Southern Cabbage

This southern cabbage recipe is just one example of how southerners are pros at transforming vegetables into delicious, crowd-pleasing side dishes. From fried okra and collard greens to cabbage with bacon, the south has truly cracked the vegetable code. In this cabbage recipe, southern flavors take center stage. Keeping the ingredients simple allows the star of the show—cabbage—to shine.

Cabbage itself is economical, hearty and full of healthy nutrients. Cooking cabbage is pretty easy, too; this southern cabbage recipe takes about 25 minutes to complete, making it perfect for quick weeknight meals. If you have leftover raw cabbage, make quick bean and ham soup or one of our crunchy coleslaw recipes.

Southern Cabbage Ingredients

• Bacon: Use the best bacon you can find—ideally one with no added flavors, like maple. Thick-sliced bacon is great for this recipe. First, it renders more fat, guaranteeing you’ll have enough to cook the cabbage. Second, when you bite into bacon, it has a ton of meaty, salty flavor.
• Onion: Yellow onions are the best type of onion for this southern-fried cabbage recipe. They’re versatile, stand up well to cooking and have a bold flavor that pairs well with cabbage.
• Sugar: A little bit of sugar helps to balance the salty and savory flavors in this southern cabbage recipe.
• Seasonings: Season the cabbage with salt, crushed red pepper flakes and pepper. Adjust to your taste.
• Cabbage: For this southern cabbage recipe, use green cabbage. It has a mild flavor that becomes sweet and caramelized as it cooks.
• Water: A small amount of water is used to add moisture as the cabbage cooks.

Directions

Step 1: Crisp the bacon

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Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook it until it’s crisp, about seven to eight minutes, stirring occasionally. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings and discard the rest.

Editor’s Tip: Don’t be afraid to let your bacon get crispy! It should be deep golden brown and just on the verge of making you nervous that it will burn. This adds flavor and ensures it won’t get soggy too fast once mixed with the fried cabbage. (Psst: There are a lot of things you can do with leftover bacon grease; no need to toss it.)

Step 2: Cook the onion

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Add the onion to the pan and cook it for four to five minutes or until it’s soft.

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Stir in the sugar, salt, red pepper flakes and pepper.

Editor’s Tip: We prefer this recipe with 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, but start with 1/8 teaspoon and season to your preferred spice level. The same goes for the sugar and black pepper. It’s important to season to your taste.

Step 3: Add the cabbage

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Add the cabbage and water.

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Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Transfer it to a serving dish and top it with cooked bacon.

Editor’s Tip: If you’re making this dish ahead, leave the final flourish of bacon out until right before serving so it stays crisp.

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Southern Cabbage Variations

• Skip the bacon: If you’d prefer to skip the bacon, leave it out and use 2 tablespoons of butter instead of bacon grease.
• Switch up the protein: For a lighter dish, use turkey bacon. Or swap out the bacon and use sliced sausage instead. Andouille and kielbasa are two flavorful options.
• Turn up the heat: If you like more spice, add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, Cajun seasoning or smoked paprika.

How to Store Southern Cabbage

Store leftover cabbage in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to four days.

How do you reheat southern cabbage?

Reheat the cabbage in a skillet over low heat until it’s warmed through. You can also reheat it in the microwave.

Southern Cabbage Tips

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How do you cut cabbage for southern cabbage?

For this southern cabbage recipe, you’ll roughly chop the cabbage. After removing the tough core, you can also easily shred it.

What can you serve with southern cabbage?

This savory side dish tastes great paired with roasted chicken or pork chops. It’s also hearty enough to stand alone as a main entree. Just serve it alongside a batch of freshly baked cornbread.