This tender fried cabbage with bacon is an easy and impressive vegetable side dish, made in one-pan in under 30 minutes. A drizzle of hot honey, over the warm cabbage, creates a perfectly balanced sweet, savory, and spicy bite!
Why You’ll Love This Fried Cabbage Recipe
We make this tender, garlicky fried cabbage with bacon whenever we are craving something both sweet and savory, with a little heat. We promise everyone will be impressed with this tender fried cabbage with crisp edges!
- So Flavorful: With salty, crispy bacon and hot honey drizzled on top, this fried cabbage recipe has the perfect balance of sweet, savory and smoky flavors.
- Quick & Easy: This fried cabbage is on the table in less than 30 minutes. The bacon and cabbage are cooked in the same skillet, so there’s very little clean-up!
- Budget Friendly: Made with simple ingredients and a head of cabbage, you won’t have to reach deep into your pockets for this side dish.
- Perfect for Gatherings: You can prepare everything ahead of time and then fry it up right before serving your guests!
Do you love cabbage as much as we do? Try our easy fried cabbage with sausage, hearty unstuffed cabbage rolls, or our quick and easy air fryer cabbage and sausage.
What You’ll Need
Bacon adds loads of salty and savory flavor that’s perfectly balanced by a drizzle of hot honey. Scroll down to the recipe card for exact amounts.
- Bacon: Thick-cut is best. If you use regular bacon, double the amount.
- Cabbage: You will need a whole head of fresh green cabbage.
- Garlic Powder: Onion powder is a good swap. Don’t use fresh garlic because it won’t stick to the cabbage and will burn in the skillet.
- Salt and Pepper: We prefer kosher and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Hot Honey: Try our homemade version or add your favorite!
How To Make Fried Cabbage With Bacon
This tender fried cabbage is a one-pot side for easy clean-up. We like to fry wedges of cabbage, as the edges get perfectly tender and the center retains some texture. Scroll to the recipe card at bottom of the post for full detailed instructions.
- Cook the bacon: Fry the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Fry the cabbage: Cook the cabbage on one side, in the hot bacon grease, until it starts to soften and char. Add half of the seasonings. Flip it over and repeat the process.
- Serve: Remove it from the heat and top the cabbage with the bacon pieces and a drizzle of hot honey on top. Enjoy!
Chef’s Tips & Variations
- Make it Extra Tender: The longer you fry the cabbage, the softer it will become. Keep an eye on yours so that it doesn’t get too soft.
- Leave the Core: Leave some of the core attached when you cut the cabbage into wedges. The core is what holds the leaves together, you don’t want chopped cabbage.
- Add More Spices: Whisk 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, ground cumin, and smoked paprika into the seasonings. Sprinkle the mixture over the cabbage.
- Hold the Seasonings: Only add the seasonings to the cabbage once it’s tender and slightly cooked so that it sticks to the leaves.
- Don’t Flip Too Soon: Avoid moving or flipping the cabbage around before the 10-minute cooking time per side is up. Moving it around too much will prevent the exterior leaves from caramelizing.
- Add More Oil: Some bacon renders more fat than others. If needed, add a little more oil to the pan while cooking. Use an oil with a high smoke point (vegetable, corn, or avocado oil).
- No Bacon: If you need to skip the bacon, you can use avocado oil instead of bacon grease to fry the cabbage.
What To Serve With Fried Cabbage
Fried cabbage is an easy veggie side to serve with all your favorite comfort food dinners. It goes great with just about anything, but here are some tasty suggestions:
- Beef: If you have a second cast iron, whip up this cast iron steak at the same time! If you have some ground beef to use up, try our comforting smothered cube steak or easy meatloaf!
- Chicken: If you prefer chicken, go for our juicy air fryer chicken thighs or baked chicken breasts. Our ranch ritz cracker chicken would be another great choice.
- Pork: We also love it with our juicy fried pork chops or these incredible 3-ingredient baked pork chops!
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers
This southern fried cabbage with bacon is best served fresh to keep enjoy the crisp exterior. It will be softer and juicier once reheated.
- Fridge: Store it in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Microwave it for up to a minute or until warm. You can also reheat it in a skillet over medium-high heat, but it will not crisp up again.
- Freezer: We do not recommend freezing this dish as the texture will not be the same once thawed.
Yield: 4 servings
Hot Honey Fried Cabbage with Bacon
This crispy and tender southern fried cabbage recipe is perfectly balanced with sweet and savory flavors from the garlic, bacon, and hot honey. Made in just one skillet, it's an easy, 25-minute veggie side dish you won't be able to resist!
Ingredients
- 4 slices thick cut bacon, cut into small pieces
- 1 medium head of green cabbage, cut into 8 wedges
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2-3 tablespoons hot honey, plus more for serving
Instructions
- In a large cast iron skillet, fry bacon until crispy. Using a slotted spoon, scoop out the bacon and place on a plate lined with paper towels. Set aside.
- Add the quartered cabbage cut side down, to the hot bacon grease, and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. As the cabbage starts to soften, season with half of the garlic powder, salt and black pepper. Flip the cabbage, season with the remaining seasonings, and continue to cook for 10 more minutes.
- Once the cabbage is tender and caramelized, remove from the heat. Top cabbage with the cooked bacon and a hearty drizzle of hot honey. Serve warm with the juice from the skillet with a little more hot honey on the side, if needed.
Notes
Store: Transfer cooled leftovers to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat: Microwave it for up to a minute or until warm. You can also reheat it in a skillet over medium-high heat, but it will not crisp up again.
Leave the Core: Leave some of the core attached when you cut the cabbage into wedges. The cabbage’s core is what holds the leaves together, so you don’t wind up with chopped cabbage.
Don’t Flip Too Soon: Avoid moving or flipping the cabbage around before the 10-minute cooking time per side is up. Moving it around too much will prevent the exterior leaves from caramelizing.
Add More Oil: Some bacon renders more fat than others, so if needed, add a little more oil to the pan while cooking. Use an oil with a high smoke point like vegetable, corn, or avocado oil.
No Bacon: If you need to skip the bacon, you can use avocado oil instead of bacon grease to fry the cabbage.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving (2 wedges), Calories: 241kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.05g, Cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 571mg, Potassium: 470mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 237IU, Vitamin C: 83mg, Calcium: 95mg, Iron: 1mg
