This recipe for Fried Cabbage With Sausage is simple yet so delicious. Tender chunks of Italian sausage sauteed with onions and fresh cabbage topped with salty bacon bits make this one-pot meal ideal for a busy weeknight.
If you love easy skillet meals you may also like Ground Turkey Butternut Squash Skillet or this Sausage Butternut Squash Skillet.
Table of Contents
This recipe for sausage and sauteed cabbage comes together quickly and easily for a healthy and hearty weeknight meal. However, you may just want to make it up in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
While cabbage is part of most of the world’s cooking history, it was one of the only sources of sustenance in famine ravaged Ireland in the mid-19th century thus it became a classic Irish dish.
Choosing the right cabbage
If you’ve ever stood in the grocery store wondering what type of cabbage to use in your recipe you are probably not alone. The main types of cabbage usually found at the grocery store include green, white, red, savoy, and napa. Though there are no hard and fast rules for which to use, some suggestions would be to use green, white, and red (also called purple) for coleslaw and savoy or napa for stuffed cabbage recipes, stir fries and soup.
The best thing to do is to try the different types of cabbage and decide which you like best in your recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Fried Cabbage Recipe
Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day: If you are looking for a special celebratory dish, this recipe for stir-fried cabbage for you! Pair it with this Irish Soda bread and you’ll be all set.
One dish meal: You can’t beat a one-dish meal that saves time on clean up.
Customizable: This recipe for fried cabbage and sausage allows some leeway with what to include so feel free to play around with the veggies and use whatever you’ve got on hand.
Ingredients For Stir Fried Cabbage
- Cabbage – Green cabbage, thinly chopped gives this dish some texture.
- Italian sausage– Use Italian sausage with the casing removed.
- Bacon – Freshly cooked, cubed small, bacon adds a natural saltiness.
- Onion – Any type of small onion, diced, will work.
- Garlic – Fresh minced garlic is best but jarred is a good substitute.
- Tomato paste – Use tomato paste or sun dried tomato.
- Spices – Paprika and fennel seeds add more flavor.
- Salt and pepper – Add salt and pepper to taste
How To Cook Fried Cabbage
Step 1: Cook bacon in a large skillet until crunchy and then transfer to a plate. Leave the bacon fat in the pan.
Step 2: Add the onion to the pan and cook until softened.
Step 3: Add the sausage and cook until no longer pink. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, fennel seeds and tomato paste.
Step 4: Add in the cabbage and toss to combine. Lower the heat, cover and allow the mixture to cook. Toss and turn the ingredients every few minutes so the cabbage cooks through. Covering the skillet helps to cook down the cabbage and using low heat will ensure there are no burned pieces.
Step 5: Once the cabbage is cooked top with the bacon pieces and serve.
Tips and Variations
Change up the sausage. Use a different type of meat and try ground chicken or turkey or choose a different type of sausage.
Choose a variety of cabbage. Instead of using just one type of cabbage use green and purple for more color in this fried cabbage and bacon recipe.
Add your favorite herbs. Stir in some parsley, oregano, or rosemary for added flavor.
Mix in more veggies. Saute some bell peppers along with the onion or add whatever you’ve got on hand.
Swap the onion. Try using leeks or shallots instead of the onion.
FAQs
Yes, absolutely! Fried cabbage is great to eat, especially when you’ve got fried cabbage with bacon and Italian sausage. Super tasty!
Anything goes with fried cabbage and sausage, but you can serve it with rice, beans or cauliflower mashed potatoes to name a few options.
It is a good idea to give your cabbage a wash before cooking with it. I also recommend removing the outer layer of leafy green as those tend to be dirtier.
RECOMMENDED KITCHEN TOOLS
Pictured in this recipe is the Lodge 3.6 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Oval Casserole with lid, dual handles. This casserole doubles as a large skillet and it is oven safe up to 500° F or on stovetop, color oyster white.
Other tools, accessories can be found on my Amazon Store Front.
Make Ahead and Storage
Make ahead: If you are someone who likes to meal prep, this recipe for fried cabbage with sausage is perfect. The cabbage holds up really well and the flavors will continue to develop over a few days.
Storage: In an airtight container, this sausage and cabbage recipe will keep for 3 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer. Allow the cabbage and sausage to defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat over the stove or in the microwave the next day.
Looking for more recipes?
- Turkey Fennel Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
- Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup
- Healthy Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry
- Egg Roll In A Bowl
RECIPE TIP
If you are looking for quicker and easier prep, pick up a bag of coleslaw mix at the grocery store and you won’t have to slice the cabbage.
Fried Cabbage with Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 head cabbage thinly chopped
- 4 Italian sausages casing removed
- 3 slices bacon cubed small
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste sub for sun dried tomato
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet cook bacon until crunchy (about 8 minutes). Transfer bacon bits to a plate leaving bacon fat in the pan.
- Sauté onion and garlic until slightly golden (2 min)
- Stir in sausage, cook until no longer pink (7-8 min). Season with salt, pepper, paprika, fennel seeds and tomato paste.
- Add cabbage and toss. Turn heat down to low, cover, and continue to cook (15-18 min). Be sure to toss and turn every few minutes so all the cabbage cooks through. Covering the skillet helps to cook down the cabbage. Low heat will ensure there are no burned pieces.
- When done top with bacon bits and serve.
Notes
- Be sure to toss and turn every few minutes so all the cabbage cooks through.
- Covering the skillet helps to cook down the cabbage.
- Low heat will ensure there are no burned bits.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
