Easy Bacon and Cabbage Recipe (2024)

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This bacon and cabbage recipe is quick & easy to make and only needs a handful of everyday ingredients! Serve it as-is for a low-carb meal or try it with noodles, potatoes, or rice.

Easy Bacon and Cabbage Recipe (1)

This fried cabbage and bacon recipe was inspired by one of my readers. They left a comment on one of my other sautéed cabbage recipes (try my Easy Chicken and Cabbage Stir Fry or my Sautéed Cabbage and Kielbasa), and I added it to my looong list of recipes to make for the blog. I mean you can’t go wrong with bacon, right? 😉

I love simple meals like this. You just need cabbage, bacon, onions, and that’s it, really. I add some smoked paprika and salt & pepper for extra flavor.

This recipe is quite versatile as it can be a main course or side dish.

Easy Bacon and Cabbage Recipe (2)

Recipe notes & tips:

  • Don’t have smoked paprika? Try regular or hot paprika.
  • You could add a dash of hot sauce if you want to spice it up!
  • You can definitely add a bit of garlic in here. I recommend adding 2-3 cloves a few minutes prior to the cabbage being done so it gets a chance to cook without burning.

What to serve with this recipe?

Serve it as-is if you want it to be low-carb. This would be also be delicious with boiled or baked potatoes or rice! Want to make this into cabbage and noodles with bacon? Serve this with some egg noodles or even ramen noodles. It’s such a great inexpensive meal, and even the leftovers taste great.

Easy Bacon and Cabbage Recipe (3)

If you’ve never had sautéed/fried cabbage, you’re in for a treat. It’s hard to describe just how yummy it is. As a girl with a Czech mom, I definitely grew up eating my fair share of cabbage.

More tasty cabbage recipes to try:

  • Kielbasa Soup
  • Cabbage Roll Soup
  • Instant Pot Cabbage Soup
  • Easy Egg Roll in a Bowl

Easy Bacon and Cabbage Recipe (4)

Let me know if you’ve made this bacon fried cabbage!

Questions? Leave me a comment below.

Easy Bacon and Cabbage Recipe (5)

5 from 4 votes

Bacon and Cabbage

By Natasha Bull

This bacon and cabbage recipe is quick & easy to make and only needs a handful of everyday ingredients! Serve it as-is for a low-carb meal or try it with noodles, potatoes, or rice.

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4

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Ingredients

  • 6 strips bacon cut into smaller pieces
  • 1 medium cabbage cored & chopped
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika optional
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Cut the bacon into small pieces (I use kitchen shears to make this easy). Fry it in a deep skillet over medium-high heat until crispy (about 10 minutes). Once it's done, take the bacon out of the pan and leave about 2 tablespoons or so of the bacon fat in the pan.

  • Add the onion to the skillet and sauté for 3 minutes.

  • Stir in the cabbage and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes (depending on how soft you want the cabbage to be).

  • Towards the last minute or two of cooking, stir in the smoked paprika and add the bacon back to the pan. Season with salt & pepper as needed and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Serving size really depends on how much people eat and if you serve it with anything. Eating it as-is with nothing serves 2 people. Eating it with egg noodles or something else serves 4, and it can serve up to 6 as a side dish.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Calories: 206kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 261mg, Potassium: 491mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 346IU, Vitamin C: 85mg, Calcium: 97mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.

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Easy Bacon and Cabbage Recipe (6)

Hi! I’m Natasha.

Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!

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Easy Bacon and Cabbage Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is bacon and cabbage made of? ›

Bacon and cabbage (Irish: bagún agus cabáiste) is a dish traditionally associated with Ireland. The dish consists of sliced back bacon boiled with cabbage and potatoes. Smoked bacon is sometimes used. The dish is served with the bacon sliced, and with some of the boiling juices added.

Is fried cabbage healthy to eat? ›

Rich in Nutrients: Cabbage is packed with essential nutrients such as vitamins (particularly vitamin K, vitamin C, and various B vitamins), minerals (including potassium and calcium), and dietary fiber. Boiling or frying it can help retain many of these nutrients.

How long does it take to boil cabbage? ›

Step 1Cut cabbage into wedges or slice it thin. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add cabbage. (It's OK to crowd the pot because the cabbage will shrink!) Step 2Boil until tender, about 5 minutes for shredded cabbage and 10 minutes for wedges.

Why do people add sugar to cabbage? ›

If you use regular bacon, turkey bacon, or beef bacon, you'll want to add a few tablespoons of oil or butter to the fat to make sure there's enough. Sugar: Plain ol' granulated sugar, the amount also to taste. It brings out the subtle, natural sweetness of Southern Fried Cabbage.

How do you cut cabbage for bacon and cabbage? ›

Slice cabbage across the grain into thin shreds. If necessary, wash it quickly in cold water. About 20 minutes before the end of cooking the bacon, add shredded cabbage to the pot of simmering bacon.

Why do you put bread soda in cabbage? ›

You don't add baking soda. Adding baking soda to your boiling cabbage can help reduce the objectionable smell and maintain the green color long after when it typically turns grayish from cooking for too long. However, this may rid the cabbage of its nutritional value.

Is fried cabbage good for kidneys? ›

Stir-frying helps maintain the texture and flavor in vegetables. Vegetables such as asparagus, bean sprouts, bell pepper, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, snow peas and spring onions are kidney-friendly, low-potassium choices. Add sweetness with mandarin oranges, pineapple or grapes.

Is cabbage good or bad for weight loss? ›

Consuming cabbage can prove to be very beneficial for weight loss. It is very low in calories, which is considered suitable for reducing weight. According to the study, there are about 25 calories in 100 grams of cabbage. Cabbage is rich in water and fibre, which helps in keeping the intestines healthy.

Is fried cabbage bad for diabetics? ›

Cabbage is low in calories and high in fibre content, so it becomes an ideal vegetable to choose for diabetics. It is also low on glycemic index with a rank of 10 (anything below 55 is considered low). GI is an indicator of how fast the carbohydrates will raise the blood glucose levels in your blood.

Why do you put vinegar in cabbage when boiling it? ›

Red cabbages can be stored in a cool, dark place for a week to ten days. Before cooking, remove any tired or discoloured leaves and always cook red cabbage with a little vinegar. This preserves the beautiful purple colour – without it, the cabbage will turn blue!

Why do you soak cabbage before cooking? ›

Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water. This also helps cut the pungent edge. Drain well before combining with other ingredients.

Can you overcook cabbage? ›

The key to cooking cabbage: Don't overcook it.

Cabbage is sweet and aromatic when cooked correctly. But the same sulfuric compounds that provide many of its health benefits can turn saboteur when overcooked, creating a pungent, unpleasant smell.

Why do I feel so good after eating cabbage? ›

Improved immune system.

The vitamin C found in cabbage is good for your whole body. Not only is it an antioxidant that fights free radicals, but it also helps to fight heart disease, cancer, and even the common cold. Vitamin C also helps your body to absorb the iron it needs.

Why does cabbage make me feel good? ›

Cabbage is an exceptionally healthy food. It has an outstanding nutrient profile and is especially high in vitamins C and K. In addition, eating cabbage may even help lower the risk of certain diseases, improve digestion, and ease inflammation.

What does eating a lot of cabbage do to your body? ›

Cabbage, especially red cabbage, seems to raise levels of beta-carotene, lutein, and other heart-protective antioxidants. It also helps lower something called “oxidized” LDL, which is linked to hardening of the arteries. And since it eases inflammation, it can help prevent heart disease.

What is the history of bacon and cabbage in Ireland? ›

Historical Significance: Bacon and Cabbage wasn't just a meal; it was a reflection of Ireland's agricultural landscape. Families across the country would gather around the table to enjoy this dish, embodying a sense of community and togetherness.

Why is the dish corned beef and cabbage rather than bacon and cabbage? ›

Experts say the meal originated on American soil in the late 19th century as Irish immigrants substituted corned beef for bacon, which was meat of choice in the homeland.

What part of the animal is beef bacon? ›

Steers have some mighty belly meat that transforms into incredibly flavorful bacon. The beef belly is better known by its industry term – navel. The navel cut is what the brisket joins into, just a little further down the body.

What does an Irish breakfast look like? ›

A traditional full Irish breakfast comprises bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, beans, soda bread or toast, tomatoes, mushrooms, and white or black pudding.

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