• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sweet T Makes Three logo
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Newsletter
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Side Dishes

    Southern Fried Cabbage Recipe

    Published: Sep 14, 2018 · Modified: Jan 26, 2023 by Jenn · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Leave it to Southerners to fry even the vegetables! This Southern fried cabbage recipe is a side dish that is simple to fix, inexpensive, and of course, tastes wonderful. How could it not with all that bacon? Just a spoonful of its tasty goodness helps the cabbage go down.

    An iron skillet full of fried cabbage with a wooden spoon.

    I can remember both sets of my grandparents enjoying this simple recipe that they passed down to my parents and then to me. As a kid, I didn’t care for it (not surprising really) but now I love some Southern-fried cabbage! It must just be in the genes. 

    Jump to:
    • 📝 Ingredients
    • 👇 Step-by-Step Directions
    • ❓ FAQ
    • 🍽️ Other Southern Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    📝 Ingredients

    To make Southern-style fried cabbage you only need a few simple ingredients.

    Fried cabbage ingredients onion, bacon, cabbage, salt, and pepper.

    Bacon – As much as I love to use real bacon bits as a hack to save time, you need traditional, raw bacon for this recipe. All the bacon fat brings the flavor and helps wilt the cabbage.

    Onion – A white or yellow onion will work. Make sure it’s diced evenly so that the pieces cook evenly. You also need to dice it somewhat finely. The onion is more about flavoring the cabbage than biting into onion pieces as a separate ingredient in the final dish. Make sense?

    Salt and pepper – Use both to taste. The bacon grease brings some salt to the dish so you may need less than you think.

    Cabbage – A head of fresh cabbage is what you need. As with the onion be sure to chop it as evenly as possible for even cooking. The cabbage pieces can be a little chunky. You’re not making coleslaw!

    👇 Step-by-Step Directions

    Frying bacon in an iron skillet.

    1. Fry bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until crispy.

    Cooked bacon crumbles draining on a paper towel.

    2. Remove the bacon and allow it to cool enough to handle. Crumble it by hand (or with a knife if you prefer) and set it aside.

    Diced onion being cooked in an iron skillet.

    3. Leave the bacon grease in the skillet and scrape the bottom of the skillet to loosen any bits of bacon. Add diced onion and cook over medium heat until they begin to turn translucent.

    Adding cabbage to a pan to fry it.

    4. Add the chopped cabbage to the skillet and pan-fry along with the onions until the cabbage is coated with bacon grease and starting to wilt.

    Fried cabbage in a skillet topped with bacon crumbles.

    4. Add the reserved bacon crumbles to the pan.

    Cabbage frying in a pan.

    5. Continue cooking and stirring until the cabbage is the desired texture. I like mine “al dente” but if you prefer your cabbage more cooked down or crisper, adjust the cooking time accordingly.

    A wooden spoonful of fried cabbage being help up to the camera from the iron skillet.

    6. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve warm.

    ❓ FAQ

    Can I use precooked bacon or real bacon bits instead of raw bacon?

    I love this shortcut for a lot of my recipes, but it doesn’t work well with this fried cabbage recipe. You really need those bacon drippings to flavor the cabbage.

    Do I have to cook fried cabbage in an iron skillet?

    Fried cabbage will still be tasty even if you use a more modern pan, but for the most authentic taste, be sure to cook it in a well-seasoned iron skillet.

    Do I need to boil cabbage before frying?

    No. The bacon grease will soften the cabbage perfectly as it cooks.

    🍽️ Other Southern Recipes

    Now that you know how to fry cabbage, what will you serve with it? May I recommend this chuck eye steak recipe? I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Plus you’ll learn just how versatile your iron skillet can be. Once you’ve mastered how to make Southern fried cabbage and enjoyed your chuck steak, you can use your skillet or Dutch oven for stewed tomatoes too.

    📖 Recipe

    An iron skillet full of fried cabbage with a wooden spoon.

    Southern Style Fried Cabbage Recipe

    [email protected] T Makes Three
    This authentic, Southern fried cabbage recipe has been passed down in my family for years.
    4.78 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Course Recipes, Side Dish
    Cuisine Southern
    Servings 6
    Calories 122 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 small head of cabbage cored and coarsely chopped
    • 5 strips of bacon
    • 1 small onion diced
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Cook bacon in a large skillet until crispy.
    • Remove bacon, crumble, and set aside.
    • Leave bacon grease in the skillet and scrape the bottom of the skillet to loosen bacon bits.
    • Add diced onion and cook over medium heat until they begin to turn translucent.
    • Add the chopped cabbage to the skillet and pan-fry along with the onions until the cabbage is coated with bacon grease and starting to wilt.
    • Add the reserved bacon crumbles to the pan and continue to fry until the cabbage is al dente.
    • Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper to taste.

    Notes

    Be sure to taste the fried cabbage before adding any additional salt. Depending on what kind of bacon you use, it may not need any.
     
    Keyword fried cabbage, how to make fried cabbage, southern fried cabbage
    Nutrition Facts
    Southern Style Fried Cabbage Recipe
    Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
    Calories 122 Calories from Fat 63
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 7g11%
    Saturated Fat 2g13%
    Trans Fat 1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 3g
    Cholesterol 12mg4%
    Sodium 149mg6%
    Potassium 320mg9%
    Carbohydrates 11g4%
    Fiber 4g17%
    Sugar 6g7%
    Protein 4g8%
    Vitamin A 155IU3%
    Vitamin C 57mg69%
    Calcium 66mg7%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a comment below or share on Pinterest

    More Side Dishes

    • Easy Homemade Garlic Bread
    • Elote Recipe (Mexican Street Corn)
    • Southern Stewed Tomatoes
    • Pa’s Pickled Peppers Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    What's on your mind? Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    picture of Jennifer sitting in a green chair.

    Hi, I'm Jenn, a Southern food blogger and mother living in Alabama. After having my wonderful daughter, I decided to embark on a journey of sharing my Southern cooking recipes with the world.

    More about me →

    Recent Recipes...

    • Vanilla Overnight Oats (Vegan)
    • Easy Guacamole Recipe
    • Pork Lo Mein (Instant Pot Recipe)
    • Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services
    • Media Kit
    • FAQ

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Sweet T Makes Three