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This Sweet and sour cabbage is a simple side dish that combines fresh green cabbage and salty bacon with a delicious sweet and sour sauce. It's flavorful and perfect to pair with almost any meal.
Try pairing this recipe with some Southern Cornbread! If you're craving more tasty side dish recipes, then be sure to try making a pot of Ham, Green Beans, and Potatoes or some Easy Candied Yams.
The combination of cabbage and bacon is pretty hard to beat when it comes to a hearty down-home recipe. This pairing is humble yet so incredibly flavorful that it makes it the perfect addition to any meal.
This recipe is great because it's simple and quick and puts a twist on this winning ingredient combination. The vinegar adds a tangy acidic bite to the cabbage while the brown sugar sweetens the recipe and helps to bring out the smokey flavors of the bacon. You have to give this recipe a try as I'm sure you will not be disappointed.
Let's get started!
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Ingredients You'll Need
- Shredded Green Cabbage - Grab a green head of cabbage and use a knife and cutting board to cut it into smaller pieces. If you prefer to use the bagged version of cabbage, that is already chopped, then you may use that instead as well. Just make sure that it only has green cabbage and no other vegetables mixed in. You may also substitute red cabbage instead.
- Bacon - Any brand of your favorite bacon will work. Try to select an original flavor for the best smokey flavored results.
- All-Purpose Flour - Helps to thicken the sauce. Be sure to use plain all-purpose flour with nothing else added to it.
- Brown Sugar - Adds a slightly sweet flavor to the dish. May use light or dark brown sugar, either will work.
- Vinegar - Provides acid to the cabbage and also the sour flavor that pairs nicely with the sweet. May use apple cider vinegar, white distilled or even rice vinegar.
- Water - Helps to create the sweet and sour sauce for this recipe that coats the cabbage as well as to boil the cabbage to make it fork tender.
- Chopped Onion - With so many flavors already in this side dish, try using a white onion that is mild in flavor and has a more mellow sweet flavor. If you prefer to use yellow onion or have one on hand, then you can use that instead.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredients and quantities.
Step By Step Instructions
Begin the recipe by cooking the five cups of chopped cabbage in boiling water for about 5 minutes and then drain off the water. This step will help to slightly soften the cabbage, but will still allow it to remain slightly crisp. Set aside.
Next, cook the bacon until it's well done and blot it with a paper towel to remove the excess oil.
Mix the leftover bacon fat with the all-purpose flour and brown sugar until combined. Add in the vinegar, water, chopped onion, salt and ground black pepper. Whisk until combined, the mixture will be thick.
Add the cabbage back to the pan with the sauce. Chop the bacon into smaller pieces and place it on top of the cooked cabbage.
Mix everything together until combined and serve warm. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Do not overcook the cabbage or it will be mushy.
- The thickness and head of the cabbage will cause the cooking time to vary. When boiling the cabbage, try it to make sure it is to your desired level of tenderness. We want it to be tender but still have a bite to it.
- Instead of buying the prepared bag of cabbage, use a fresh head of green cabbage and prepare it yourself. Use a sharp knife and cutting board. Begin cutting from the top of the cabbage and work your way down toward the stalk/stem. Make the slices as thick or thin as you prefer.
- One small head of cabbage should be more than enough to have the five cups needed to make this recipe.
- To make it spicy, add some crushed red pepper or your favorite hot sauce.
- You may substitute the green cabbage for red cabbage instead if you prefer.
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Before serving, reheat on the stove in a saucepan over medium-high heat until warm, stirring often. The cabbage may also be reheated in the microwave in a microwave-safe container.
Freezer - Unfortunately this particular cabbage recipe does not freeze well and is best enjoyed within a few days of preparing.
More Recipes You'll Love
Have any comments, questions, or other ideas for this Sweet and Sour Cabbage Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!
📖 Recipe
Sweet and Sour Cabbage
Ingredients
- 5 cups roughly chopped green cabbage
- ½ cup cooked bacon, chopped
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¼ cup vinegar
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup onion, chopped
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Begin the recipe by cooking the 5 cups of chopped cabbage in boiling water for about 5 minutes and then drain off the water. This step will help to slightly soften the cabbage, but also still allow it to remain slightly crispy.
- *Boil enough water to cover the cabbage and then add the prepared shredded cabbage. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until slightly tender. Set aside.
- Using a large skillet or the same pan, cook the ½ cup of bacon until it's well done and carefully remove it from the pan. Blot it with a paper towel to remove the excess oil.
- Mix the leftover bacon fat with the 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and 3 tablespoons brown sugar. Add in the ¼ cup vinegar, ½ cup water, ¼ cup chopped onion, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper.
- Add the cabbage back to the pan with the sauce and toss to combine and coat the cabbage in the sauce mixture. Chop the bacon into small pieces and place it on top of the cooked cabbage.
- Mix everything together until combined and cook for an additional 5 minutes, until heated thoroughly. Serve warm and enjoy!
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days
Notes
- Do not overcook the cabbage or it will be mushy.
- The thickness and head of the cabbage will cause the cooking time to vary. When boiling the cabbage, try it to make sure it is to your desired level of tenderness. We want it to be tender but still have a bite to it.
- Instead of buying the prepared bag of cabbage, use a fresh head of green cabbage and prepare it yourself. Use a sharp knife and cutting board. Begin cutting from the top of the cabbage and work your way down toward the stalk/stem. Make the slices as thick or thin as you prefer.
- To make it spicy, add some crushed red pepper or your favorite hot sauce.
- You may substitute the green cabbage for red cabbage instead if you prefer.
Nutrition
*All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands used, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
Original post date 04/15/2014. Updated 09/24/2019 and 10/10/2022.
Evi
Such a delicious and flavorful cabbage recipe. It was really easy to make too, and I cant wait to make it again.
LaKita
Thank you so much Evi!
Anna
Loved this recipe, it reminded me of polish bigos a bit, the cabbage turned out so delicious, especially with that crispy bacon!
LaKita
Thank you Anna, it is such a great pairing!
Katie Crenshaw
I love having cabbage in the fall and winter. This recipe turned out so flavorful. It made the perfect side dish. It was so good.
LaKita
Thank you Katie, happy to hear you enjoyed it!
Kristina
I always make the same old cabbage recipes, so decided to give this one a try because it sounded amazing..and let's be real...it has bacon! It was really good and the savory bacon was perfect with the sweet/sour sauce. Definitely recommend!
LaKita
Thank you Kristina, the addition of bacon is so perfect with the sweet and sour!
Enri Lemoine
Cabbage and bacon are a match made in heave, I love sour and sweet things. So far, your recipe is one of my favorite ways to eat cabbage. Thanks for sharing!
LaKita
Thank you Enri! Cabbage and bacon are a great combination!
Jessica
My family loved this recipe - they love cabbage already, so I knew it would be a hit. The flavors were all so tasty together. Thanks!!
LaKita
Thank you Jessica, glad to hear that you family enjoyed the recipe!
Marie
I've had cabbage with bacon before and I'd always found it a bit heavy. The touch of acidity in your recipe is the genius touch! It lifts everything and makes the dish so much better. Loved it!
LaKita
Thank you Marie, the acid certainly makes a difference!
Colleen
This sweet & sour cabbage is simple, delicious, and a perfect side dish for our pork chops last night. Thank you!
LaKita
Thank you so much Colleen!!
Bernice
Wow! I am in love with this dish...I'm always looking for more delicious cabbage recipes and this one ticks all the boxes. I grew up eating cabbage in various forms but I'm not sure how my family didn't make this dish. I'm going to make it for them the next time they visit because I know it will be a big hit.
LaKita
Thank you so much Bernice! This is a nice way to have cabbage in my opinion 😉
Linda
My mom and grandmother used to make this all the time. It's been a while since I've had it so thank you for the reminder. It was so delicious and brought back so many happy memories.
LaKita
Thank you so much Linda! Happy to hear you enjoyed the cabbage recipe.
Carole
This looks like a delicious recipe. Some that I looked at were mostly vinegar and looked like too much pucker power. I will use rice vinegar which is a tiny bit milder. Brown sugar does wonders for ham so I am sure it will be great with bacon. Love cabbage whether cooked or in Cole slaw. Also love sweet and sour. The combination is a winner. A little sweet onion like Walla Walla or Vadalia just puts it over the top.
LaKita
Sounds great! Thank you so much for sharing and glad to hear that you enjoyed the recipe.
Lorna
Lovely recipe I’ve. Used cider vinegar it works a treat 🎃🎃🎃
LaKita
Thank you so much Lorna! Glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe!
Sheila Lewis
My husband loves this receipe and he's not all that big on cabbage!!!!!
LaKita
So glad to hear it!!!
Theresa Simons
delicious the best I love it.
LaKita
Thank you Theresa!