Southern Fried Cabbage With Soul Food Seasoning

A Southern fried cabbage recipe 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. 

What is a Southern fried cabbage recipe?

Southern fried cabbage is a delicious and healthy way to enjoy one of Southern America’s favorite side dishes. 

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!

Whether you plan to cook a weeknight meal or a soul food Sunday dinner, this dish will surely satisfy! 

What does Southern fried cabbage taste like?

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!

Kitchen equipment for a Southern fried cabbage recipe

• 12″ cast iron skillet with lid, or a Wok or stir fry pan with a lid
• Shop my kitchenware HERE!

What do you need to make fried cabbage?

Check out this list of Southern soul food seasoning and spices and the instructions for Southern fried cabbage using an old-fashioned, classic cast iron skillet on the stovetop.

What kind of cabbage will you need to make fried cabbage?

Should you use green cabbage or red 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.

Ingredients for a Southern fried cabbage recipe

Exactly how much cabbage do you need?

This Southern fried cabbage recipe calls for one 3-4 pound head of cabbage.

*See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients with measurements.

• Cabbage head – One head of green cabbage coarsely chopped.
• Yellow onion – Adds a savory balance to the sweet cabbage leaves.
• Chicken broth – Creates a savory broth for the cabbage.
• Apple cider vinegar  – Balances the sweet cabbage flavor in the savory broth with a pinch of tang.
• Butter – Adds a silky and warm component to help soften the cabbage leaves for flavor absorption.
• Old Bay seasoning (or Cajun seasoning) – Adds the soulful, flavorful kick.
• Garlic powder – Intensifies the soul food flavors in the dish.
• Red pepper flakes – Add a small amount of heat and spice to compliment the soulful flavors.
• Salt – Balances the buttery, sweet cabbage flavors.
• Black pepper – Provides warm, flavorful heat.

What meat is used to season Southern cabbage?

It’s not required at all, but if you’re cooking a soul food cabbage recipe, you may choose to season with the addition of meat. The most commonly used is a ham hock, smoked turkey leg, smoked sausage, cooked bacon, or turkey bacon.

How to make the best Southern fried cabbage

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. 

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.

Instructions for a Southern fried cabbage recipe on the stovetop

*See the recipe card below for a detailed list of instructions with step-by-step guided pictures.

1. Chop the cabbage using a food processor or knife.
2. Turn the stovetop to medium.
3. Add the butter to the cast iron frying pan skillet for it to melt.
4. Add the remaining ingredients to the pan: cabbage, onion, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, Old Bay or Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to the skillet. 
5. Cover the pan with a lid and simmer.
6. Remove the lid from the skillet and cook the cabbage uncovered.
7. Serve and enjoy this Southern dish right!

🎙 Join the conversation about the best Southern cabbage recipes on The Soul Food Pod!

Pro tip: How can you tell when the cabbage is cooked?
Carefully taste a bite of the cabbage leaves. (Caution: They will be hot!) If the leaves are very tender, the cabbage is done!

Southern fried cabbage recipe variations

Do you use sweet or yellow onion, and what seasoned salt do you use?

You can use a yellow onion or a sweet onion. Although, I recommend using root onions instead of green scallion onions.

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.

What can you add to cabbage for flavor?

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. 
Learn more HERE about what to add to cabbage for flavor.

How do you make this recipe in an Instant Pot?

Instant Pot makes a quick-to-cook cabbage recipe because 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! 
The Instant Pot Southern cabbage recipe with soul food flavor is HERE.

What can you serve with this quick and easy Southern fried cabbage recipe?

Fried cabbage is an iconic Southern recipe that can be served with a variety of different dishes like corned beef and cabbage, candied yams, or baked macaroni and cheese.
Learn more about what to serve with fried cabbage HERE.

What meat goes well with fried cabbage?

Ham hock, smoked turkey, whole chicken, corned beef, smoked sausage, or beef sausage. These are just a few suggestions, but there are many more for you to explore with this fine Southern meal!

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 or chopped bacon to cabbage. For example, pork cut bacon or turkey 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.

Southern fried cabbage recipe 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. 
• Store fresh cabbage wrapped tightly in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer for up to two weeks. 
• Then, cut or cooked cabbage can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. 
• Cooked cabbage can be sealed and frozen for up to 3 months.

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 do you cut cabbage for frying?

Cut out the cabbage’s core and coarsely chop the leaves using a food processor or knife. 

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 HERE!

Did you enjoy this Southern fried cabbage 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! 

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!

Have you had it?

Would you make it? 

Comment below and lemme know. 

Then subscribe HERE for all the soul food!

Like this post? Pin the below image to your Pinterest Soul Food Recipes board!