Irish Bacon and Cabbage Recipe made with only 5 ingredients. Make this tantalizing side dish for Saint Patrick’s Day, or for dinner any night of the week!

Irish Bacon and Cabbage Recipe in bowl

Why We Love This Irish Cabbage and Bacon Recipe

Disclaimer: Today’s Irish Cabbage and Bacon is based on a classic Irish dish usually made with large slabs of pork (pork belly) boiled down into a rich fatty broth that the cabbage is later stewed in.

As I’m not Irish, I have a hard time swallowing the idea of boiling pork in water.

Instead, I decided to make a quickie version, an Americanized alternative, using the same ingredients, but a different cooking method. This way, we get actual bacon that is slightly crispy, with tender, al dente cabbage with a bit of extra flavor from the onion, salt, pepper, and mustard seeds!

If you need an easy meal to serve up around St. Patrick’s Day, you have to try this Irish cabbage and bacon recipe. It is completely irresistible!

Irish Bacon and Cabbage in a stock pot with a spoon holding a portion above it.

Ingredients You Need

My Irish Bacon and Cabbage is made with only 5 simple ingredients:

  • Thick-cut Bacondiced into smaller pieces
  • Large Green Cabbagecut into 12 wedges
  • Large Oniondiced
  • Chicken Brothfor added flavor
  • Mustard Seedsadds a bit of a kick
  • Salt and Black Pepper To taste (or add red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne pepper for a spicy kick!)
Boiled Cabbage Recipe in bowl with forkful coming up

How to Make Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Place a large stockpot or dutch oven over medium heat to medium-high heat. Cut the bacon strips into 4 pieces each with a knife. Separate the bacon pieces and place them in the pot. Stir and fry until the bacon is cooked, but not fully crispy.

Meanwhile, peel the onion and cut it into 8 wedges. Then cut the cabbage in half and remove the core. Cut the cabbage into 12 wedges. Once the bacon is mostly cooked, add the onion to the pot and sauté for 3-4 minutes to soften.

Bacon cooking in a large pot on the stove.

Add the cabbage, chicken broth, and mustard seeds. Stir to move the cabbage to the bottom of the pot and bring the bacon upward.

Cabbage cooking in a large pot on the stove.

Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the thickest parts of the cabbage have a tender silky texture. Stir once or twice while cooking. Taste, then salt and pepper as needed.

Serve in a bowl with whole-grain mustard on the side, if desired.

Pot of bacon and cabbage on the stove

Tips & Tricks

  • Get the bacon just slightly crispy! You don’t want super crispy bacon in this recipe because it will be harder to eat! So make sure it is slightly crispy, but not too much.
  • Serve with whole-grain mustard! The mustard seeds in this recipe will shine with a little extra whole-grain mustard on the side.
  • Goes well with potatoes! To turn this into a hearty meal, serve with some roasted potatoes!

See The (Printable) Recipe Card Below For How To Make Irish Bacon and Cabbage. Enjoy!

Irish bacon with cabbage cooked down in pot.

Serving Suggestions

This Irish bacon and cabbage would to well alone, as a side dish, or with a few dish dishes to create a whole meal! I just know that this fried bacon and cabbage would go amazingly with creamy mashed potatoes or some crispy roasted potatoes!

You can also serve this as a savory side dish with grilled ham steaks, smoked pork chops, or even steak!

For an Irish feast, pair it with Irish potato pie, bangers and mash, or savory cottage pie!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Cut Cabbage for Frying?

How you cut the cabbage is totally up to you. Keep in mind that cabbage shrinks significantly once it is cooked! If you cut it into very small pieces, it won’t have that much texture once it is cooked. I like to first cut mine in half, then remove the core. After that, I simply slice each half into 6 smaller wedges. If you want them to be smaller, you can cut each wedge in half! Totally up to you!

How Long Does This Fried Cabbage Recipe Last In The Fridge?

You can store the leftover pan-fried cabbage in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Reheat these leftovers in a large skillet instead of a microwave.

What Do I Serve With This Recipe?

Although you can serve this cooked cabbage recipe as a side dish with corned beef, proportionally there is a lot of bacon in this recipe. Enough protein to make it a main dish in my opinion.

In Ireland, it’s often served as the main course with mustard and boiled potatoes.

Should I Drain The Bacon Fat/Bacon Drippings?

No need to pull out paper towels to pat the bacon dry. The bacon grease that comes off the bacon slices will only be a few ounces, and it will help create the flavor of the recipe and enhance the taste as the cabbage cooks in it. That is what makes this a delicious fried cabbage with bacon recipe!

Can I Make A Smaller Portion?

Of course, you can. You can find a small head of cabbage to use for this recipe and then cut the rest of the ingredients in half. This low-carb dish can be based on the size of the cabbage head you find!

Easy Cabbage and bacon served in bowl.

Other Easy Irish Recipes You Might Like:

Check the printable recipe card below for the nutrition information for this vegetable side dish including calories, carbohydrates, protein, cholesterol, sodium, fiber, and vitamin c percentages.

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Irish Bacon and Cabbage Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
This traditional Irish Cabbage and Bacon Recipe is made with only 5 ingredients! Make this tantalizing side dish for Saint Patrick’s Day or for any dinner! 
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place a large stockpot over medium heat. Cut the bacon strips into 4 pieces each. Separate the bacon pieces and place in the pot. Stir and sizzle until the bacon is cooked, but not fully crispy.
  • Meanwhile, peel the onion and cut it into 8 wedges. Then cut the cabbage in half and remove the core. Cut the cabbage into 12 wedges. Once the bacon is mostly cooked, add the onion to the pot and sauté for 3-4 minutes to soften.
  • Add the cabbage, chicken broth, and mustard seeds. Stir to move the cabbage to the bottom of the pot and bring the bacon upward. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the thickest parts of the cabbage are tender. Stir once or twice while cooking. Taste, then salt and pepper as needed. Serve with whole grain mustard on the side, if desired.

Video

Notes

You can store the leftover pan-fried cabbage in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Reheat these leftovers in a large skillet instead of a microwave.

Nutrition

Serving: 8ounces, Calories: 79kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 170mg, Potassium: 90mg, Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 0g, Vitamin A: 30IU, Vitamin C: 9.6mg, Calcium: 12mg, Iron: 0.2mg
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Irish
Author: Sommer Collier
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