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    Home » What We're Eating » Fried Cabbage with Apples and Onion

    Fried Cabbage with Apples and Onion

    Published: Sep 5, 2018 by Blair Lonergan

    Jump to Recipe
    Overhead of pan fried cabbage with text overlay
    Overhead image of fried cabbage with apples and onions in a skillet with text below

    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.

    Skillet of pan fried cabbage

    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.

    Fried cabbage in a skillet with spatula

    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!

    Fried cabbage with apples and onions in cast iron skillet

    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.

    Pan fried cabbage with apples and onions in a cast iron skillet with spatula and garnished with parsley

    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.

    Overhead image of pan fried cabbage in a blue cast iron skillet

    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!

    Print Pin
    4.95 from 18 votes

    Fried Cabbage with Apples and Onions

    A simple, nourishing, and flavorful side dish is ready in just minutes thanks to this Fried Cabbage with Apples and Onion!
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Keyword cabbage recipe, side dish, vegetable side dish
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 118kcal
    Author Blair Lonergan

    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

    Have leftovers? The cabbage refrigerates well and can be microwaved to warm and serve again at another meal.
    Cooking Just for Two? You can cut the ingredients in half and prepare a smaller skillet to serve just 2 people. The cooking instructions remain the same.
    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.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/4 of the recipe | Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 363mg | Potassium: 281mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 310IU | Vitamin C: 45.7mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 0.6mg
    « Our Week in Meals #94
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anne

      October 03, 2018 at 7:13 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Blair

        October 03, 2018 at 2:46 pm

        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!

        Reply
        • Debbie

          October 17, 2021 at 11:18 pm

          5 stars
          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.

          Reply
          • Blair Lonergan

            October 18, 2021 at 4:47 am

            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! 🙂

            Reply
          • Judy Oros

            May 01, 2022 at 5:57 pm

            5 stars
            This is probably the best ever!! I love vegetarian meals especially on Meatless Mondays! I served this on top of street taco’s. I omitted the sugar and no bacon. Thanks for all you do!!

            Reply
            • Blair Lonergan

              May 01, 2022 at 7:35 pm

              Thank you, Judy! Sounds like a perfect vegetarian meal!

    2. Helen

      November 24, 2018 at 11:19 pm

      Can the Vidalia onion be substituted with red or yellow onion? Wondering if it would still be as good.

      Reply
      • Blair

        November 25, 2018 at 1:56 pm

        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.

        Reply
      • Amy

        September 15, 2019 at 7:35 pm

        I just used a yellow onion and it was still addictively good!

        Reply
    3. katie

      April 20, 2019 at 1:26 pm

      5 stars
      Easy, excellent, and tasty side. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Blair

        April 20, 2019 at 4:00 pm

        Thanks, Katie!

        Reply
    4. Zoe

      June 03, 2019 at 3:54 am

      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 🙂

      Reply
      • Blair

        June 03, 2019 at 5:40 am

        Wonderful! So glad that you enjoyed it, Zoe!

        Reply
    5. Amy

      September 15, 2019 at 7:36 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Blair

        September 16, 2019 at 7:39 am

        Thank you, Amy! I'm so glad that you liked it!

        Reply
    6. Betsy

      October 30, 2019 at 8:21 pm

      5 stars
      Really delicious! I cooked the onion in butter first before adding other ingredients and added leftover bacon at the end..we all loved it!

      Reply
      • Blair

        October 31, 2019 at 5:28 am

        Sounds perfect! Thanks, Betsy!

        Reply
      • Joyce A McCarthy

        January 23, 2020 at 7:27 am

        You actually had leftover bacon? Kudos!

        Reply
        • Blair

          January 23, 2020 at 2:42 pm

          Reply
    7. Linda Fulk

      November 04, 2019 at 6:18 pm

      Had this with pork chops and stewed potatoes. Husband said it was the best cabbage he had ever eaten.

      Reply
    8. Anne Tifveemsn

      November 16, 2019 at 11:26 am

      5 stars
      I need some good SALT FREE recipes.

      Reply
    9. Brittany

      November 20, 2019 at 4:03 pm

      5 stars
      This looks absolutely amazing! Do you think it would pair well with sauerkraut? Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Blair

        November 21, 2019 at 8:36 am

        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. 🙂

        Reply
      • Diane Garrett

        December 17, 2019 at 9:16 pm

        5 stars
        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.

        Reply
        • Blair

          December 18, 2019 at 4:48 am

          Thanks, Diane! I'm so glad that you enjoyed it. I think cabbage is a very underrated veggie! 🙂

          Reply
        • Mrs. G

          November 17, 2020 at 6:30 pm

          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.

          Reply
          • Blair

            November 17, 2020 at 8:01 pm

            That's awesome -- I'm so glad that your husband approved, too! 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to leave a note!

            Reply
    10. Diane

      January 02, 2020 at 3:50 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Blair

        January 02, 2020 at 4:07 pm

        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! 🙂

        Reply
    11. Nevaeh

      January 30, 2020 at 10:59 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Blair

        January 31, 2020 at 5:57 am

        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!

        Reply
    12. Bobbi

      October 18, 2020 at 11:32 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Blair

        October 18, 2020 at 12:49 pm

        Thanks, Bobbi! I bet it was delicious with the added sausage. YUM!

        Reply
    13. Lorraine

      February 01, 2021 at 1:11 pm

      5 stars
      I added a teaspoon of fennel seeds. Everyone enjoyed. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Blair

        February 01, 2021 at 2:20 pm

        Wonderful! Thanks for letting me know, Lorraine!

        Reply
    14. Jan teti

      February 22, 2021 at 9:49 pm

      5 stars
      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

      Reply
      • Blair

        February 23, 2021 at 5:35 am

        Thanks, Jan! Yes -- I agree...this is perfect for St. Patty's Day! 🙂

        Reply
    15. Rebecca

      August 29, 2021 at 6:57 am

      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 🙂

      Reply
      • Blair

        August 29, 2021 at 2:35 pm

        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!

        Reply
    16. Carolyn

      October 30, 2021 at 2:42 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Blair Lonergan

        October 30, 2021 at 3:38 pm

        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!

        Reply
    17. Debbie Roche

      February 22, 2022 at 5:31 pm

      I grew up eating fried cabbage and apples. My grandmother was of German descent and my mom grew up eating food like this. She loved anything with cabbage and vinegar.
      When I saw this recipe I knew I needed to try it.
      I made it exactly as written, then at the end I added a package of sliced smoked sausage.
      Delicious!

      Reply
      • Blair Lonergan

        February 22, 2022 at 7:28 pm

        Thank you, Debbie. I'm like your mom -- love anything with cabbage and vinegar. 🙂 It must be the Polish in me. I'm so glad that you enjoyed the dish. The smoked sausage is a perfect addition!

        Reply
    18. richard schmidt

      April 24, 2022 at 2:12 pm

      4 stars
      delicious but i coarsely chopped the apples instead of grating them and i added caraway seeds

      Reply
      • Blair Lonergan

        April 24, 2022 at 4:16 pm

        Sounds great, Richard!

        Reply

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