A simple, nourishing, and flavorful side dish is ready in just minutes! This skillet of Fried Cabbage with Apples and Onions makes the perfect addition to a cozy fall meal.
One reason that I love casseroles so much is that the one-dish meals offer a simple way to get protein, veggies, and carbs on the table with minimal thought and effort (it's all thrown in there together)!
But we don't enjoy casseroles every night of the week, and sometimes an amazing entree like a 4-Ingredient Pork Loin Roast, Southern Bourbon-Glazed Beef Tenderloin, or a Mustard and Brown Sugar Baked Pork Tenderloin just calls for a really incredible side dish.
When you need a delicious vegetable option to round out the meal, this fried cabbage is the perfect solution!
How do you pan fry cabbage?
You'll love how simple this is! You don't need any fancy equipment and you don't need much prep time. Here's how it works:
- Remove the core and thinly slice half a head of green cabbage; thinly slice an onion; and coarsely grate an apple.
- Melt butter in a large skillet, and add the remaining ingredients.
- Sauté the cabbage for about 12-15 minutes, or until it's tender and starts to brown a bit.
That's it!
COOK'S TIPS:
- This is obviously a recipe for Southern Fried Cabbage without bacon. I've used butter as the fat for cooking the cabbage in the skillet. However, bacon pairs beautifully with these ingredients and can be included in the recipe if you like! Dice a few slices of bacon and brown them in the skillet before you add the vegetables. Instead of using 2 tablespoons of butter for frying, cut the butter back to 1 tablespoon and leave the bacon drippings in the skillet for flavorful cooking fat.
- You can shred the cabbage as thinly as you like. I've left it fairly coarse here for nice texture, but if you use a very thinly sliced cabbage, you will likely need to decrease the cooking time.
- Want a shortcut? Grab a bag of coleslaw mix from the produce section. You need about 3-4 cups of shredded cabbage altogether.
Even if you think that you don't love cabbage, you're going to adore the sweet, tangy, and savory combination of flavors in this easy side dish. The healthy fried cabbage doesn't have a strong, pungent flavor; instead, it just gets mild, buttery and melt-in-your-mouth good.
If you’ve tried this Fried Cabbage with Apples and Onions or any other recipe on The Seasoned Mom, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! You can follow me on Facebook, on Instagram, on Pinterest, and on Twitter!
Fried Cabbage with Apples and Onions
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 apple, coarsely grated
- ½ head of green cabbage, thinly sliced (about 3 – 4 cups)
- 1 small Vidalia onion, thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Dash of ground nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large skillet. Add apples, cabbage, onion, salt, nutmeg, vinegar, and sugar; sauté over medium-high heat until tender (about 12-15 minutes). Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Notes
- This is obviously a recipe for Southern Fried Cabbage without bacon. I've used butter as the fat for cooking the cabbage in the skillet. However, bacon pairs beautifully with these ingredients and can be included in the recipe if you like! Dice a few slices of bacon and brown them in the skillet before you add the vegetables. Instead of using 2 tablespoons of butter for frying, cut the butter back to 1 tablespoon and leave the bacon drippings in the skillet for flavorful cooking fat.
- You can shred the cabbage as thinly as you like. I've left it fairly coarse here for nice texture, but if you use a very thinly sliced cabbage, you will likely need to decrease the cooking time.
- Want a shortcut? Grab a bag of coleslaw mix from the produce section. You need about 3-4 cups of shredded cabbage altogether.
Anne
A quick delicious side enjoyed by the guys in my house! Thanks Blair - Tasty, easy and paired beautifully with pork chops. I will definitely make this recipe again and again.
Blair
Wonderful! I'm glad to hear that the family approved! It's definitely one of my favorite easy sides. And I agree -- it pairs perfectly with pork!
Debbie
It was fast, simple and delicious!
I used rice as a side, and had a complete meal in 30 minutes. This recipe is one I will definitely make again as well as trying some of the other cabbage recipes. Thanks so much for a wonderful dinner for two! My husband really enjoyed this dish as well.
Blair Lonergan
I'm so glad to hear that, Debbie! It's one of my favorites as well. Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a note! 🙂
Helen
Can the Vidalia onion be substituted with red or yellow onion? Wondering if it would still be as good.
Blair
Hi, Helen! I prefer the Vidalia because it's sweet, but if you don't mind a less sweet onion, the red or yellow will work fine.
Amy
I just used a yellow onion and it was still addictively good!
katie
Easy, excellent, and tasty side. Thank you.
Blair
Thanks, Katie!
Zoe
We had this in buns with beautiful pork sausages and French mustard. Enjoyed by everyone on a cold night in the Blue Mountains. Australia. Thanks 🙂
Blair
Wonderful! So glad that you enjoyed it, Zoe!
Amy
Great side dish! We had it with burgers but I could see it with sausage or spicy foods too! I am sharing this with my sister and a friend!
Blair
Thank you, Amy! I'm so glad that you liked it!
Betsy
Really delicious! I cooked the onion in butter first before adding other ingredients and added leftover bacon at the end..we all loved it!
Blair
Sounds perfect! Thanks, Betsy!
Joyce A McCarthy
You actually had leftover bacon? Kudos!
Blair
Linda Fulk
Had this with pork chops and stewed potatoes. Husband said it was the best cabbage he had ever eaten.
Anne Tifveemsn
I need some good SALT FREE recipes.
Brittany
This looks absolutely amazing! Do you think it would pair well with sauerkraut? Thank you for sharing!
Blair
Hey, Brittany! It wouldn't be bad with sauerkraut, but I don't think you need both, since both sides are made with cabbage. I'd pick one or the other. 🙂
Diane Garrett
I was pleasantly surprised how delicious this is. The mix of sweet from the apple and savory from the onions and cabbage was so good. A must keep recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Blair
Thanks, Diane! I'm so glad that you enjoyed it. I think cabbage is a very underrated veggie! 🙂
Mrs. G
I made the full recipe tonight for just 2 of us. The cabbage was a decent size so I added an extra apple and used a large yellow onion to compensate. I expected lots of leftovers but there is just over 1 cup left! My husband devoured it like it was his job! Will definitely make again but I might use different vinegar, all I had on hand was Braggs Cider Vinegar and white distilled. The Braggs (with the mother) was a bit potent but still delicious if anyone was wondering.
Blair
That's awesome -- I'm so glad that your husband approved, too! 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to leave a note!
Diane
My grandmother made this at least once a month, minus the nutmeg and vinegar. She boiled wide egg noodles and fried them for a few minutes with the cabbage mixture at the end. Made a great meatless Friday meal. I'm making your version tonight with a pork loin and spätzle. Thanks for sharing.
Blair
Your grandmother's version sounds delicious, too! I love this dish so much -- I would happily pair it with some noodles and enjoy it as a meatless entree. Thanks, Diane! 🙂
Nevaeh
NOTE Due to allergies I did not use butter, and used 4 drops of stevia. All three of my kids, ages 11, 13, 14 Loved it! We paired it with chuck roast. Used a granny smith green apple. So tasty. Thank you! will make again, and again.
Blair
That's great, Nevaeh! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a note and let me know. That's awesome that your kids even enjoyed it!
Bobbi
Great basic recipe! I love sausage with apple, so cooked up about 1/2 lb, and used that fat to cook onion, etc., and added the sausage back in at the end. Also made little apple slices instead of grating them because I didn't want them to get lost in the mix. I coul eat this till it comes out of my ears! And I never used to like cabbage - ha!
Blair
Thanks, Bobbi! I bet it was delicious with the added sausage. YUM!
Lorraine
I added a teaspoon of fennel seeds. Everyone enjoyed. Thanks for the recipe!
Blair
Wonderful! Thanks for letting me know, Lorraine!
Jan teti
I really liked this.I used 2 small apples and grated cabbage apples and red onions in my food processor. I served with pork tenderloin but I’m thinking it will a nice change to boiled cabbage this St Patrick’s day. Had some leftovers and it reheated nicely
Blair
Thanks, Jan! Yes -- I agree...this is perfect for St. Patty's Day! 🙂
Rebecca
Hi there!
What kind of apple do you recommend? Red or green? Will be making this week to pair with kranskies I got at the market 🙂
Blair
Hi, Rebecca! Really, whatever you prefer! I usually use Honey Crisp because that's what we tend to keep in our fridge. That said, Granny Smith is nice for a little bit of sweet-and-sour tang. Hope you enjoy the dish!
Carolyn
Can't wait to try this recipe. Nobody mentioned this - but we grew RED cabbage in our garden, can this be used instead of the green cabbage? And, we use maple syrup for our sweetner.
Blair Lonergan
Hi, Carolyn! Yes, you can use red cabbage. Here is a similar braised red cabbage recipe with apples and onions that you might like, too: https://www.theseasonedmom.com/braised-red-cabbage/
Hope you enjoy!