garlic, I added both onion and garlic powders. If you have no other seasonings on hand, you definitely need these in your pantry at all times.
Paprika: I like my fried cabbage to have some additional color to it. I add a small amount to the cabbage and it creates this beautiful reddish-brown color. Plus, paprika (a good one) will add a slight smokiness to the dish.
Kosher Salt & Ground Black Pepper: Recipes like this should always be seasoned to taste salt and ground black pepper. Some people like their vegetables less seasoned to fully taste their natural flavors. But, be mindful of how much of both you add because cabbage picks up seasonings very easily. You don’t want salty or overly peppered cabbage.

How to Make Southern Fried Cabbage

Understanding the ingredients was the easy part! Now, we can get into actually making this easy side dish. This is a perfect side dish for a weeknight dinner or a holiday menu. It takes no time at all!

The full written recipe is below, but here’s an overview.

STEP 1: Render the Bacon. Heat a large cast-iron skillet on medium-high heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until it’s browned and crispy. Transfer the chopped bacon to a small bowl and hold for later use. Leave the bacon drippings in the skillet.
STEP 2: Saute the Chopped Onions, Bell Peppers, and Garlic. Add the chopped onions and bell peppers. Saute them both until soft and caramelized (about 6 - 8 minutes). Add the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 more minutes.
STEP 3: Saute the Cabbage. Add the cabbage and saute until ¾ of the way cooked (about 8 - 10 minutes) making sure to stir occasionally. The cabbage should become slightly browned.

STEP 4: Add the Bacon & Seasonings. Add the bacon back into the pan and mix. Season the mixture with onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika and mix.
STEP 5: Add the Liquid Ingredients. Add the chicken stock or broth, apple cider vinegar, and liquid smoke. Cook until the liquid has fully evaporated making sure to stir occasionally.
STEP 6: Season to Taste with Kosher Salt & Ground Black Pepper. Season to taste with kosher salt and ground black pepper. Serve with your favorite meal and enjoy!

CAN I MAKE THis Southern Fried Cabbage AHEAD OF TIME?

I would say both Yes & No. I suggest cutting your cabbage and prepping the rest of your ingredients ahead of time. You can then fry the cabbage the day you plan to eat it. If you make the full recipe ahead of time, the cabbage will be softer and a little wet. But, it will still taste delicious!

WHAT TO PAIR WITH Southern Fried Cabbage:

The main thing that I love the most about this recipe is that it can be served with pretty much any dinner no matter the time of year. But, here are just a few options that are extra delicious:

I’d love to hear your feedback about this Easy Southern Fried Cabbage Recipe! Leave me a message in the comments section below. Remember to share and enjoy! Follow Be Greedy Eats on Pinterest and Instagram as well!