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 5 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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Low-Carb Mains Pork Recipes

Easy Bacon and Cabbage Recipe (6)

Hi! I’m Natasha.

Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!

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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.

Is Fried Cabbage good for you? ›

Here are some benefits of consuming fried or boiled cabbage leaves as an Indian salad: Rich in Nutrients: Cabbage is packed with essential nutrients such as vitamins (particularly vitamin K, vitamin C, and various B vitamins), minerals (including potassium and calcium), and dietary fiber.

Do you soak cabbage before cooking? ›

Ordinarily, you don't need to soak cabbage before cooking. There are two reasons to soak cabbage. If you cut into the cabbage and notice worms or insects, soak the cut cabbage in salt water for 10 to 20 minutes. This will drown unwanted critters.

How long do you have to boil cabbage? ›

Step 1Cut cabbage into wedges or slice it thin. 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.

What is a full Irish breakfast? ›

A traditional full Irish breakfast comprises bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, beans, soda bread or toast, tomatoes, mushrooms, and white or black pudding. For those wondering, black pudding coagulates the pig's blood into a sausage form. The white pudding is simply a pork sausage, usually flat.

What is Irish bacon? ›

Unlike American bacon, Irish bacon is made from the back of the pig instead of the belly and is much leaner than streaky bacon. I used a presliced Irish bacon for this recipe but whole versions are available in British specialty shops. Most of the flavor in this dish comes from the bacon that you choose.

Is cabbage an anti inflammatory? ›

Crushed cabbage leaves are one of the most widely used anti-inflammatory remedies in Polish folk medicine. Cabbage, due to its specific properties, has been used in natural medicine mainly for rheumatic pain, vein and lymphatic vessel inflammation, bruises, sprains, mastitis or gastrointestinal problems.

Is cabbage better for you than salad? ›

Both cabbage and iceberg lettuce are good sources of nutrients. However, cabbage contains significantly more vitamins and minerals than iceberg lettuce, including vitamins C and K, folate, and potassium ( 1 , 2 ). In particular, green cabbage is packed with antioxidants, including polyphenol compounds and vitamin C.

How long does it take to cook cabbage on top of the stove? ›

Heat a large saute pan or similar heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and butter. Once the butter is melted, add the cabbage, salt, and pepper. Saute for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is tender and begins to brown.

Why do you soak cabbage in vinegar? ›

An old trick to use is to leave the cabbage lightly doused in vinegar water for a couple of minutes before proceeding to wash the cabbage with water. Usually between two or four minutes. Vinegar kills some types of bacteria and helps killing mold and mildew that could have grown on the cabbage.

Why is my fried cabbage bitter? ›

One common reason is that the cabbage may have been overcooked. Overcooking cabbage releases sulfur compounds that can give it a bitter taste. Another possible reason is that the cabbage was not fresh. Old or spoiled cabbage can also taste bitter.

Why do you soak cabbage in salt water before cooking? ›

The salt will draw out excess water from cabbage while helping preserve the crispiness. After letting it sit for an hour or two, rinse it with water to remove the salt. Drain and dry the cabbage with paper towels, gently pressing to release excess water.

Can you overcook cabbage? ›

The key to cooking cabbage: Don't overcook it.

Cabbage is sweet and aromatic when cooked correctly. But the same sulfuric compounds that provide many of its health benefits can turn saboteur when overcooked, creating a pungent, unpleasant smell.

Can you use the water from boiled cabbage? ›

Drinking cabbage water can have a positive impact on your digestive system. It contains natural compounds that aid in digestion and help relieve symptoms of indigestion, bloating, and constipation. Cabbage water is also rich in dietary fiber, which promotes regular bowel movements and contributes to a healthy gut.

What is the history of bacon and cabbage? ›

The roots of Bacon and Cabbage trace back centuries, reflecting the simplicity and resourcefulness of the Irish people. Historically, pork was a staple meat due to the abundance of pigs in Ireland.

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

Experts say the meal originated on American soil in the late 19th century as Irish immigrants substituted corned beef for bacon, which was meat of choice in the homeland.

What part of the animal is beef bacon? ›

Steers have some mighty belly meat that transforms into incredibly flavorful bacon. The beef belly is better known by its industry term – navel. The navel cut is what the brisket joins into, just a little further down the body.

What does an Irish breakfast look like? ›

All full Irish breakfasts include some or all of the following: Bacon, sausages, baked beans, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, and perhaps some cooked leftover potatoes made into a hash or a bubble and squeak. There will also be toast, butter, marmalade, and lots of tea to drink.

References

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