Easy Cabbage with Bacon Recipe (2024)

By Rebecca Hubbell on February 17, 2017 | Updated December 18, 2023 | 28 Comments

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Irish Fried Cabbage and Bacon is a simple recipe that's pan-fried in bacon grease and loaded up with bacon pieces and onion and seasoned with brown sugar, salt, and pepper.

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This Irish Fried Cabbage is the side dish you need for St. Patrick’s Day! It’s been perfected with just the right balance of ingredients and has been enjoyed over and over again by readers since 2017!

If you’re a big fan of Colcannon, you can combine this Irish Fried Cabbage with my Mashed Potatoes recipe! And don’t forget to make my Irish Cream No Bake Cookies for dessert!

Table of Contents

Fried Cabbage with Bacon

By paying close attention to detail, I found just the right ingredients to deliver the best Irish Fried Cabbage out there! And if you need reassurance, check out what readers have said about it in the comments section!

This Irish Fried Cabbage is made with bacon, studding it with crisp bacon bits throughout while also adding a deliciously smoky flavor to the dish! The addition of onions, salt, and pepper lends a savory flavor while you enjoy a natural sweetness from the cabbage that’s highlighted with a touch of brown sugar.

You get all that flavor in this easy-to-follow recipe that’s ready in just 25 minutes! Making it the perfect side dish for all of March, a simple yet flavorful dinner at home, or for the holidays!

If you think you don’t like cabbage, this is the recipe that will change your mind! Between the flavor, texture, and ease of the recipe, it’ll be one that you carry with you from here on out!

What you’ll need for Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Thick bacon and the drippings
Diced small onion
Shredded green cabbage
Light brown sugar
Salt
Ground Black Pepper

How To Make Fried Cabbage and Bacon

Cook bacon in a deep cast-iron skillet until crisp. Then transfer the bacon pieces to a paper towel-lined plate but leave the drippings in the pan.
Add the diced onions to the drippings and cook them until they become translucent.
Stir in the shredded cabbage. Afterward, add in the brown sugar, salt, and pepper and cook until the cabbage becomes tender.
Add the bacon back into the pan with the cabbage and cook the mixture together.
Serve hot and enjoy!

What to serve with Cabbage and Bacon?

You can serve this with anything, anytime! Try it with Corned Beef, Ham, Skillet Baked Pork Chops, or even with Air Fryer Steak!

Fried Cabbage and Bacon Recipe FAQs

Can I Used Leftover Boiled Cabbage In This Recipe?

Absolutely, that’s such a great way to repurpose leftovers into a new tasty dish! The only thing I would recommend doing is reducing the cooking time.

Could I Leave The Brown Sugar Out Of This Fried Cabbage?

I actually find that the brown sugar adds a great depth of flavor to the recipe. However, if you’d like to leave it out you certainly can.

How to store this Cabbage Bacon Recipe

Just tightly cover them and store them in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. When you’re ready to enjoy the fried cabbage again you can reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave.

St. Patrick’s Day can be filled with just as much seasonal flavor as the other holidays when delicious recipes like this Easy Irish Fried Cabbage and Bacon exist! Grab another recipe to try for even more Irish flavor!

Irish Cream French Toast – A sweet way to start celebrating St. Patrick’s Day!
Easy Homemade Irish Cream – The perfect additon to your cup of hot chocolate, coffee, or cocktails!
Corned Beef Hash – Use up that leftover corned beef in this simple breakfast hash that the whole family will devour!
Irish Potato Candy – This sweet treat is made with just 7 easy ingredients and ready in under an hour!
– A simple, classy drink that’s creamy, rich, and slightly fruity!

Let’s Connect!

If you’ve tried thisrecipe, please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review. I love hearing from you!

Don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco – on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos or join our Sugar & Soul Show-offs Community and share them there, where you can join our recipe challenges!

4.79 from 23 votes

Irish Fried Cabbage Bacon Recipe

Author Rebecca Hubbell

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American, Irish

Ingredients

▢ 6 ounces thick bacon and drippings
▢ ½ small onion diced
▢ ½ head green cabbage shredded
▢ 1 tablespoon light brown sugar packed
▢ ¼ teaspoon salt
▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

Cook bacon in a deep cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, about 4 to 6 minutes. Use a slotted spatula to remove the bacon pieces and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
Add the diced onion to the bacon drippings and cook until translucent, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Add shredded cabbage to the pan and toss to coat. Add in brown sugar, salt, and pepper and cook until cabbage is tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Add the bacon back to the cabbage and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Serve hot and season with additional salt and pepper if desired.

Video

Notes

Brown sugar can be left out if desired.
Leftover boiled cabbage can also be used, reduce cooking time.
This recipe is common in many regions with many variations, this one is mine.

Nutrition

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