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Fried cabbage with bacon and sausage served in a white bowl with a gold spoon and parsley garnish.
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Fried Cabbage with Sausage and Bacon

Fried Cabbage with Sausage and Bacon is the one skillet dinner that turns a cheap head of cabbage into something you actually crave, with smoked sausage, crispy bacon, and a splash of vinegar to keep it bright. Ready in about 40 minutes.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: fried cabbage, Fried Cabbage with Sausage and Bacon
Servings: 6
Calories: 313kcal
Author: Joanna Cismaru

Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon chopped
  • 12 ounces smoked sausage sliced (about 3 cups)
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 medium green cabbage chopped (about 8 cups)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook the 6 slices chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the fat in the pan.
    Chopped bacon cooking in a skillet until crispy, rendering flavorful drippings for the cabbage mixture.
  • Add the 12 ounces sliced smoked sausage to the pan and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until browned. Remove and set aside with the bacon.
    Smoked sausage slices browning in a skillet until caramelized and golden around the edges.
  • In the same pan, add the chopped onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the 3 cloves minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
    Diced onion and garlic sautéing in bacon drippings until softened and fragrant in a large skillet.
  • Add the chopped cabbage to the pan. It will look like a lot, but it will cook down. Stir to coat the cabbage in the bacon fat. Season with 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika, and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes if using.
    Chopped cabbage added to skillet and seasoned with paprika before cooking down until tender and flavorful.
  • Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is tender and slightly caramelized.
    Overhead view of fried cabbage with crispy bacon and browned sausage slices cooked together in a large skillet.
  • Return the cooked bacon and sausage to the pan and stir to combine. Drizzle in 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and cook for another 2 minutes.
    Cooked cabbage mixed with crispy bacon and browned sausage in a skillet before stirring everything together.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then serve warm.

Notes

  1. Keep all the bacon fat in the pan. It is both the cooking fat and the flavor.
  2. Cabbage cooks down to roughly a quarter of its raw volume. Use a large skillet or Dutch oven.
  3. The apple cider vinegar at the end is not optional in spirit. It cuts the richness.
  4. Leftovers keep in the fridge for 4 days and reheat best in a hot pan.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 1046mg | Potassium: 460mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 372IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 2mg
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