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Home » Recipes » Healthy Dishes

Easy Fried Cabbage Recipe

By: D. Durand Worthey  »  Updated: April 7, 2023  »   View our disclosure policy

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This easy Fried Cabbage Recipe is just what you need for a healthy side dish. 

Our easy side dish is ready in about 30 minutes. Grab the ingredients down below in the recipe card. 

Fried cabbage in a skillet with a wood serving spoon

Easy Fried Cabbage Recipe

What is your favorite side dish? I know, endless possibilities.

Fried cabbage is quick and easy to prepare and serves as a mouthwatering comfort food idea.

And you can season cabbage to compliment almost any main dish, such as pork chops, chicken breast, and more.

When cooked right, and we will show you how it is done, pan-fried cabbage is so good!

Imagine tender, perfectly seasoned, and delicious fried cabbage. 

A side dish that might steal the show!

A table with a serving of fried cabbage and carrots.

Because choosing the perfect side dish with simple ingredients depends a lot on what the main course is, right?

Here, our main dish is salmon, and we think fried cabbage is a good choice. 

Love cabbage? Be sure to try our Homemade Creamy Cabbage Soup; it might become your favorite way to eat cabbage.

a plate with salmon, fried cabbage, and herb rice with a spoon and fork

 

What You Will Need

Cabbage. As a side serving of vegetables, a single large head of cabbage feeds our five family. If you are scaling this fried cabbage recipe as the main course, two heads of cabbage will work too. You could also use red cabbage for this southern fried cabbage recipe.

Onion. Adding onions to this easy recipe is a good thing. Why add onions? Mainly because onions add another level of savoriness, and since cabbages do not have a lot of flavors, onions help flavor an otherwise bland vegetable. 

Carrots. I love adding carrots to this dish for a couple of different reasons. First, carrots lend a bit of color contrast to this primarily pale-colored cabbage. Second, carrots add a bit of sweetness and help balance out the savory flavors of the cabbage and onions. 

Ghee, Butter, or Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Hot oil and butter are how we make our Easy Fried Cabbage recipe. Plus, as far as oils go, use what works for you. I love equal parts extra virgin olive oil and melted ghee or unsalted butter. You can also sub out the olive oil for bacon grease for additional flavor. 

Sea Salt, Black Pepper, and Red Pepper Flakes. We are keeping the seasoning simple for this great recipe. Season to taste using sea salt, freshly cracked black peppercorns, and red pepper flakes.

Other herbs like fresh minced garlic, granulated garlic, smoked paprika, or Olde Bay seasoning works well in this Easy Cabbage recipe. 

A cutting board and chopped cabbage

How to make Fried Cabbage Recipe

Makes 5-6 Servings

Ingredients:

  • 1 large head of green cabbage, core removed, and chopped
  • 1 medium red, yellow, or sweet Vidalia onion, peeled and sliced thin
  • 1 large carrot, cut into ribbons
  • 1 1/2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tbsp of melted ghee or unsalted butter
  • sea salt to taste
  • freshly cracked black peppercorns  to taste
  • red pepper flakes to taste

a mixture of chopped cabbage, red onion, and carrots

Directions:

  1. Prep the cabbage by removing the outer layer of cabbage leaves, slicing the cabbage down the middle and removing the core, and chopping the cabbage into thin to medium slices. 
  2. Peel a red onion, or onion of choice, cut off both ends, cut the onion in half, and cut the halves into thin slices. 
  3. Rinse and peel the carrot, using a potato peeler to cut the carrot into ribbons. 
  4. Place a large skillet over medium heat; add the EVOO and melted unsalted butter when the pan is hot. 
  5. Add the cabbage, onion, and carrots to the hot skillet, spreading the mixture into an even layer.
  6. Season with sea salt, freshly cracked black peppercorns, and red pepper flake to taste. 
  7. When the cabbage begins to light brown and wilt, use a large spoon to turn the cabbage over, turn the burner to medium-low and continue to stir occasionally until the cabbage is tender. 
  8. Taste and, if necessary, adjust seasoning to your liking. 
  9. Serve hot. 

Pro-tip. If you love bacon, you could add a few strips of crispy bacon to this dish for additional flavor. (Alternative option is to use turkey bacon or vegan bacon)

cut cabbage in a skillet seasoned with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes

Fried cabbage is so good you may want to serve it as the main dish by adding potatoes and smoked turkey legs or wings to the line-up.

Make a pan of home cornbread or a soup recipe; it is a great meal to keep in mind during the cold months. 

Fried cabbage in a skillet and ready to eat

Can I steam the cabbage instead of frying it?

Yes! Follow this simple cabbage recipe; toss the cabbage with one (1) tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and one (1) tablespoon of ghee or unsalted melted butter, sea salt, freshly cracked black peppercorns, and red pepper flakes.

Add a cup of vegetable, chicken broth, or water into a stock pot over high-low heat; when the liquid begins to steam, add the cabbage into the pot.

Cover with a tight-fitting lid and steam for five (5) to ten (10) minutes or until the cabbage is tender. 

pan fried cabbage in skillet

How long will it keep in the fridge? 

Allow any leftover fried cabbage to cool, then store it in an airtight container and place it in the fridge; it will last three (3) to five (5) days. 

Can I freeze the leftovers? 

Place cooled fried, sauteed, or steamed cabbage into freezer bags, or resealable plastic bags, press out any excess air and wrap bags in aluminum foil.

Label with the date you are storing them and place the bags in the freezer.

Properly stored cooked cabbage can be kept in the freezer for three (3) to five (5) months. 

chopped cabbage in skillet

There are so many different ways to cook and serve cabbage. 

  • cabbage rolls
  • cabbage stir fry 
  •  sautéed cabbage recipe
  • roasted cabbage

Fried or sauteed cabbage in a skillet

What are some sides that pair well with fried cabbage?

We love to pair this simple side dish with our Honey Pineapple Salmon. 

You can also pair fried cabbage with these recipes:

Kansas City BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Potato Salmon Croquettes Recipe

Open-Faced Roast Beef Sandwich

Air Fryer Pork Ribs

Corned Beef and cabbage is another popular recipe to serve as a holiday meal. 

chopped pan fried cabbage recipe in skillet

Now that you have this quick side recipe, all you need to do is gather the ingredients and get in the kitchen. Bon appetit!

If you have questions or want to drop us a line or two, use the comments section below. 

fried cabbage and carrots seasoned with red pepper flakes

Easy Fried Cabbage Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dishes
Servings: 5 -6
Calories: 100kcal
Author: This Worthey Life
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 large head of green cabbage core removed, and chopped
  • 1 medium red yellow, or sweet Vidalia onion, peeled and sliced thin
  • 1 large carrot cut into ribbons
  • 1 1/2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tbsp of melted ghee or unsalted butter
  • sea salt to taste
  • freshly cracked black peppercorns to taste
  • red pepper flakes to taste

Instructions

  • Prep the cabbage by removing the outer layer of cabbage leaves, slicing the cabbage down the middle and removing the core, and chopping the cabbage into thin to medium slices. 
  • Peel a red onion, or onion of choice, cut off both ends, cut the onion in half, and cut the halves into thin slices. 
  • Rinse and peel the carrot, using a potato peeler to cut the carrot into ribbons. 
  • Place a large skillet over medium heat; add the EVOO and melted unsalted butter when the pan is hot. 
  • Add the cabbage, onion, and carrots to the hot skillet, making sure to spread the mixture into an even layer.
  • Season with sea salt, freshly cracked black peppercorns, and red pepper flake to taste. 
  • When the cabbage begins to light brown and wilt, use a large spoon to turn the cabbage over, turn the burner to medium-low and continue to stir occasionally until the cabbage is tender. 
  • Taste and, if necessary, adjust seasoning to your liking. 
  • Serve hot. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 100kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 107mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g
Tried this recipe?Mention @thiswortheylife or tag #thiswortheylife!
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