Simple but so incredibly tasty, this Fried Cabbage with Bacon is a classic Southern recipe. It’s rich and savory, cooked in bacon fat, with onion, garlic, and a bit of apple cider vinegar and brown sugar. Add a bit of butter and this is a side dish you won’t be able to get enough of.

More easy side dishes you won’t want to miss include our coleslaw recipe, oven roasted potatoes, and cheese bread!

Easy Southern Fried Cabbage

When it comes to Southern cooking, fried cabbage and bacon is a staple. It’s served up as a side dish to practically anything and the rich, buttery flavors make it all but melt in your mouth. The cabbage is sautéed until tender while bacon is cooked until crispy, for contrasting textures as well as flavors. It’s so good!

Fried Cabbage Recipe Ingredients

Just a handful of common ingredients are needed to make this easy fried cabbage and bacon.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

• Bacon – I prefer to use thick-cut bacon, but you can’t go wrong with any variety. Cut it before cooking so it will crisp up more evenly.
• Onion and Garlic – For fantastic aromatics and flavor.
• Cabbage – Green cabbage is what’s used in this dish.
• Apple cider vinegar – Gives a little zing to this side dish.
• Light brown sugar – Adds just a pinch of sweetness and balances out the other flavors.
• Butter – I use salted butter for the extra flavor.
• Salt & pepper – For flavor.

How to Make Fried Cabbage

This Southern classic comes together in just a few simple steps.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

1. Cook the bacon. Cook the bacon until crispy. Drain on a paper-towel lined plate.
2. Sauté the onions. Reserve some of the bacon fat in the pan. Cook the onions until translucent then add the garlic.
3. Cook the cabbage. Add the remaining ingredients except for the butter to the pan. Stir to combine. Cook until the cabbage is tender.
4. Serve. Stir in the cooked bacon and butter, until the butter melts. Adjust the seasoning as necessary. Serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

There are many different versions of this simple cooked cabbage side dish. Here are a few of them, plus tips for the best flavor.

• Exactly how much cabbage do I need? The cabbage comes to about 10 cups of diced cabbage, or 1 medium sized head of cabbage.
• Use red cabbage if desired. You can sub red cabbage for this, if preferred, it will just have a different flavor.
• Soften the cabbage more. You can cook this longer if you want a softer cabbage.
• Don’t add the bacon until serving. The texture of the crispy bacon with the tender cabbage adds a great textural component to this dish. If you are making this ahead, keep the bacon on the side right before serving so the bacon doesn’t become soggy.
• Spice it up. If you want a little heat, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
• Make it vegetarian. For a meat-free side dish, just omit the bacon and saute the cabbage in butter instead of bacon grease.

What to Serve with Fried Cabbage

Fried cabbage goes particularly well with other Southern food classics, like shrimp boil or fried green tomatoes. You could also serve it up with some beer brats, baked chicken breast, or really anything else you wanted. Wash it down with some southern style sweet tea or a mint julep! It’s a simple, versatile side dish that pairs well with just about any meal.

How to Store Leftovers

• To store leftovers. You can keep fried cabbage in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container. Reheat either in the microwave or on the stovetop (recommended).
• Can I freeze fried cabbage? Yes, fried cabbage with bacon can be frozen for up to 3 months. Allow it to cool completely then transfer to an airtight, freezer-safe container. Thaw in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop.

More Cabbage Recipes

• Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet
• Cabbage Roll Soup
• Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
• Roasted Cabbage
• Corned Beef and Cabbage

More Side Dish Recipes:

• Colcannon
• Oven Roasted Potatoes
• Easy Mushroom Rice
• Creamed Corn
• Creamed Spinach
• Macaroni Salad
• Coleslaw
• Cornbread Casserole

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!