This slow cooker cabbage with bacon recipe is packed with delicious flavors in every bite and requires very little effort to make- making it a perfect side dish for any occasion. With bacon, garlic, and onions scattered throughout, you know it's going to be good!
Recipe: $5.37 | Per Serving: $0.54 | Servings: 10
I love this bacon and cabbage slow cooker recipe. It's so simple and easy to make that we would live off of it if we could- no joke, everyone loves cabbage and bacon around here, and requests for this dish come in every time I bring home a new head of fresh cabbage.
Cooking cabbage in the slow cooker is my favorite no-hassle way to do it because it's as easy as setting it in the pot and walking away. If you enjoy bacon and cabbage, then this recipe is sure to be a huge hit around your home like it is in mine!
If you want more green veggies and bacon on your plate try our Bacon Ranch Brussel Sprouts and Instant Pot Brussel Sprouts and Bacon.
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🍯 Why This Recipe Works
- It's simple. Made with just a few ingredients and some basic seasonings, this recipe doesn't take much time or effort to prep, but it does require a little patience.
- Several servings. One batch of this cabbage and bacon mix will give you plenty of servings for the whole family to enjoy, and if you're lucky, there may even be some leftovers available for the next day!
- It is cheap! Although bacon can be a bit costly, this recipe requires only a few slices. Cabbage, on the other hand, is a highly affordable vegetable, and the seasonings used are likely staples in your pantry, making this side dish a frugal and budget-friendly choice.
🥘 Ingredients
Ingredient Notes:
Cabbage- You'll need a head of green cabbage for this recipe, but purple cabbage (or a blend of both) can be used instead.
Bacon- We like to use hickory smoked bacon or applewood bacon for the best flavor pairing. Still have bacon leftover? Try it in our Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad, Easy Spinach Bacon Quiche, or Maple Bacon Dip.
Apple Cider Vinegar- Adding in a little vinegar really helps to elevate the flavors.
Minced Garlic- You can use minced garlic from a jar or fresh minced garlic depending on which you'd prefer.
For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.
🧾 Substitutions
Bacon grease. Instead of using bacon grease, you can use ¼ cup of sliced butter.
Bacon. Instead of cooking your own bacon strips, you can replace them with ⅔ cups of bacon crumbles/bacon bits.
Chicken broth. Water and chicken bullion can be used as a substitute.
🔪 Instructions for Slow Cooker Cabbage with Bacon
Step 1: Cook bacon in a skillet until crispy. Reserve grease and crumble the cooked bacon into small pieces (about ½ inch). Set aside.
Step 2: Wash and cut your cabbage, in half. Then slice it again to quarter it into about 1 inch-sized pieces. Remove the hard core from the 4 quarters and discard. Place at the bottom of the slow cooker.
Step 3: Place all of the remaining ingredients into the crockpot (bacon, grease, salt, pepper, chicken stock, etc.)
Step 4: Cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-6.
Step 5: Stir before serving.
🍴 Recipe Tips
- Precooked Bacon. For this slow cooker bacon and cabbage recipe, ensure that the bacon added to the slow cooker has been cooked until crisp beforehand. While the slow cooker can fully cook bacon, it won't achieve a crispy texture. Adding raw bacon will result in a pink, rubbery mess.
- Enhancing Flavor. The addition of apple cider vinegar doesn't break down the dish but enhances its flavor profile, complementing other ingredients for a savory and aromatic result.
💭 Recipe FAQs
Leftovers of this dish can be kept stored in an airtight or covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days. For best tasting results eat within 2 or 3.
Yes, simply place the cabbage in a pot on the stove over medium heat and stir almost constantly until heated through. You can also place a bowl of it in the microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring well at the halfway mark.
This dish is perfect as-is for a main meal but if you want to make it into a side dish, feel free to serve it up with some hearty meat options. Foods like chicken, ham, or even pork roast would be perfect for pairing together with this savory dish.
❤️ More Delicious Side Dish Recipes
If you tried this Slow Cooker Cabbage, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Cabbage
Ingredients
- 5-6 slices bacon ($0.60)
- ¼ cup reserved bacon grease ($0.00)
- 1 large head cabbage, chopped (roughly 8-10 cups) ($3.28)
- 1 teaspoon salt ($0.01)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper ($0.02)
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth ($0.31)
- 1 cup onion, sliced thinly ($0.91)
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar ($0.04)
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic ($0.20)
Instructions
- Cook bacon in a skillet until crispy. Reserve grease and crumble the cooked bacon into small pieces (about ½ inch). Set aside.
- Wash and cut your cabbage, in half. Then slice again to quarter it. About 1 inch sized pieces. Remove the hard core from the 4 quarters and discard. Place at bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place all of the remaining ingredients into the crockpot (bacon, grease, salt, pepper, chicken stock, etc.)
- Cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-6.
- Stir before serving.
Notes
- Instead of bacon grease, use ¼ cup of sliced butter or ⅔ cups of bacon crumbles.
- Water and chicken bullion can be substituted.
- Ensure bacon is cooked until desired crispness before adding to the dish.
- Consider adding apple cider vinegar for extra flavor. Storage & Reheating:
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
- Reheat cabbage in a pot over medium heat until warmed through, stirring constantly. Serve warm.
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