Southern “Fried” Cabbage

It’s ready in under 20 minutes.

By
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel has over 10 years of experience developing recipes and writing about food. She is the author of 4 cookbooks, including the bestselling "The Instant Pot Electric Cookbook."
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Updated February 12, 2025
Laurel Randolph
overhead view of a bowl of Southern “Fried” Cabbage with a serving spoon

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

It may not be the most exciting item in my vegetable drawer, but I love cabbage. I always have a head (or part of one) in my fridge, and I prepare it all sorts of ways—raw in salads and coleslaws, stir-fried, grilled, roasted, tossed into soups—the list goes on. It helps that the vegetable lasts forever in the fridge, taking the pressure off. I can’t remember when I’ve thrown out fresh cabbage because it went bad.

One of my favorite ways to prepare cabbage goes back to my roots in Tennessee. It also happens to be one of the quickest and easiest.

overhead view of a close-up of Southern “Fried” Cabbage

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

The Southern Method for Cooking Cabbage

What sets Southern cabbage apart? Per usual, it’s a pork product. The recipe begins with frying chopped bacon in a skillet until crisp, then using that fat to cook the onions and cabbage, infusing the dish with delicious flavor. A touch of sugar helps balance the salty savoriness.

The result is a flavorful side dish that’s ready in under 20 minutes. The cabbage is perfectly crisp-tender with sweet onions and crispy, salty bacon, ideal for pairing with sausage, pork chops, chicken, potato sides of all kinds, and more.

overhead view of a bowl of Southern “Fried” Cabbage

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Easy Cabbage Recipes

Southern “Fried” Cabbage

Prep Time 8 mins
Cook Time 12 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Servings 4 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 3-4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced

  • 1 small or 1/2 large yellow onion, sliced into thin half-moons

  • 1/2 large green cabbage (about 1 pound), chopped

  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste

Method

  1. Cook the bacon:

    Add the bacon to a large, high-sided skillet or wok. Heat over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate leaving the grease in the skillet.

  2. Cook the vegetables:

    Add the onion and sauté until translucent and starting to brown a little bit, about 2 minutes. Add the cabbage, sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the cabbage is tender and done to your liking and the onions are light brown, 5 to 7 minutes.

  3. Add the bacon:

    Remove from the heat and add the cooked bacon to the mixture and stir. Taste, adding salt and pepper as needed, and serve.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
104 Calories
4g Fat
12g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 104
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 12mg 4%
Sodium 373mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 12g 4%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 60mg 300%
Calcium 81mg 6%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 397mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.