This recipe of Sauteed Cabbage with Bacon is so easy to make and surprisingly crazy delicious even though it uses just a few ingredients.
This Cabbage and Bacon stir fry makes a great side dish or an amazing light and low carb dinner.
Ahh, the humble cabbage. Cabbage is one of my favorite vegetables, and not just for coleslaw or around St. Patrick's Day.
Cabbage is surprisingly so tasty when stir fried or sauteed, and I make cabbage side dishes ALL THE TIME around here.
Pairing cabbage with just a little bit of meat really brings out its flavor and makes the whole cabbage stir fry super tasty, even without adding any sauces.
Related recipe: Sauteed Cabbage and Kielbasa
Cabbage is healthy
Cabbage is also crazy healthy: it is low carb, low in calories, and filled with vitamins A, C, and B-6. It is also high in fiber and rich in magnesium, potassium, and calcium.
So we want to fill up on cabbage as much as we can in our house, and one of the best ways to do this is cabbage stir fries. Cabbage cooks down a LOT, so when it's stir fried or sauteed, it is easy to eat a large serving of cabbage without having to munch on raw cabbage for days.
Related recipe: Golubtsi (Russian Stuffed Cabbage)
Sliced cabbage vs coleslaw mix
To save time, you can use a bag of shredded cabbage made for coleslaw.
I prefer slicing my own cabbage for sauteing because I like it a little thicker. It cooks down a lot, so the coleslaw mix doesn't have as much of a bite to it as thicker sliced cabbage when it is cooked. Of course, some people may prefer it that way!
Bacon makes everything better
Of course, the bacon really adds most of the flavor here. I cook the bacon first, and then use the bacon drippings as the oil to cook the rest of the dish:
To make this cabbage bacon stir fry, start by cooking 6 slices of bacon in a large skillet. Cut some of the bacon pieces of half, if needed, to fit it all around the skillet.
Once the bacon is cooked, remove it from the pan onto a plate with a paper towel and let it cool.
Drain most of the drippings, leaving about ½ - 1 tablespoon of bacon grease, and then cook the diced onions in the bacon grease. This is where a lot of the flavor comes from for this cabbage stir fry.
Then I just add my diced cabbage, salt, pepper, and a tiny bit of sugar (optional, but it really helps make sure there is no "cabbagy" taste). Let it saute for 15-20 minutes, or until the cabbage is cooked to my liking, stirring frequently. Crumble the bacon and give it a stir.
DONE.
Super easy.
Easy low carb meal
We usually eat this Bacon Cabbage Stir Fry as a light, low carb dinner or lunch.
If we're feeling hungry, then this becomes a side dish next to some protein and rice.
Or sometimes we add some stir-fried noodles to this cabbage.
Either way, you can't go wrong! I hope you get a chance to make this recipe and love it as much as we do.
And if this sounds good to you, make sure to also check out my Bacon Roasted Vegetables side dish!
Looking for other easy cabbage recipes?
- Savory cabbage fritters
- Cabbage and kielbasa stir fry
- Cabbage and pork stir fry with sweet and sour sauce
- Red cabbage and soba noodle stir fry
- Bubble and squeak patties (a great way to use up leftover stir fried cabbage!)
- Coleslaw orzo salad
If you enjoyed this recipe, let me know with a comment and a star rating below. And don't forget to share it on Facebook and save it on Pinterest for later!
Sauteed Cabbage with Bacon
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 yellow onion - diced
- 2 garlic cloves - minced
- 1 lb cabbage - (from ½ large head of cabbage), sliced
- 2 teaspoon sugar - (optional, skip for keto and lower carbs)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- pepper - to taste
- 2 tablespoon fresh herbs, such as parsley, scallions, or dill - diced
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the bacon until crispy. Place the cooked bacon on a paper towel to absorb the extra oil. Crumble all the bacon when it is cool enough to the touch. Drain all the bacon drippings from the skillet except 1-2 tablespoons. (Chop the onion and cabbage while the bacon is cooking.)
- Add the diced onion directly to the skillet and saute over medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until the onion starts to brown and turn translucent. Add the garlic and mix well.
- Add the sliced cabbage, sugar if using, salt, and pepper (see notes). Mix well to move the onion from the bottom of the pan. Cover with a lid and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the crumbled bacon and mix well. Continue cooking if you like your cabbage softer, otherwise remove from heat and stir in the fresh herbs. Serve hot.
Notes
- You might need to add the cabbage in two batches if it doesn't fit in the skillet without spilling over: add half the cabbage, stir, let it cook down for a few minutes, then add the rest of the cabbage.
- Another delicious option is to add a 14-oz can of diced tomato to the cabbage as it is sauteing. If adding the diced tomatoes, saute uncovered to allow some of the tomato liquid to evaporate.
Nutrition
The nutritional information displayed is an estimate and not to be used as dietary or nutritional advice. Consult a nutritionist or dietician for nutritional info based on the exact ingredients you use.