Have an easy and flavorful side dish on the table in just 25 minutes! Tender, crispy, stir fried cabbage with bacon is packed with flavor and perfect for busy weeknights or comforting family meals!
Fried red cabbage is a quick and simple side dish that packs loads of flavor! Tender, crisp cabbage and onions are sautéed in bacon grease until perfectly caramelized, then tossed with smoky, crispy bacon and a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy sauce for a dish that is comforting and delicious!
It comes together in minutes, so you can enjoy it any night of the week, and if you’re looking to complete your menu for a special occasion, stir fried red cabbage never disappoints. You’re going to love it!
Stir Fried Red Cabbage and Bacon
This Fried Red Cabbage Might Steal the Whole Dinner
- Simple and tasty. A budget-friendly dish for any occasion!
- One skillet. It’s all made in a single pan for easy cleanup.
- Flavor balance. You’ll love the natural sweetness of the cabbage with the smoky bacon.
- Quick and easy. Ready in just 25 minutes.
Helpful Tools
- Kitchen knife – a sharp knife really makes prep more enjoyable.
- Large skillet
- Tongs
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
Jump- Thick-cut bacon: Cut into small pieces, it cooks nicely without burning and renders enough fat for sautéing. We like uncured, thick-cut, smoked bacon.
- Red cabbage and vidalia onion: Slice both thinly so they cook and caramelize evenly.
- Rice vinegar and honey: For a sweet and tangy combination.
- Seasoning: Garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. The red pepper flakes are optional and easily adjusted to your preferred spice level.
How to make Stir Fried Red Cabbage with Bacon
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Jump- Step One: Cook the diced bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat. In the meantime, slice the head of cabbage in half, remove the core, and cut into thin slices. Then, slice the onion.
- Step Two: Once the bacon is crisp, use a slotted spoon to transfer it to a plate lined with a paper towel to soak up the excess grease.
- Step Three: In the same skillet, add the sliced cabbage and onion to the remaining bacon grease and cook for 5-6 minutes until the cabbage and onion are softened browned on all sides.
- Step Four: Add the rice wine vinegar, honey, garlic, and seasoning. Cook for about a minute until the garlic is fragrant.
- Step Five: Take the skillet off the heat and stir in the cooked bacon. Enjoy while it’s still warm!
How to serve it
This versatile dish can be served in all kinds of ways! On top of rice for a complete meal, with a side of bread like these one hour dinner rolls or a slice of onion dill bread.
You can also enjoy it with some grilled meat or a roast. We love it with slow cooker pot roast, crispy potato wedges, bourbon chicken with roast potatoes, or a simple side of garlic roasted veggies.
- Do not overcook the cabbage. Remove it from the heat once it’s ready and still has a slight crunch, otherwise, it’ll end up mushy.
- Excess grease. If your bacon has rendered more fat than needed, you can drain some off before adding the cabbage.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan. Be sure you’re using a large enough skillet to hold everything without it crowding and steaming. You want some caramelized edges!
- Ramp up the spice. Add more red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce for extra heat.
Storage & Reheating
How to store leftovers
Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Reheating Instructions
For best results, reheat your leftovers in a frying pan over medium heat. The longer it sits, the softer the cabbage will get, so the skillet will help restore its texture.
Need more easy side dish recipes? Try these:
Slow Cooker Applesauce (also great with fried red cabbage!)
Click here to view my entire collection of side dish recipes.
Fried Red Cabbage with Bacon
Ingredients
- 6 strips thick cut bacon
- 1 head red cabbage cut into thin slices
- 1 medium Vidalia onion thinly sliced
- 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 4 cloves garlic finely minced
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Cut the bacon into small pieces.6 strips thick cut bacon
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add the bacon, cooking until crisp.
- While the bacon is cooking, slice the head of cabbage in half, remove the core, and cut into thin slices.1 head red cabbage
- Cut the onion into thin slices.1 medium Vidalia onion
- Once the bacon is crisp, use a slotted spoon to remove it to a paper towel lined plate.
- Add the sliced cabbage and onions to the pan and cook for 5-6 minutes or until softened and browned on all sides.
- Add the rice wine vinegar, honey, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook until the garlic is fragrant.1 Tablespoon rice vinegar, 4 cloves garlic, salt and pepper, 1 pinch red pepper flakes, 1 Tablespoon honey
- Remove the pan from the heat, add the crisp bacon back to the pan and stir to distribute.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- We like to use uncured, thick cut smoked bacon.
- Leftovers can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in a hot frying pan for best results.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag me on Instagram @melissa_pplates so I can see!Did You Make This?
If you made this recipe, I’d love to know how it went in the comments section below.
You can also tag me on Instagram – @melissa_ppplates or share a pic in the Persnickety Plates Community Facebook group. I love seeing what you’ve tried!
