This southern 3-ingredient fried cabbage is the kind of simple, cozy side dish that shows up at every family gathering in my world. It starts with bacon sizzling in a cast iron skillet, then in goes a big pile of cabbage that softens and soaks up all that savory flavor. There’s no need for a long ingredient list—just cabbage, bacon, and a little salt. This is the kind of recipe a grandma makes by feel, turning a humble head of cabbage into something everyone goes back for seconds on.
Serve this fried cabbage right out of the cast iron skillet alongside meatloaf, roast chicken, baked pork chops, or a simple pan-fried sausage. It’s especially good with cornbread or warm dinner rolls to mop up the bacon-y juices. For a fuller plate, add mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles and a simple green salad. It also works beautifully as a cozy brunch side next to scrambled eggs and toast.
Southern 3-Ingredient Fried Cabbage
Servings: 4
Ingredients
6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
1 medium head green cabbage (about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds), cored and roughly chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
Directions
Place a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon in an even layer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the bacon pieces are crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to scoop the crispy bacon onto a plate, leaving all the bacon grease in the skillet.
Add the chopped cabbage to the hot bacon grease. It will look like a lot at first, but it cooks down. Toss the cabbage in the grease so it’s lightly coated, then sprinkle with the kosher salt.
Cook the cabbage over medium heat, stirring every couple of minutes, until it’s tender with a few golden, lightly browned edges, 12 to 15 minutes. If the pan ever looks too dry or the cabbage starts to stick, turn the heat down slightly and add a tablespoon of water to loosen it.
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