This Southern fried cabbage with bacon and onion is packed with flavor and perfect for a quick and comforting dinner at home! It features buttery soft cabbage covered in delicious Cajun seasoning, crispy bacon bits, and flavorful aromatics.
This Southern fried cabbage with bacon and onion is the ultimate comfort food that combines Cajun flavors with perfectly caramelized cabbage and crispy bacon bits. It tastes amazing alongside a variety of sides or main dishes, such as white rice, fried eggs, air fryer chicken breast, or mashed potatoes.
Plus, if you don't use a whole cabbage head you can use any remaining cabbage to whip up delicious stir-fries such as my chicken yaki udon, Korean-style spicy noodles, or shrimp chow mein.
Fried Cabbage with Bacon and Onion Ingredients
To make this fried cabbage with bacon and onion, you'll need the following ingredients:
- Bacon: You'll need regular bacon slices for this recipe. If you prefer a pork-free version, feel free to use turkey or beef bacon.
- Cabbage: You'll need regular green cabbage to make this fried cabbage.
- Aromatics: Onion and garlic are needed to make this dish flavorful and delicious. Don't skip them as there aren't a lot of other ingredients that add flavor.
- Cajun seasoning: Cajun seasoning perfectly complements the caramelized cabbage and bacon pieces. It's also incredibly convenient as it is a seasoning blend that combines a variety of spices and herbs. If you want to make your own Cajun seasoning, I recommend checking out my air fryer cajun wing recipe. Use the ratios you can find in the recipe box and store your homemade Cajun seasoning in an airtight container.
How to make fried cabbage with bacon and onion
Cook the bacon. First, add the bacon pieces to the pan and cook them until crispy. Remove the bacon bits and some of the bacon grease from the pan.
Sauté the aromatics. Next, add the onion to the pan and sauté in the bacon grease until softened. Then add the garlic and continue to sauté until fragrant.
Sauté the cabbage. Now add the cabbage and sauté over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and continue to sauté until the cabbage starts to soften.
Season and sauté. Next, add the Cajun seasoning and continue to sauté until the cabbage is soft and caramelized.
Add the bacon and toss. Add the bacon back to the pan and toss until combined. Enjoy!
Tips & Notes
- Chop the cabbage according to your preferences. When you cut it into smaller and thinner pieces, it caramelizes very easily and quickly. Larger pieces hold their shape and tend to stay crunchy. I like to chop the cabbage into small and thin slices that cook quickly and larger pieces that stay crunchy for a perfect mix of both.
- Cook the cabbage long enough. You'll need some patience to let the cabbage cook to perfection. As sautéeing the cabbage is quite hands-off, you can use the time to prepare other sides or main dishes to turn this fried cabbage with bacon and onion into a full meal.
- Add some water to the bottom of the pan if it starts to become too brown and dark. You definitely want some browned bits for extra flavor, but when the pan gets too dark add some water to deglaze it. This allows the cabbage to cook long enough without burning anything.
Variations
- Use some shrimp, sliced sausage, or chicken to add some protein to your fried cabbage. You can season the protein with Cajun seasoning and sauté it before cooking the cabbage.
- Add additional vegetables. Bell peppers taste amazing when added to this fried cabbage! They add extra flavor, texture, and nutrients to your meal.
- Use additional spices and condiments. You could add some extra paprika powder, smoked paprika, Dijon mustard, or Worcestershire sauce. Feel free to adjust the flavor of this dish to your taste.
How to serve Southern fried cabbage
- Prepare some carbs to turn this fried cabbage into a satiating meal. I love to make some white rice, oven-baked potatoes, or mashed potatoes. They all taste amazing with this dish!
- Fry some eggs and serve them on top of the fried cabbage. Nothing beats a runny yolk combined with fried cabbage. It's pure comfort and super delicious!
- Add some type of sauce to your meal. The kind of sauce really depends on the way you serve the fried cabbage. If you don't want to prepare a sauce, try some ketchup with this dish. It tastes really great!
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not at all! Cajun seasoning usually isn't spicy, it just adds some flavor. Plus, this recipe doesn't use a lot of additional spices as it focuses on the cabbage and bacon.
You can enjoy fried cabbage in a variety of ways! You can find some ideas for serving and adjusting this recipe in the post above. I personally love some white rice, fried eggs, and ketchup for a very quick and delicious dish.
You can store leftovers in an airtight container in your refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat them in a pan or in a microwave.
More simple and delicious side dishes
If you want to try more side dishes that can be served in a variety of ways or as snacks, feel free to check out the following recipes!
- Crispy Smashed Potatoes
- Dill Pickle Potato Salad
- Air Fryer Cauliflower
- Fried Potatoes and Onions
- Black Bean and Corn Salad
Fried Cabbage with Bacon and Onion
Ingredients
- 8 bacon slices cut into pieces
- 1 yellow onion finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 head cabbage cut into slices and smaller pieces
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning more to taste
- water (optional) only if necessary
Instructions
- First, add the bacon pieces to a pan and cook them over medium heat until crispy. Then remove the bacon bits and some of the bacon grease from the pan.8 bacon slices
- Next, add the onion to the pan and sauté until softened. Then add the garlic and sauté until fragrant.1 yellow onion, 2 garlic cloves
- Next, add the cabbage and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then continue to sauté until the cabbage starts to soften. You can cover the pan to speed up the process.1 head cabbage, salt and pepper
- Now add the Cajun seasoning and sauté until the cabbage is buttery soft and slightly caramelized. When needed, add a very small amount of water to deglaze the pan and prevent the ingredients from burning.1 ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning, water (optional)
- Add the bacon back to the pan and toss until combined. Serve and enjoy!
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