This Southern fried cabbage is a classic comfort food side, made with crispy bacon, smoked sausage, and a mix of soul food seasonings. It’s a flavorful addition to any meal that everyone will love! You may also like our boiled Southern cabbage recipe.
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This Southern fried cabbage with bacon, smoked sausage, and flavorful seasonings is a popular soul food side dish!
What We Love About This Recipe
- Delicious flavor – The combination of bacon and juicy smoked sausage adds a rich, smoky taste that makes each bite irresistible.
- Quick and easy – Unlike the slow-simmered cabbage recipes, this fried version is a fast, go-to dish for busy nights,
- Delicious soul food side dish – Southern fried cabbage is a tasty soul food side that pairs perfectly with our favorite main dinner ideas, bringing comfort and flavor to any meal.
Ingredients
- Green cabbage: Choose a firm head of cabbage and chop it into bite-sized pieces. Be sure to remove the tough core before slicing.
- Bacon: Use thick-cut bacon for extra crispiness and flavor. Feel free to adjust the amount based on your preference for bacon!
- Smoked sausage: Any smoked beef sausage works well, but andouille sausage adds a spicy, smoky flavor. Slice it into rounds for easy cooking.
- Chicken bouillon powder: Adds flavor.
- Granulated garlic & granulated onion: Our go to seasonings give this fried cabbage a flavorful base.
- Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt: You can adjust the amount to taste, but start small and add more as needed.
- Ground black pepper: Start with a small pinch, and add more if you like extra spice.
How to Make Southern Fried Cabbage
Step 1: Toss bacon in a large heavy-bottomed pot or pan on medium heat and cook until it’s nice and crispy. Take it out and set it aside for later.
Step 2: Add sausage and let it cook to your desired doneness; for us it was about 5 minutes. Once it’s finished, take it out and set it with the bacon.
Step 3: Next, get rid of the excess oil from the pot, but save about 2 tablespoons. Add cabbage and cook it down for a couple of minutes, until it reduces in volume and softens. Give it a good stir, then add in your seasonings.
Step 4: Let it sauté in the pot for 5 to 7 minutes more on medium heat, or until it’s reached your desired doneness. Fried cabbage should be tender but still have a bit of bite to it. Then, add the cooked bacon and sausage back to the pot and stir it together before serving.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Slice Cabbage Evenly: Slice or chop it into uniform pieces to give it a consistent texture.
- Serve Immediately: Serve right away to enjoy the best texture and flavors.
- Adjust Seasonings at the End: Taste before serving and tweak the seasonings as needed. A little extra salt or pepper can really enhance the flavor!
What to Serve With Fried Cabbage
- Fried pork chops or fried chicken and cabbage are a Southern classic. The crispy, juicy chicken and tender, savory cabbage make a perfect soul food combo that’s perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
- Fried catfish, blackened catfish, and lemon pepper salmon also goes great with this fried cabbage recipe.
- Try our Southern cornbread. It’s moist, tender, and the perfect with fried cabbage. Baked macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy also pair well.
Commonly Asked Questions
How to cut cabbage for frying?
Start by removing any damaged outer leaves. Rinse the cabbage and pat it dry with paper towels. Cut the cabbage in half lengthwise through the core, then cut each half into quarters. Slice the wedges into your desired thickness, about 1 1/2 inch pieces.
How to make fried cabbage without bacon?
Instead of using bacon, pan-fry the cabbage in 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil (or olive oil) over medium heat. You can add sausage for extra flavor, or keep it meatless for a vegetarian version. Cook the cabbage for about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it’s tender with a bit of crunch. Enjoy!
How to season fried cabbage?
Use Creole or Cajun seasoning, paprika, cayenne, salt, pepper, granulated garlic, granulated onion, or even a dash of hot sauce.
Southern Fried Cabbage Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large head of cabbage about 16 cups roughly chopped
- 6 ounces bacon chopped (about 6 slices)
- 12 ounces smoked sausage sliced
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt start with less and adjust to taste if using any other type of salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Render chopped bacon over medium heat in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Once golden brown and crispy, remove the bacon and set it aside.
- Add sliced sausage to pot and cook until browned and caramelized, about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside with bacon.
- Drain excess oil from the pot, reserving 2 tablespoons.
- Return the reserved 2 tablespoons oil to the pot.
- Add chopped cabbage and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until it reduces in volume and softens.
- Stir in chicken bouillon powder, granulated garlic, granulated onion, salt, and pepper.
- Continue to sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, until cabbage is tender but still has a bit of bite to it, or to the desired doneness.
- Return cooked bacon and sausage to the pot and stir until fully incorporated.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Slice Cabbage Evenly: Slice or chop it into uniform pieces to give it a consistent texture.
- Adjust Seasonings at the End: Taste before serving and tweak the seasonings as needed. A little extra salt or pepper can really enhance the flavor!
- Serve Immediately: Serve right away to enjoy the best texture and flavors.
There is a classic southern restaurant in downtown Nashville where we go regularly. “Southern Fried Cabbage” is always our “must-order item” every time we go. They are SO SO delicious! Now I know how to make it at home. 🙂
after cutting and washing cabbage should you completely dry cabbage to prevent sogginess ?
You can drain it or pat it dry if you want.
We eat this comforting side dish a couple of times a month during the winter… the cabbage absorbs the delicious bacon and sausage flavour and it’s so quick and easy to make.
Such a great fried cabbage recipe. I served it with baked ribs but really I could just eat it on its own!
Omg! This is my new go-to side dish! So easy to make and it’s so flavorful!
Scuh a simple meal but so good! Perfect for when you’re on a budget!
It is amazing how much bacon goes with cabbage. Adding the sausage was genius. We loved this recipe, and it will be a staple now. Thank you.
Really good! This is my kind of comfort food. Delicious cabbage recipe all around. Thank you so much!
I have made this recipe using Polish sausages and it was absolutely delicious. I want to make it again, no doubt.
I love cabbage, and I’m always looking for new recipes to try out. When I found yours, everything sounded so delicious that I gave it a try. I came to report that it was such a delicious bite that I already wrote the ingredients in my shopping list to make it again. Easy to make and very flavourful.
Lip smackin delicious. Everyone loved it and I cooked 2 heads of cabbage with everything you said to put in like a double batch. This dis was gone so fast, I do mean fast that not everyone got some of it. People were eating it like a main dish by the plateful If this isn’t a way to show how great your recipes is. I don’t know what is. I make it all the time now….
My favorite go to comfort food, I also top it with a couple over easy eggs and let me just say it takes it to a whole new level😋
Hi Patty, that sounds soooo good!