Description
This Garlic Butter Fried Cabbage with Beef Bacon is a flavor powerhouse that transforms simple ingredients into a gourmet side dish. Perfectly tender-crisp cabbage is luxuriously coated in garlic butter and crispy beef bacon, making it an irresistible addition to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium-sized head of green cabbage (around 2–2.5 pounds), cored and sliced into thin shreds or chops
- 8–10 slices of thick-cut beef bacon, sliced into 1/2 to 3/4-inch pieces
- 4–6 cloves of fresh garlic, minced
- 2–3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- Sea salt or kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
- Optional: splash of apple cider vinegar
- Optional: sprinkle of fresh parsley or chives before serving
Instructions
- Slice your beef bacon into 1/2 to 3/4-inch pieces. Core your green cabbage and slice it into thin, uniform shreds or chops. Mince your garlic cloves and set everything aside.
- Heat a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced beef bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until it's crispy and most of its fat has rendered, typically 8-10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the crispy bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Keep the rendered beef bacon fat in the skillet.
- Reduce the heat to medium. If there's an excessive amount of bacon fat, pour some out, leaving about 2-3 tablespoons. Add 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter to the skillet. Once melted, add your shredded cabbage. If your skillet is very full, cook the cabbage in two batches to avoid overcrowding and ensure it fries rather than steams.
- Stir the cabbage frequently, tossing to coat it in the bacon fat and butter. Cook for about 10-15 minutes, or until it has softened to your liking and developed some inviting golden-brown, crispy edges.
- Once the cabbage is almost done, create a small space in the center of the pan and add the minced garlic. Sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant, taking care not to burn it. Toss the garlic into the cabbage to combine. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then taste and adjust as needed.
- Return the crispy beef bacon pieces to the skillet with the fried cabbage. Toss everything together to distribute the bacon evenly. If using, stir in any optional enhancements like apple cider vinegar or red pepper flakes. Remove from heat and serve hot.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
Keywords: Avoid overcrowding the skillet for proper caramelization. Utilize the rendered beef bacon fat for flavor, and adjust cooking time to achieve your preferred cabbage tenderness. Enhance flavors with a splash of apple cider vinegar or a pinch of red pepper flakes.