Why You’ll Love This Southern-Style Bacon Fried Cabbage
Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a kitchen novice, this Southern-Style Bacon Fried Cabbage recipe will quickly become a favorite in your home. It’s comfort food at its finest—simple ingredients transformed into something magical. I love how the crispy bacon adds smokiness while the butter creates richness that coats every bite. The touch of apple cider vinegar cuts through the savory elements perfectly.
What makes this dish truly special? The way those humble cabbage leaves soak up all that bacon flavor. Trust me, even veggie skeptics come back for seconds. Ready in just minutes, it’s my go-to side when I need something quick but impressive.
What Ingredients are in Southern-Style Bacon Fried Cabbage?
Southern-Style Bacon Fried Cabbage requires just a handful of simple, affordable ingredients that come together to create something truly magical.
The beauty of this dish lies in how it transforms humble cabbage into a savory, slightly tangy side that pairs with practically anything. What I love most about this recipe is how the bacon infuses every bite with smoky goodness while the butter adds richness that makes you forget you’re eating something so nutritious.
- 1 head cabbage, cut into bite-size chunks (or a bag of pre-shredded cabbage)
- 3-5 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- A dash of apple cider vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 dashes hot sauce (optional)
When shopping for this recipe, quality matters but doesn’t overcomplicate things. Look for a firm, heavy cabbage without brown spots for the freshest flavor. The bacon doesn’t need to be fancy—just something with good fat content to render down.
And about that hot sauce? It’s completely optional but adds a nice background warmth that complements the smoky bacon. Some folks like to add a pinch of sugar to balance the flavors, but I find the natural sweetness of properly cooked cabbage and onions does the trick without it.
How to Make This Southern-Style Bacon Fried Cabbage
Making Southern-Style Bacon Fried Cabbage is straightforward comfort cooking at its finest, with a technique that builds flavor in layers. Start by chopping 3-5 slices of bacon into pieces and cooking them in a medium pan with high sides until they become perfectly crispy.
This renders all that gorgeous bacon fat that will become the foundation of flavor for your cabbage. Once the bacon is crisp, add about a tablespoon of water to the hot pan to deglaze it, scraping up those delicious browned bits clinging to the bottom. Let this mixture sauté for about 4 minutes to concentrate the flavors.
Next comes the real magic—add 2 tablespoons of butter and your chopped onion to the bacon mixture. The butter creates richness while the onion adds sweetness as it softens over 2-3 minutes of cooking.
Now it’s time for the star ingredient: add your head of cabbage (cut into bite-sized chunks) along with some salt and pepper. Toss everything thoroughly to coat each piece of cabbage with that beautiful bacon fat and butter mixture. This coating process is essential—don’t rush it!
Once everything is well-coated, turn the heat to low, cover the pan, and let the cabbage cook down until it reaches your preferred tenderness. If the pan seems dry during cooking, you can add a small splash of water, but be careful not to add too much or you’ll end up steaming rather than frying.
The final touches really elevate this humble dish. Once your cabbage has reached that perfect tenderness—still slightly crisp but cooked through—turn off the heat and finish with a dash or two of apple cider vinegar and, if you like a bit of heat, a few drops of hot sauce.
The vinegar cuts through the richness with a touch of acidity that makes all the flavors pop. Give everything a final taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.
What I love about this method is how the cabbage soaks up all those savory bacon flavors while maintaining just enough texture not to become mushy. The result is a side dish that might just steal the spotlight from whatever main course you’re serving.
Southern-Style Bacon Fried Cabbage Substitutions and Variations
Although the classic Southern-Style Bacon Fried Cabbage recipe is delicious as written, there are plenty of ways to customize this dish to suit your taste or pantry.
You can swap bacon for smoked turkey or ham for a lighter version, or go vegetarian by using smoked paprika and olive oil instead.
Don’t have apple cider vinegar? Try white vinegar or lemon juice for that tangy kick. Red cabbage works beautifully too, creating a gorgeous purple dish that’s just as tasty.
For extra heat, toss in some red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños.
And sometimes, I’ll add carrots or bell peppers for color and sweetness.
What to Serve with Southern-Style Bacon Fried Cabbage
This savory bacon fried cabbage pairs beautifully with several Southern classics that’ll turn your meal into a proper feast. I love serving it alongside crispy fried chicken or a juicy pork tenderloin for that perfect protein complement.
For a truly traditional Southern spread, try it with cornbread (slightly sweet and crumbly, please) and black-eyed peas. The cornbread soaks up all those delicious bacon drippings, which, between us, is practically heaven on a plate.
Mashed potatoes also make a wonderful companion—because who doesn’t want another comfort food to round out the meal?
Final Thoughts
When you’ve mastered this Southern-style bacon fried cabbage recipe, you’ll never look at the humble cabbage the same way again.
I’ve converted many vegetable skeptics with this dish, watching their faces light up at that first bacon-infused bite.
What I love most about this recipe is its beautiful simplicity—just a few ingredients transforming into something truly memorable.
The crispy bacon, tender cabbage, and that hint of tang from the vinegar create perfect harmony on your plate.
Southern-Style Bacon Fried Cabbage
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Chop bacon into pieces and cook in a medium pan with high sides until crispy.
- Add a tablespoon of water to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Sauté for about 4 minutes.
- Add butter and chopped onion to the bacon mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes until onion begins to soften.
- Add cabbage chunks and season with salt and pepper. Toss thoroughly to coat with bacon fat and butter mixture.
- Reduce heat to low, cover the pan, and cook until cabbage reaches desired tenderness. Add small splashes of water if needed during cooking.
- Turn off heat and finish with a dash of apple cider vinegar and optional hot sauce.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
