Southern Fried Cabbage With Bacon
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Southern fried cabbage with bacon is the perfect comfort food for folks who appreciate down-home cooking. Perfectly spiced with a blend of savory soul food seasonings, this dish is ideal for any occasion.
This seasoned cabbage recipe is traditionally cooked over the stovetop by frying (or sautéing) the cabbage in a large skillet.
It’s such a nostalgic Southern recipe. Cooking and eating Southern cabbage takes you back to your childhood days growing up.
How to make the best Southern fried cabbage with bacon?
People have asked, “Do you still cook 4 hours in a crock pot before adding cabbage?”
The answer is easy – you can retire the Crockpot for this recipe!
An invention in the kitchen, the Instant Pot has transformed the way we cook cabbage!
With this incredible cooking appliance, you can cook a Southern fried cabbage recipe quickly and easily without having to stand and stew over a hot stove.
What is Southern fried cabbage with bacon?
Southern fried cabbage with bacon is a delicious and healthy way to enjoy one of Southern America’s favorite side dishes. Adding bacon, this Southern side dish is elevated to a delicious southern meal.
Because bacon makes everything better!
This Southern fried cabbage recipe has all Southern culture’s sweet, savory flavors, bubbling in butter and smothered in chicken stock with a dash of vinegar for mighty flavorful warmth! (And bacon!)
Whether you plan to cook a weeknight meal or a soul food Sunday dinner, this dish will surely satisfy!
How does Southern fried cabbage taste?
A Southern cabbage recipe, sautéed, pressure cooked, or fried in a skillet frying pan, tastes like a big bowl of comfort and Southern hospitality!
Warm, sweet, and savory soul food seasonings and flavors combine for a softened, buttery-rich leafy greens vegetable dish.
A recipe so good that you’ll forget cabbage is good for you – although you’ll remember the bacon!
How do you make Southern cabbage?
Simply place the ingredients in a frying pan on the stovetop and cook!
So are you ready to try something new today?
Add this flavorful dish to your menu and enjoy a taste of the South.
What ingredients do you need to make fried cabbage with bacon?
What ingredients do you need to make fried cabbage with bacon?
Check out this list of Southern soul food seasoning, spices, bacon, and the instructions for Southern fried cabbage using an old-fashioned, classic cast iron skillet on the stovetop.
Kitchen equipment for Southern fried cabbage with bacon
Ingredients for Southern fried cabbage with bacon
- (1) 3-4 pound cabbage, chopped
- 1 cup of chopped yellow onion
- 1 cup of chicken broth (or vegetable broth to make this dish vegetarian)
- 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
- ½ a cup of butter, or Vegan butter
- ½ teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning (or Cajun seasoning)
- ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
- ¼ a teaspoon of red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of black pepper
- 2-3 strips of cooked bacon, turkey bacon or pork bacon
Instructions for Southern fried cabbage with bacon
- Cut out the cabbage’s core and coarsely chop the leaves using a food processor or knife. (I remove the outer layer of cabbage leaves first and discard them before chopping.)
- Turn the stovetop on medium and add the butter to the cast iron frying pan skillet.
- Once the butter has melted, add the chopped cabbage, onion, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, Old Bay or Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to the skillet.
- Cover the pan with a lid and simmer for about 10 minutes, removing the lid to stir occasionally.
- Remove the lid from the skillet and cook the cabbage uncovered for about 15 minutes. Be careful not to let all the broth evaporate so the cabbage does not turn out dry.
- When cooking is finished, crumble the cooked bacon strips and stir the crumbled bacon into the cabbage.
- Serve this Southern cabbage recipe with bacon right away, and enjoy!
Pro tips:
- How do you know when the cabbage is done cooking?
Carefully taste a bite of the cabbage leaves. (Caution: They will be hot!) If the leaves are very tender, the cabbage is done
🎙Join the conversation about the best Southern cabbage recipes on The Soul Food Pod!
How do you make this recipe in an Instant Pot?
Southern style cabbage can be prepared in 4 minutes (Wowza!) in the Instant Pot – fully cooked and infused with lots of flavors!
Don’t tell grandma – but you won’t even need the heavy pork ingredients or the ham hocks long cook times. And no more draining the bacon fat, bacon drippings, or bacon grease!
To finsh this recipe in the Instant Pot, add chopped pre-cooked bacon or bacon bits to the 4-minute cooked cabbage in the Instant Pot.
What can you serve with this quick and easy Southern fried cabbage?
What do you eat with with fried cabbage?
BACON!
What do you serve with fried cabbage and bacon?
So what goes well with Southern fried cabbage? What would be good sides or other dishes to go with this?
Fried cabbage is an iconic Southern recipe that can be served with a variety of different dishes like mashed potatoes, candied yams, or baked macaroni and cheese.
Learn more about what to serve with fried cabbage HERE.
What meat goes into the fried cabbage?
Other than bacon, ham hock, smoked turkey, smoked sausage, or beef sausage.
The following are just a few suggestions, but there are many more for you to explore with this fine Southern meal!
Do you have a corned beef recipe that would pair well with this recipe?
Yes, check out this recipe for corned beef and cabbage.
What type of bacon should you use for Southern fried cabbage?
This recipe does not require bacon and tastes just as delicious without it! However, you can add cooked chopped bacon.
For example, pork cut bacon, turkey bacon, crispy bacon, or thick cut bacon can be added by simply crumbling it and mixing it into the cooked cabbage.
Some folks also cook with bacon fat or bacon grease drippings.
What meat could you use as an alternative to bacon?
Any of the above suggested meats, or turkey bacon.
Can you make this cabbage vegetarian?
Absolutely! Simply remove the meat. Or place it with vegan meatless bacon.
Southern fried cabbage with bacon FAQs
How to buy and store fresh cabbage?
Look for a cabbage head that’s firm and heavy. The leaves should be free of blemishes and crisp with a lovely luster to the leaves.
Then store fresh cabbage wrapped tightly in plastic for about two weeks in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer.
Cut or cooked cabbage can be kept for 3-5 days in the fridge.
What kind of cabbage is best to use for fried cabbage with bacon?
Should you use green cabbage or red cabbage?
Wonder how this would taste using purple cabbage?
Despite having different colors, red cabbages, and green cabbages, for the most part, have the same flavor. So they can be a substitute for one another in recipes!
Though more nutritious, red has disadvantages like discoloring other foods in salads or cooked dishes when combined with it for an extended time.
Do you wash cabbage before frying it?
It’s not necessary to wash the whole cabbage before cooking.
Instead, you can remove the outer layer of cabbage leaves first and discard them before chopping.
How much cabbage will you need for fried cabbage?
This Southern fried cabbage recipe calls for one 3-4 pound head of cabbage.
How many servings will one head of cabbage make?
Some might say that one head of cabbage can make 8-10 servings.
Others may say it makes more like 6-7, depending on the size of the cabbage.
How do you cut cabbage for fried cabbage?
Cut out the cabbage’s core and coarsely chop the leaves using a food processor or knife.
Do you include the cabbage core in cooking?
Cut out and discard the cabbage’s core, and then coarsely chop the leaves.
How long does it take to cook cabbage?
Asked another way, how long does it take to fry cabbage?
It’s important to note that Southern-style cabbage can be cooked way quicker in an Instant Pot.
For example, if you’re following this traditional stovetop recipe for this side dish. In this case, boiled cabbage takes about 25 minutes to cook in the frying pan.
Quick to cook cabbage recipe
In contrast, with your Instant Pot, you only need to cook this Southern cabbage for 4 minutes on the high-pressure cook setting. Then, followed by natural pressure release for an additional four minutes. That’s it!
Does fried cabbage have carbs?
Carbs can be a touchy subject, but one thing is true. Carbs are essential for our bodies to function correctly.
So if you’ve been wondering if fried cabbage has carbs, the answer is yes. All vegetables do!
You’ll find that most of your favorite veggies are low in carbohydrates and high in fiber. For example, one serving of cabbage only has about 2 grams of total carbohydrates – not bad!
In addition, cabbage is high in vitamins C and K.
Can you have cabbage on a keto diet?
There’s no need to feel deprived when eating cabbage on a keto diet! Cabbage is high in fiber and low in calories, making it an excellent food for those who follow this diet.
Do you use sweet or yellow onion, and what seasoned salt do you use?
You can use a yellow onion or a sweet onion.
This recipe calls for one cup of chopped yellow onion and a host of soul food seasonings and spices in the exact amounts, including garlic powder, red pepper flakes, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
What can you add to cabbage for flavor?
Cabbage is a vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked, and it is often served as a side dish; if you are looking for ways to add flavor to your cabbage, look no further!
This Southern cabbage recipe promises no more bland leafy vegetables with soul food flavor additions like chicken stock or broth, butter, crushed red pepper, garlic powder or minced garlic, and Cajun or Creole seasoning.
Some folks also include Worcestershire sauce or hot sauce for an extra kick!
What meat is used to season Black folks’ Southern cabbage?
Start, of course, with bacon!
It’s not required at all, but if you’re cooking with a soul food cabbage recipe, you may season with the addition of meat.
The most commonly used is a ham hock, smoked turkey leg, smoked sausage, cooked bacon, and turkey bacon.
What fat should you use to fry your cabbage?
This recipe doesn’t call for a fat additive. Instead, just add bacon.
But if you really love bacon, I suppose you could add bacon grease or the leftover bacon fat drippings.
What if you want the bacon and not the grease?
Per the recipe instructions, just add the cooked bacon without the grease.
What is better, white vinegar or apple cider vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar is less acidic than white, which means it has a more mellow taste. It also contains healthy bacteria and enzymes that promote good digestion and overall health benefits for the body.
Due to its acidity, apple cider vinegar is an excellent dressing additive for Southern fried cabbage because it has less tang.
Can you use chicken bouillon instead of chicken broth for Southern cabbage?
For this easy cabbage recipe, you can use 1 teaspoon of chicken bouillon with 1 cup of water if you don’t have 1 cup of chicken broth, and the flavor profile will not change.
Can vegetable broth be used in place of the chicken broth, and if so, does it taste just as good?
Many wonder whether they can swap vegetable broth for chicken broth in their favorite recipes.
The answer is yes, and it tastes just as good!
Vegetable broths are made from various vegetables such as celery, carrots, onions, garlic, bell pepper, and tomatoes.
Even though the flavor will slightly differ from chicken broth, it still has many benefits.
How long does cooked cabbage last in the fridge?
Asked another way, how long will fried cabbage keep in the refrigerator?
Southern fried cabbage will remain good in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Can cabbage be frozen for later use?
Cooked cabbage can be frozen, but not for an extended period.
So how do you store leftover fried cabbage?
It’s best to freeze cooked cabbage and other leafy vegetables in an airtight container or freezer-safe zip-lock bag, so they do not get freezer burn. Wrapping the zip-lock bag in foil helps to preserve the freshness.
Cooked cabbage should only be frozen for up to 3 months before losing its nutritional value and flavor.
What did you think about this recipe?
Are you looking for a hearty, comforting dish to add to your meal rotation? Look no further than this easy Southern fried cabbage recipe!
What can you do with too much cabbage?
Need to know what to do with leftover cabbage, or do you need a quick cabbage recipe?
Check out these best Southern cabbage recipes below!
Love trying new kinds of salads?
Then you’ll enjoy this Southern fried cabbage recipe!
It’s easy to follow, flavorful, and perfect for satisfying your hunger.
Plus, it doesn’t require any prepping ahead of time, so you can enjoy a delicious meal even on your busiest days!
Did you enjoy this Southern fried cabbage with bacon recipe?
Have you had it?
Would you make it?
Comment below and lemme know.
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Equipment
- Or, Cast iron skillet with lid
- Wok or stir fry pan with lid
Ingredients
- 4 pound cabbage 3-4 pound cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup onion chopped
- 1 cup chicken broth or use vegetable broth to make this dish vegetarian
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup butter unsalted or vegan butter
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning or Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2-3 strips cooked bacon crumbled, turkey bacon or pork bacon
Instructions
- Cut out the cabbage's core and coarsely chop the leaves using a food processor or knife. (I remove the outer layer of cabbage leaves first and discard them before chopping.)
- Turn the stovetop on medium and add the butter to the cast iron frying pan skillet.
- Once the butter has melted, add the chopped cabbage, onion, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, Old Bay or Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to the skillet.
- Cover the pan with a lid and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the lid from the skillet and cook the cabbage uncovered for about 15 minutes, careful not to let all the broth evaporate so the cabbage is not dry.
- When the cooking is finished, crumble the cooked bacon strips and stir the crumbled bacon into the cabbage.
- Serve this Southern cabbage recipe with bacon right away, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Great,my mom made this.i am 79 years old an love it.every new years mom made black eye peas,greens, corn, bread ect.sooo good.i Cook it now.keep on cooking you all.z