Southern Fried Cabbage and Sausage
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Southern Fried Cabbage and Sausage is chopped cabbage cooked down in bacon drippings with smoked sausage, onion, bell pepper and Cajun seasoning. One skillet, about 30 minutes, and it's dinner — with Sweet Honey Cornbread Recipe on the side if you want to do it right.
The cabbage soaks up the bacon and sausage as it cooks, so it tastes like a lot more than the handful of ingredients it is. Andouille is what I use, but kielbasa or any smoked sausage works. On New Year's Day, I put it next to Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Easy Crispy Hoe Cakes.
Quick Look: Southern Fried Cabbage and Sausage
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🕒 Total Time: 30 minutes
- 👨👩👧👦 Servings: 4
- 📊 Calories: 455 per serving
- 🥣 Ingredients: Bacon, andouille sausage, onion, red bell pepper, cabbage, garlic, smoked paprika, Cajun seasoning, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy — one skillet, no draining
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
One Skillet. Bacon, then sausage, then everything else in the same pan. One thing to wash.
Thirty Minutes. Ten to chop, twenty to cook. Weeknight timing.
Cheap and Filling. A head of cabbage, a package of sausage and a few slices of bacon feed four. Serve it as is, or over rice or egg noodles. Start with Kielbasa Bites if it's a game-day crowd.
Ingredients Needed
- Cabbage: Fresh chopped green cabbage or Savoy cabbage works best.
- Sausage: Andouille for a little heat, or kielbasa, Polish sausage or any fully cooked smoked sausage. Chicken or turkey sausage works too.
- Bacon: I like to use good quality smoky bacon.
- Peppers: Both red and green bell peppers are delicious.
- Onion: I prefer to use a white or yellow onion.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic always has the best flavor.
- Paprika: Smoked paprika is recommended for a nice smoky flavor.
- Cajun seasoning: Any brand is fine.
- Red pepper flakes: Optional but adds a nice touch of heat.
How to Make Fried Cabbage and Sausage
- Step 1: Heat a large skillet on medium heat and add the bacon, cook until crispy, and remove to a plate.
- Step 2: Add in the sliced sausage and cook just until a little brown, remove to a plate lined with paper towels.
- Step 3: Remove some of the bacon grease and add in the chopped onions and peppers.
- Step 4: Cook onions and peppers just until soft.
- Step 5: Add the chopped cabbage, garlic and spices and cook to desired tenderness.
- Step 6: Add the sausage and crispy bacon back into the cabbage mixture, toss and serve!
Recipe Tips
- You'll need a 12-inch large frying pan for this fried cabbage.
- This fried cabbage reheats well and makes great leftovers.
- Don't overcook the cabbage or else it will be soggy and wilted.
- Swap out beef sausage for chicken or turkey sausage links.
- Cut the cabbage into chunks, not shreds. Shredded cabbage cooks down to nothing.
Recipe FAQ's
Close. Dirty cabbage usually has ground beef cooked in with the sausage, like dirty rice. This is the sausage-only version — add a half pound of browned ground beef with the sausage if you want it the other way.
Both Andouille and Kielbasa are smoked sausages made from pork. Andouille is a spicier sausage, while Kielbasa is more savory and on the milder side.
You will want to cut your head of cabbage into bigger chunks, not shredded like coleslaw. Remove the outer leaves. Cut the cabbage in half and remove the core at the bottom, then cut into chunks.
Polish sausage or hotlinks work great, or swap out beef sausage for chicken or turkey sausage links.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
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Southern Fried Cabbage and Sausage
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4-5 slices smoky bacon cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 (13 ounce) andouille sausage see notes
- 1 medium onion, cut into chunks
- 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 large head of cabbage 6-7 cups
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
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Instructions
- Heat a large 12-inch skillet on medium heat and add the diced bacon, cook until crispy, and remove to a paper towel.
- Add in the sliced sausages and cook just until browned and remove to a paper towel. Drain some of the bacon grease.
- Add in the diced onions and peppers and cook just until softened.
- Turn down the heat to medium-low and add in the chopped cabbage, garlic, paprika, cajun seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if adding.
- Cook the cabbage for 5-6 minutes or until it begins to wilt tossing every minute or so.
- Add back in the cooked bacon and sausages, toss and serve!
Added a can of flavored diced tomatoes and it was VERY yummy
Fantastic! So happy you enjoyed it.
Just happened to have all ingredients and was able to throw together for a quick dinner that everyone loved!
Love that Rose 🙂