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 6 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

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.

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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.

How long does it take for cabbage to boil? ›

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. Drain on a paper-towel lined plate to dry.

What is the history of Irish bacon and cabbage? ›

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 do people add sugar to cabbage? ›

Sugar: Plain ol' granulated sugar, the amount also to taste. It brings out the subtle, natural sweetness of Southern Fried Cabbage. Balsamic vinegar: Apple cider vinegar works just fine, too, but I like the flavor balsamic adds, and it's a tad sweeter so I don't add as much sugar.

How long does cooked cabbage and bacon last in the fridge? ›

Fried cabbage and bacon are best when served fresh, but you can indeed refrigerate your leftovers. Allow your cabbage to cool slightly and then place it in a container that is airtight. I then wrap it with aluminum foil and place it in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Why is cooked cabbage so 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.

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

Green is the heartiest variety; it takes well to all cooking methods. Red can turn a funny blue color when cooked, so it's best used raw. If you do want to cook it, add a touch of acid like lemon juice or vinegar to lessen the effect. Savoy can be used in any recipe that calls for green cabbage.

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.

How do you know if cabbage is fully cooked? ›

Simmer, covered, until the cabbage begins to soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Turn the cabbage carefully, and continue to simmer until the cabbage is tender, an additional 5 minutes. The cabbage is ready when a small paring knife inserted into the thickest part of the cabbage near the core slides through easily.

What do Irish people call bacon? ›

IMPORTANT WORD YOU SHOULD LEARN: Rashers. That's Irish slang for bacon. You'll find back (wide) or streaky (narrow) rashers in an Irish breakfast; both types may look and taste different to what you might expect. Irish bacon is chunkier than American bacon, with a little more meat.

Why is Irish bacon so good? ›

A little less fatty than American bacon, Irish bacon is meatier and leaner. It is a great addition to sandwiches, especially delicious in club sandwich or a monte cristo, and makes an excellent ingredient for making frittatas, omelets, salads, and pasta.

Is cabbage Irish or German? ›

Cabbage, of course, was an Irish mainstay,” he said. But the United States was a different matter. As famine ravaged Ireland in the middle of the 19th century, large numbers of immigrants came to the United States, where prejudice against Irish and other Catholic newcomers was common.

Why do you put baking soda in cabbage? ›

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.

Should diabetics avoid cabbage? ›

Cabbage is low in calories and carbs and high in fiber. Cabbage can be particularly beneficial for people with diabetes, but its high nutritional value makes it a healthy choice. This vegetable is loaded with nutrients, including vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, and folate, and it is also high in fiber.

What happens to the body when you eat cabbage everyday? ›

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.

What is cabbage made of? ›

Raw cabbage is 92% water, 6% carbohydrates, 1% protein, and contains negligible fat. In a 100-gram reference amount, raw cabbage is a rich source of vitamin C and vitamin K, containing 44% and 72%, respectively, of the Daily Value (DV).

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

Traditional Irish bacon (ham) and cabbage. However, when these Irish got off the boats in America it was quite the opposite. Corned beef was the meat that they could easily and more cheaply get their hands on and, so, this became the meal of choice for generations of Irish Americans to come.

What part of the animal is beef bacon? ›

Simply put, beef bacon is a variation of regular bacon made from beef rather than pork. Pork bacon is generally made from sliced pork belly. Like traditional bacon, beef bacon can also be made from the beef belly. However, it can also be made from the brisket or round for leaner options.

What are the health benefits of cabbage and bacon? ›

What are the health benefits of Simply cook savoy cabbage and bacon? This simple side is packed with vitamin K for your blood, bones, arteries and cells. Try adding some finely chopped onions and a little garlic powder for a sweeter flavour.

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