Fried Cabbage With Bacon Recipe (2024)

Fried cabbage with bacon is packed with so much savory flavor, no one will miss the carbs!

Cabbage and onion are cooked soft and tender in bacon fat, with chunks of crispy bacon tossed in at the end, along with a touch of tangy apple cider vinegar.

Cabbage with bacon makes a hearty side dish, and is satisfying and substantial enough to serve as a main course too!

Fried Cabbage With Bacon Recipe (1)

A Savory and Flavorful Dish!

  • For an easy one-skillet keto meal that needs no starch, this fried cabbage with bacon recipe is the answer. It’s delicious and filling even without potatoes!
  • Budget friendly cabbage develops a rich meatiness when cooked. Plus a layer of sweetness caramelizes with onion, which combines with the smoky salty bacon for a mouthwatering flavor combo.
  • Leftovers are easy to reheat in the microwave, stovetop, or toaster oven for quick lunches at the office!
Fried Cabbage With Bacon Recipe (2)

Simple Ingredients

Cabbage & Onions – Use a firm head of green cabbage for the most intense flavor that will stand up to the smoky bacon. Savoy can be used if you prefer a milder taste. Collard greens can also be a great cabbage substitute in this recipe. Yellow or white cooking onions are pleasantly pungent and are the best choice for this dish.

Bacon – Any variety of cured pork, beef, or turkey bacon will give this dish its signature smoky taste. Add in or substitute chorizo, leftover ham, or sausage if you prefer.

Garlic & seasonings – Make this dish with fresh chopped or crushed garlic cloves. You can use powder if that’s all you have on hand. Give the dish some herbal notes with a garlic herb blend, add some spicy heat with this Southwest seasonings or intensify the flavors with smoked paprika.

Variations – Use other proteins in addition to, or as a substitute for the bacon. Stir in leftover ground beef, chicken, or even Cajun shrimp to stretch your dish for a crowd!

Fried Cabbage With Bacon Recipe (3)
Fried Cabbage With Bacon Recipe (4)
Fried Cabbage With Bacon Recipe (5)
Fried Cabbage With Bacon Recipe (6)

How to Make Fried Cabbage With Bacon

Cabbage with bacon can go from stovetop to table in one easy skillet!

  1. In a large skillet, try bacon and set aside, reserving some of the drippings in the pan, as directed in the recipe below.
  2. In the same pan, cook onion and garlic until soft and translucent.
  3. Add cabbage to the pan, cover, and cook until tender.
  4. Stir in cider vinegar and bacon.
  5. Serve immediately, with extra vinegar on the side.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with other low carb sides like cauliflower mac and cheese, oven-roasted mushrooms or cauliflower risotto. Add a pop of healthy color with roasted vegetables, and satisfy any carb cravings with puffs of cloud bread.

Fried Cabbage With Bacon Recipe (7)

Tips for Success!

  • Chop cabbage into uniform bite-sized pieces for even cooking.
  • Consider frying cabbage and onion longer to allow the edges to caramelize for more flavor.
  • Use leftovers in other dishes, especially cabbage or ground beef soups. Toss them in a casserole where the flavors will meld, such as an unstuffed cabbage casserole or even a cheesy cauliflower or broccoli casserole.
  • Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to three months. Reheat in the microwave.

Delish Cabbage Recipes To Try!

Low Carb Unstuffed Cabbage Casserole

Main Dish

Low Carb Pork and Cabbage Skillet

Pork

Bacon Wrapped Cabbage (keto/low carb)

Low Carb

Low Carb Cabbage Rolls

Main Dish

Did you love this Fried Cabbage with Bacon recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below!

Fried Cabbage With Bacon Recipe (12)

5 from 6 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Make this delicious fried cabbage with bacon recipe for a quick and easy low-carb side dish.

SaveReviewPrint

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Author Holly

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon chopped
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 8 cups cabbage chopped in 1" pieces
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • In a 12" skillet, cook bacon over medium-high heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon and set on a paper towel lined plate. Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in the pan.

  • Reduce heat to medium and add onion to the pan. Cook until onion is softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.

  • Add cabbage, cover and cook stirring occasionally until tender, about an 15-20 minutes.

  • Stir in apple cider vinegar and add bacon back to pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

  • Chop cabbage into uniform pieces for even cooking.
  • Leftovers may be kept in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to 4 days.
  • Fried cabbage with bacon can be stored in the freezer, in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to 8-9 months. Thaw before reheating.
  • Leftovers can be reheated on the stove or in the microwave.

5 from 6 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 68kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 155mg | Potassium: 218mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 91IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

©Easy Low Carb. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

REPIN this Fried Cabbage With Bacon recipe!

Fried Cabbage With Bacon Recipe (14)
Fried Cabbage With Bacon Recipe (15)
Fried Cabbage With Bacon Recipe (16)

Categories:

Easy Low Carb Recipes, Keto Meal Recipes, Low Carb, Main Dish, Pork, Sides

Recipes you'll love

Zucchini Pizza Bites

Appetizers

Bacon Wrapped Cabbage (keto/low carb)

Low Carb

Cauliflower Potato Salad

Sides

Cauliflower Mushroom Risotto (Low Carb)

Sides

Keto Scalloped “Potatoes” (Daikon)

Sides

Mashed Cauliflower with Cream Cheese

Sides

About the author

At Easy Low Carb® we believe that every meal should be full of big bold flavor! From amazing main dishes and simple sides to the best party snacks, reducing carbs doesn’t mean giving up your favorites!
See more posts by Holly

latest & greatest

Cabbage Roll Soup Recipe

Soups

Chicken Taco Soup Recipe

Soups

Boiled Cabbage

Sides

Cobb Salad Recipe

Salads

Avocado Chicken Salad

Salads

Parmesan Broccoli

Sides

Fried Cabbage With Bacon Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is vinegar added to cabbage? ›

Then, there is the red cabbage which tends to turn blue when cooked and so, most commonly just eaten raw. If you do want to cook it, add a touch of acid like lemon juice or vinegar to lessen the effect.

Why do you put baking soda in cabbage? ›

Baking soda does help green vegetables retain color, but it causes undesirable color changes in red cabbage—it turned blue. The science can be distilled to this: Adding baking soda to cooking water makes it slightly alkaline, which stabilizes the green color of chlorophyll.

How do you make Patti Labelle cabbage? ›

Directions. Heat the grapeseed oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the cabbage, onions, bell peppers, stock, sea salt, seasoning salt, black pepper and cayenne. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is wilted and tender, 10 minutes.

Does cabbage shrink when you fry it? ›

Yes, cabbage will shrink when fried, so if the pan looks very full when you add the fresh cabbage, don't worry. It'll cook down and turn tender.

Can I use white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar in coleslaw? ›

Distilled white vinegar is a great substitute for apple cider vinegar. Lemon Juice. I don't recommend making a substitution for the lemon juice.

What happens when you mix vinegar and cabbage juice? ›

The cabbage juice is called an indicator because it can tell you the pH of a solution based on the color that it changes. The vinegar will turn the cabbage juice red because it is an acid (acetic acid). The baking soda will turn the cabbage juice greenish-yellow because it is a base (sodium bicarbonate).

Can you overcook cabbage? ›

Yes, cabbage sizzles in stir-fries; simmers in soups, stews, and braises; adds healthy crunch to salads; and does wonders for casseroles, gratins, and meat pies — cabbage does it all, and for a bargain price. The key to cooking cabbage: Don't overcook it. Cabbage is sweet and aromatic when cooked correctly.

What does cooked cabbage do to your stomach? ›

It's Good for Your Digestion

Cabbage has 1 gram of fiber for every 10 calories. That helps fill you up, so you eat less. It also keeps you regular, and it could help lower your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol and control your blood sugar. Cabbage also has nutrients that keep the lining of your stomach and intestines strong.

Why do you soak cabbage before cooking? ›

According to the site, you only need to soak your shredded greens in a cold water bath to keep their taste delightfully crispy and light. Taste of Home recommends that after cutting your cabbage you allow it to soak in your refrigerator up until the minute you're prepared to serve it.

What does pouring salt into a cabbage do? ›

The salt then draws moisture out of the cabbage's cells through osmosis, forming a salty brine. This brine is important because it submerges the cabbage and deprives the Lactobacillus and other microorganisms of oxygen – the second step!

What is cannonball cabbage? ›

More commonly known as green cabbage, the cannonball cabbage is one of the most popular cabbage varieties. It is so named for the way its leaves wound tightly over one another in a dense, compact fashion; with the final product resembling a cannonball.

Why is it called sweetheart cabbage? ›

Why is it called Hispi cabbage? It's tight, green and leafy. Also known as pointed, hispi, or Chinese cabbage, the name sweetheart is used because of its sweet flavour, and because the French word for cabbage, chou, is used as a pet name for a sweetheart, not, as you might think because it has a shape like a heart.

Why is my fried cabbage bitter? ›

When plant cells are broken, the oils are separated from the sugar molecules by an enzyme and released as a very bitter compound. It's a clever defense mechanism for the cabbage plant to discourage hungry foragers.

Do you rinse cabbage before frying? ›

Cabbage
  1. Remove the thick outer leaves of the cabbage head.
  2. Cut the cabbage into wedges.
  3. Rinse the wedges in a colander under running water.
  4. Shake them dry as best as you can, then pat them with a clean cotton towel to remove additional moisture.
Dec 7, 2023

Is fried cabbage good to eat? ›

It pairs well with just about any protein and could even be served alongside pasta, casserole (like Broccoli Quinoa Casserole), or anything else you enjoy! Cabbage Is Good for You. Cabbage is a powerhouse of vitamins (particularly vitamin C), minerals, and antioxidants.

Will adding vinegar to cabbage during cooking make it turn blue? ›

Anthocyanins tend to change their colour according to acidity or alkalinity of the environment. Cooking water is usually slightly alkaline, so red cabbage chnges its color to dark purple, deep Navy blue, sometimes almost black. Add a little of vinegar to the cooking water and the cabbage will retain its red colour.

What happens when you add vinegar to red cabbage? ›

When cooked in an alkaline liquid like water, red cabbage turns blue. Adding vinegar, lemon juice, or another acid helps the cabbage to retain its red-purple color.

Is cabbage in vinegar healthy? ›

Chockful of nutrients

Red cabbage offers another bonus: It's rich in natural pigments called anthocyanins, which new research suggests may help boost insulin production and lower blood sugar levels. Finally, cabbage is often prepared with vinegar, which can help lower the GL of your whole meal.

What does vinegar do to vegetables? ›

The science of using vinegar for food preservation is simple. The acetic acid contained in the vinegar increases the acidity of the vegetables, killing off any microorganisms and effectively preserving the veggies by preventing spoilage.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dan Stracke

Last Updated:

Views: 6681

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dan Stracke

Birthday: 1992-08-25

Address: 2253 Brown Springs, East Alla, OH 38634-0309

Phone: +398735162064

Job: Investor Government Associate

Hobby: Shopping, LARPing, Scrapbooking, Surfing, Slacklining, Dance, Glassblowing

Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.