Southern Fried Cabbage

This is the best fried cabbage recipe I've ever had! The flavor is wonderful. I've made it twice now. The first time I followed the recipe exactly, but decided to make a few changes when I made it the second time. I didn't use the oil for frying the bacon (you really don't need it) and I took the bacon out of the pan when it was done. It gets a bit soggy after you add the cabbage because of all of the natural moisture coming out of the cabbage as it cooks. I added it back in when the dish was almost done. I also found that it needs more time to cook, but I guess that's a matter of personal choice as to how crisp you want the cabbage. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECIPE!!!!!

This has become a family favorite of ours that we crave! The only thing I did differently was saute the onions on the side and then added in.

Oh the memories this dish brings back! I am a southern girl who practicaly grew up on this stuff, but haven't made it for my family because we try to stay away from fried food as much as possible. On a whim I made this tonight.I cooked the bacon first, didn't add any extra oil, in fact,poured a little out, added a bit of minced garlic, caraway seeds and celery seed. I also threw in the crumbled cook bacon during the last couple of minutes. As I was making this, I remembered that my Mother and Grandmother kept a lid on it and lifted it now and then to stir, which differs a bit from this recipe as it says to stir continuously. So I cooked it with the lid on , and it was perfect! my husband raved on and on about it!

I agree, omit the oil and maybe some extra bacon, but I have always added splash of red wine vinegar to fried cabbage and use brown sugar for the white. It seems to add that little something. I also cook mine longer and it is great.

Great recipe! I took the advice of others: I eliminated the vegetable oil, doubled the bacon, and removed the bacon before adding the cabbage and onion, and returned it when the cabbage was almost done. I also didn't stir it as much. I placed a lid on the pan which helped seal in the flavors of the seasonings. Mmmm... Good!

Made this twice. The first time exactly as written, the second time, I omitted the oil and doubled the bacon, just using the bacon grease to cook the cabbage in. It's so much better this way. Oh, and a tablespoon of sugar instead of a pinch. So good...

This brings back fond memories of my mama's kitchen. Cheap, too, especially in the spring. I did make a few changes - left out the oil and used just the bacon drippings. Left out the onions. Removed the bacon before adding the cabbage, then added it back just before I was ready to serve. Also cooked it a little longer, till it was just done - a touch crispy and not a bit limp. I will be using this recipe a lot this spring and summer!

Good basic recipe for fried cabbage like my mom always made. But here are a few tips: 1)Please don't use the extra veg oil - too greasy. The bacon fat will be more than enough if you follow tip two. 2)After cooking the bacon, remove it and put the chopped cabbage right into the the hot oil. Cover with a lid immediately and turn your heat down a little. This causes a fry/steam. The water in the cabbage keeps the cooking going without burning. 3)I add a pinch of sugar to cut down the acid/tang a bit. and 4)Add a pinch of baking soda to also cut the acid and reduce some of that gas that cabbage can produce.

Super easy and very delicious. I didn't use the oil but used the fat from the bacon which I think gives the recipe more flavor. You can also cook some wide egg noddles and mix the cabbage with it and it makes it a complete meal.

Loved this recipe. My hubby loves southern comfort food, but it takes so long to prepare. I tried this recipe hoping to have "southern" cabbage and cut down on the cooking time. It worked! The only reason I give it 4 stars is you do need to cook it a bit longer than the directions for true "southern" cabbage. Thanks for sharing!

This is the way moma always made it!! Wonderful! A true southern recipe!

I work at a retirement home as a cook. I had to make cooked cabbage for 53 residents and 4 staff. I love your customize button as I had to upside the recipe to 50 servings. Well I want to tell you that I did not make enough because I had about 15 residents and 1 staff wanting seconds. I was the hero at work that day--I will make it again when I have to make cabbage!!

This is an old German recipe---Add about two or three Tbs. cider vinegar and it's a sweet and sour fried cabbage that I've enjoyed for the past 80 years and still loving it. I also dice up the core of the cabbage (no need to waste it) and cook it too. Delicious !

This is so yummy! I cooked the bacon, reserved some of the grease, sauteed the onions and some garlic then added the cabbage and poured about 1 or 2 TBSP more of bacon fat and continued to cook! I totally skipped the oil as it really doesn't need it with the bacon fat plus I think the bacon grease gives it more flavour. I also loaded it w/ S&P to taste! THX

This was my 2nd time making cabbage and I followed this recipe almost exactly and it was AWESOME. Even my partner who hates cabbage ate it and loved it. I did add diced smoked sausage to it and sauted the sausage and some onions with the bacon. I omitted the oil and added some flaked red pepper (a pinch), a bit more sugar than the recipe calls for and a tablespoon of applesauce. Yes applesauce which heightened the sweetness and flavor. I cooked it longer than teh recipe calls for because I like cabbage soft. This was really good. We ate the whole pan. Yummy!!!

Fried cabbage is always good, but you don't need the oil just a little more bacon (well done and crumbled). Also, bell pepper cut up and thrown in with the cabbage and onion completes this recipe. Sooooo good!!!

I started out tasting it...now I am on my 6th helping. I have only two small bowls left...which I plan on finishing after I submit this review. I cannot remember the last time I enjoyed cabbage this much! I did make some modifications...I eliminated the sugar and added chopped scallions, garlic, and cajun seasoning.

Delicious. Crisp bacon and remove from pot. I love my cabbage cooked until it is wilted. Crumbled the bacon, placed cabbage in a serving dish and sprinkled the crumbled bacon on top. A little slice of heaven.

Excellent recipe. I eliminated the oil and sugar. Increased bacon to 1 lb. and sliced it into small pieces. When bacon was crispy I took it out of the pan and set aside. Used grease rendered by the bacon for the cabbage and onions (increased to 2 onions and added 2 cloves of chopped garlic). On the side cooked 2 large quartered potatoes and when almost soft added them to the cabbage. When all was cooked, added the crispy bacon and a large bunch of chopped parlsey. YUM! My family went wild as served with pork chops and mushroom gravy.

My husband and I were pleasantly surprised, this was really good. Just him and I were eating it so I used half the cabbage, didn't use the oil, used the same amount of bacon, onion, but added more sugar. This went along great with our broiled pork steaks. Next time I might add some chopped apple in it. 9-7-12 This time I used turkey bacon and apples, still just as scrumptious :)

This is very good and tasty. Like others suggested, I add fried bacon after cabbage is done. I saute onion in bacon grease. I don't add veggie oil but I add 1 tbs butter or margarine to cabbage and 1 pack of Goya ham seasoning. It is very good. Thanks for sharing a good recipe

I've done this recipe before a few times. I doubled the slices on bacon and cut out the vegetable oil. I used the extra gease from the extra slices of bacon. Great Recipe! Delish!

This was delicious! I've always been one to say "I don't like cabbage" when really I just never had it with bacon. HAHA! I did make some changes. I omitted the vegetable oil, cooked the bacon then removed it from the pan. I then cooked my onion (only about 1/2 cup) with a clove of garlic in the bacon fat. Once that was how I like it, I added the cabbage, salt, pepper, and a pinch of Truvia (I'm going for low-carb here). After about 5 minutes, I crumbled the bacon back in and mixed it up well then plated. It was so yummy!

Always a favorate at our house a short version of my Mother's German style. I add celery and toss with noodles, and sometime sliced apples. Freezes well.

Loved it! Just the right amount of everything. It makes a huge amount though.

This was very good. I did not use the vegetable oil. I just used the bacon grease. I did not use the sugar. It was very tasty.

I make this all the time. Instead of using vegetable oil I use bacon drippings and omit the sugar. I also use sweet onions instead of white onions. Preferably Vidalia onions. Try it using this variation I think it tastes much better.

I thought this recipe was great just as it was. I have tried it exactly, and also tried it with extra bacon.

awesome! cooked with leftover Christmas ham chunks!

Wow! This is excellent! I agree, It really isn't necessary to use any oil at all to cook your bacon in. I also removed my bacon from the pan and I cooked my cabbage in a very little bit of the drippings. I then added the bacon back to the cabbage at the end of the cooking time keeping the bacon a little crisper.

way too greasy... don't put any oil in it.

This is the easiest and best fried cabbage anywhere.

Awesome! I used more like a third of a lb of bacon, yellow onion instead of white onion because it is what I had on hand and I did not use any vegetable oil. This was absolutely delicious. The relaxed texture of cabbage and onion mixed with the crunch of bacon was so yum! Needless to say my house smelled terrific.

This was okay. I had to add a little water and it made it an ugly color.

Here in N.O. this resembles what we call smothered cabbage and true smothered cabbage is cooked for a wile with ham (ham bone is best) and or pickle meat. We cook it real slow for 3 hours covered, stirring every 1/2 hour or so, then add baby carrots the last hour of cooking. We also add more seasoings, including some bay leaf.

Loved this. I increased the bacon to 6 slices, ommited the vegetable oil and only used 1/2 of a very large cabbage. First time making fried cabbage and it was a big hit!

Love this recipe but you do not need the vegetable oil, the bacon grease is plenty. I also cook the bacon whole and then crumble it in at the end. Yummy! Making it again tonight, its my husbands favorite.

Great recipe although I dont eat pork (bacon)! Tried it with turkey bacon and just ok...so I tried adding a beef bullion cube and sliced a carrot next time and it turned out very well!

Make this a lot, but I don't use the bacon, sugar or onion. I use the oil and season and cook. It's the best!

I like this recipe for its simplicity, and I took some of the other reviewers suggestions and omitted the oil and doubled the bacon. It was still TOO greasy for my taste. I will make it again, but next time I will cut back on the bacon and cover the pan while it fries to seal in the flavors at bit. 10/12/14 - I made this again today and I think the difference was adding a about a TBSP of sugar versus a pinch. My husband loved it and ate a second helping. I won't cook it too often as we don't eat a lot of fried foods, but it is DELICIOUS!

Bag the oil on this one, the bacon takes care of the necessary oil and fat. Great recipe!!!

These were pretty good...I did make a few changes. I reduced the oil to 1 TBSP (the bacon generates enough grease). I also waited until I added the cabbage to add the salt and pepper, and eliminated the sugar. Thanks for the great recipe!!

Yummy. 3 bacons were fine. I sliced the cabbage until there was a core to remove, then I squared the cabbage slices. Thanks.

Looked good, carmalized onions, bacon and a little browning of the cabbage itself. I like the cabbage limp, I don't require all the oil, better if that is cut in half. A good stand by recipe.

truly tasty! Like others, I left out veggie oil & sugar, used 4 slices of bacon, pulled out bacon before putting in cabbage and onions (returning it at the end), and let the veggies cook about 20 minutes covered (med heat) stirring occassionally (5 minutes cooking is too crunchy for me and this dish). Two thumbs up :)

Very good cabbage. Next time I would like to use less vegetable oil. Served with steak and PW's Crash Hot Potatoes.

made this for texas new year....in a word outstanding, with black eye peas, corn bread, just excellent, did remove the bacon (6 slices) and added it when the cabbage was done, other than that NO changes. used about 3 lbs of cabbage..

This is one if the best ever fried cabbage receipes. My family lived it. I also added skinned chicken thighs. Soooooo good!

YUUUUM!!! I loved this!! I made cabbage rolls for dinner and didn't want to waste the 3/4 head of cabbage so tried this recipe. Glad I did! I didn't use the bacon but regularly keep bacon grease in the freezer for frying with flavor...perfect time to get it out. I used 2 T of bacon grease and NO vegetable oil. If you cook long enough, it really doesn't need any more oil. I found mine needed more salt for my taste. Then after a good 30 minutes on the stove, I splashed some vinegar in the pan, stirred it around and served. I planned on having it for a second meal but husband loved it so much he polished it off the next day!

This was great. I didn't use the vegetable oil. The bacon grease was enough. I added some nice hot peppers and it was perfect! Thank you!!

This is a delicious way to prepare cabbage. I usually add 1/4 C. water and sometimes I don't use bacon, instead use a lot of margerine mixed with vegetable oil. It's really tastey and zippy to splash it with apple cider vinegar at the end too!

This is really yummy!!!

I took advantage of suggestions. Did not add additional vegetable oil and added bacon at end of cooking. LOVE IT!

I have made this apple butter 2 times, and was delicious. But, I used 1 cup of splenda, and 1/2 cup of brown sugar, being as the apples were sweet. I also added to the recipe 2 heaping tsp. of apple pie spice. Was very good! MaryAnn

Like most others, I omitted the oil. I used an entire package of bacon, which I felt was the perfect amount once crisped. I used a smaller head of organic cabbage and it took a LOT longer to cook down to the texture I wanted, even cooking with a lid on. Even though I browned the the onions and cabbage in the bacon grease, it still didn't produce the bacon flavor I was expecting. I added some garlic powder to the cabbage while cooking, subbed about 1 T brown sugar, and added a few splashes of red wine vinegar as I generally do when frying cabbage. Served with Grandmother's Buttermilk Cornbread, which was a fantastic pairing! Overall, the taste was just ok; I'll try again with a different brand of bacon. I still have high hopes for this!

Loved it!

Maybe I did something wrong? It seemed kind of tasteless and very greasy. I kept having to add more salt. I will probably not make it again.

I used this recipe as a guide since I only cook cabbage at this time of year when family members usually give me fresh cabbage. I did not use the extra oil and I too put the bacon in when the cabbage was almost done. In my bacon grease I sauteed the onions but also added some bell pepper and celery and a little garlice. This dish is also good when you use salt meat and smoked sausage instead of bacon but the bacon version is my favorite.

Hello all, I used this recipe for the first time today and I must say I didn't expect it to come out as good as it did!!!!! My husband loved it! It was easy to follow and I added my own spin on it! I used just bacon (no oil) and it came out wonderful!!! Now on to the next recipe!!!!!

Hey, y'all! This was divine! The only thing I did differently is I used butter instead of margarine and it was delicious! I did use about 3 Tbs sugar, too. Fantastic and everyone loved it!

So yummy. My hubby learned to make this as a kid. His family's housekeeper was very southern! We like to use 4 or 5 slices of bacon and little or no oil. It really doesn't need the extra oil. You can add a little chicken broth if it needs more moisture though!

i made this for new years day along with black eyed peas and cornbread. excellent recipe. i didnt have much more than a bite of this, but the guys wiped out a whole pan of it. the only change i made was to use salt free seasoning when i cooked it and i put salt on the table for those who wanted it since i dont cook with alot of salt. i will make this again. they loved it.

This was very good...but my grandmother from Scotland made it the same way and she was from Northern Scotland...brought bake memories of my youth. Thank you

Excellent flavors. Did add 2 tbs of hoisen sauce and a few red potatoes. This is now a new favorite meal. We will enjoy this again. Dj

This was so good, even the kids enjoyed it. I did make a couple changes for times sake. I used a bag of pre-shredded cole slaw instead of shredding the cabbage. I also used dehydrated chopped onions, 1 T, instead of the onion.

Been eating this my whole life. It's best when made with Early Jersey Wakefield cabbage straight out of the garden. I always add carrots as well. Try using andouille sausage, smoked sausage, and country ham as well.

Yummy! I followed the advice of several others by not adding the oil, and removing the bacon from the pan before adding the cabbage and onion. I also sauteed the onions a little before adding the cabbage...perfect! My husband is from Arkansas and absolutely loved this dish as part of our Good Luck New Years Day meal!

My entire family loved this recipe!

This was great! This was my first ever attempt at fried cabbage! I made it exactly as stated, using an electric skillet.. It turned out perfect! I was afraid hubby wouldn't like it but he loved it, and my 8 yr old daughter did too! We will definitely make this again! Thank you so much for the recipe!

To cut down on the fat I use turkey bacon cooked in the microwave. I also only use 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil (Olive, of course!), and add a little extra water. We think it's the best cabbage we've ever eaten. Thanks for the great recipe!

Great recipe, but I don't use any oil...just spray my pan with pam, cut up lots of bacon in 1/2" squares and fry it up, with the bacon and grease still in pan add a whole head of SAVOY cabbage (cut of course)and an onion. For seasoning I add 1 packet of GOYA Ham flavoring...no salt or pepper!

I had to prepare this without bacon. But I was still able to prepare cabbage with the pan drippings from the Consomme Pork Chop recipe on this site. I added a couple of pats of real butter, a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and then followed the recipe as stated. was wonderful!

Very delish. Made it with turkey bacon for a more healthier alternative.

Awesome!

My husband and I love this! Eventhough I am from MS I had never had this. Great alternative to traditional boiled cabbage.

This is a wonderful recipe. I made it exactly the same and everyone loved it. This will definatly be added to my recipe box.

Very good. Warning, All the ideas in the comments are good but this dish is Best kept simple. I made mine with red onions and some balsamic vinegar. Kind of like the recipe for "Pancetta Fried Cabbage". It tasted kind of German and would be great with fried potatoes.

There is nothing like southern cooking! People always look at cabbage to be a bland dish, but the bacon and sugar add alot to it. I love to change it up and use salt pork and even hamocks. Really any type of pork will flavor this dish real well. I prefer my cabbage roughly chopped instead of stredded or sliced but this seriously is the best cabbage recipe on this site.

Good flavor, very easy. The whole family liked it.

I love this cabbage. It is excellent! I never make a recipe I see on this site more than once. I have made this several times. It is now one of my favorite things to add to dinner. Thank you for the great simple recipe that tastes like you made a fuss.

Very good recipe. My 4 year old and 7 year old loved it.

This has become a regular go-to for me. Love it!! I'm not a Southerner so I can't comment on the authenticity but I can speak to the flavor - and it's wonderful! I love the health benefits of cabbage and finding new ways to include it in my diet - this a great recipe for that. I've made this a few time and last night I had this as my side along with my BBQ pulled pork and rice - a great combination! I have modified this just slightly by adding in some minced garlic while grilling the onion and bacon, then adding about 1 Tbl of sushi vinegar (seasoned with salt and sugar) with the cabbage to give it a hint of sweet and sour - as a substitute for the white sugar in the recipe. This dish is super easy to make, healthy and so good! It can go along side of many mains!

I have made this for years in different ways but this is the first time I added the onions and was what I have been missing for years!!

This cabbage is very good, i like other reviewers cooked the cabbage in the bacon grease after removing the bacon and added the bacon back in at the end,crumbled on top so that it would maintain its crispness. I also cooked the cabbage much longer than 5 minutes as I do not like it crisp. I prefer it well wilted.

The secret to good cooked cabbage is bacon grease and a little sugar. Butter can be used in place of the oil. We love cooked cabbage, but seldom use onions with our cabbage; although, we love onions. Play around with this recipe and adjust the seasonings to your liking.

This was great! I couldn't cut the oil out as I used turkey bacon, so I subbed olive oil for the veg. oil. I also added some red pepper flakes. Yummy and healthy.

Fast, easy and VERY tasty. I cut the bacon in smaller pieces, and used a little less onion. Yummy!

Not the healthiest way to prepare, but was delicous.

Surprisingly good! I've recently moved to a colder climate and since we like to eat things in season, I've been looking for good winter veg recipes. These big scary looking heads of cabbage aren't so bad after all!

very good with beef stirfry too.

This recipe is great ,But I put egg noodles in it and it is really mouth watering.We use it as a main dish.

I really actually liked this quite a lot, and loved how easy, quick and cheap it was for a first attempt cooking cabbage. :) I did double the bacon and added 2 tsps sugar. Delish.

Not something I will be making again.

I left out the sugar and used about 2 tablespoons of butter instead of the oil. I also cooked it a bit differently- cooked the bacon then removed it, added the butter to the skillet and cooked the onion for a couple minutes, then added the cabbage and cooked it, stirring occasionally, for about 10-15 minutes until the cabbage was cooked as much as I wanted. Then added salt and pepper and the crumbled bacon. It was really good! Very cheap and easy and I'll definitely make it again.

Wow! Can't get enough! I did not use the oil or the sugar. I fried the bacon and set aside, used some of the bacon grease and sauteed the onions and cabbage then added the crumbled bacon back in. This is super easy, delicious and nutritious! Thanks for the recipe.....just like grandma used to make! :)

Great stuff, I did make one change however, I used butter instead of vegetable oil. "MORE" flavor.

I love cabbage, but didn't care for this. Greasy and bland. I don't do bacon, so left that out (which I always do on recipes & usually the food is still amazing... not so with this one). Don't like to waste food so I'll figure out a way to make this edible... maybe red pepper & garlic.

This recipe was surprisingly good, and very easy to make. I did not have bacon, but had a little leftover pork which I fried till crispy. It did the trick nicely. I used the leftover cabbage, after making the the cabbage tamale recipe with the large outer leaves. We ate the whole thing in one sitting, everyone loved it.

WOW!!!! After a little incident at the store (I wound up grabbing a head of cabbage instead of a head of lettuce like I had intended to do)I was stuck out clueless not knowing how to cook cabbage, but I knew how it should taste. The was it. I followed the instructions about not putting the extra oil and taking the bacon out before putting the cabbage in. I did not even add sugar. It turned out terrific, Thanks sooo much for this recipie. :)