Description
This traditional Southern side dish features cabbage sautéed in flavorful bacon drippings then simmered to perfection. Classic down-home comfort food that pairs beautifully with pork chops, fried chicken, or cornbread.
Ingredients
1 head of cabbage, quartered and cored
3–4 tablespoons bacon grease
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup chicken broth or water (if needed)
Instructions
1. Cut cabbage into quarters and remove the core from each section. Chop into 1-inch pieces and set aside. Don’t make pieces too small as they’ll shrink during cooking.
2. Heat bacon grease in a very large skillet over medium-high heat. Add cabbage and toss to coat thoroughly with the flavorful grease. Season generously with salt and pepper to taste, then sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Check if cabbage is releasing its natural water. If your pan looks mostly dry and cabbage isn’t creating steam, add chicken broth or water and stir to combine. This prevents sticking and helps create steam.
4. Cover skillet and reduce heat to medium-low. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for approximately 30 minutes or until cabbage reaches your preferred tenderness. Some prefer it with a little bite, others want it fall-apart soft.
5. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately as a side dish with your favorite Southern comfort foods. The cabbage should be tender, flavorful, and glistening with delicious bacon grease.
Notes
Save bacon grease in a jar in the fridge for authentic Southern flavor.
Cut cabbage uniformly so pieces cook evenly.
Don’t skip the initial sauté as it builds essential flavor.
Adjust cooking time based on how tender you like your cabbage.
Add a pinch of sugar if cabbage tastes bitter.
Add diced onion to the bacon grease before cabbage for extra flavor.
Make it heartier by adding sliced smoked sausage or kielbasa during last 15 minutes.
No bacon grease? Use butter or coconut oil, though flavor won’t be quite the same.
Store leftovers in airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Calories: 95
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 185mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 8mg