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!
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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 You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple and hands-off. Just a few ingredients and basic seasonings with minimal prep. The slow cooker does the work while you wait.
- Feeds a crowd. One batch makes multiple servings, perfect for family dinners with the bonus of leftovers.
- Budget-friendly. It uses only a few slices of bacon, affordable cabbage, and pantry staples, keeping costs low without sacrificing flavor.
🛒 Ingredients
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.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
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.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Use Half the Bacon: You can easily cut the bacon amount in half and still get plenty of smoky flavor, especially if you keep the bacon grease for cooking.
Swap Broth for Bouillon: Instead of buying chicken broth, use water + a teaspoon of chicken bouillon or base. It's much cheaper and lasts longer in the pantry.
Buy Cabbage In-Season: Cabbage is often at its lowest price in fall and winter. Stock up when it's on sale; it's one of the most budget-friendly vegetables out there.
Stretch It Into a Meal: Add a can of diced potatoes, white beans, or leftover sliced sausage to turn this side dish into a full meal without increasing the cost much.
🥄 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.
👩🏻🍳 Expert 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.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage: Keep leftover Slow Cooker Cabbage with Bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. The flavors deepen, making it even better the next day.
Reheating: Warm on the stovetop over medium heat for 5-7 minutes or microwave in 30-second bursts until heated through. Add a splash of broth or water if needed.
Make Ahead: Prep the cabbage and cook the bacon 1-2 days ahead. Store separately to keep the bacon crisp, then combine when ready to cook.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
This slow cooker cabbage with bacon pairs wonderfully with oven-baked pork chops, baked chicken thighs, or grilled sausages for a hearty meal.
Serve it alongside mashed potatoes, roasted baby potatoes, or buttered noodles to soak up all those savory juices. For bread options, cornbread or warm dinner rolls make a cozy and comforting addition.
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❓ 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.
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🐝 If you tried this Slow Cooker Cabbage with Bacon, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Cabbage with Bacon
Ingredients
- 5-6 slices bacon - ($0.60)
- ¼ cup bacon grease, reserved - ($0.00)
- 1 cup onion, sliced thinly - ($0.91)
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced - ($0.20)
- 1 large head cabbage, chopped, about 8 to 10 cups - ($3.28)
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth - ($0.31)
- 1 teaspoon salt - ($0.01)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper - ($0.02)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar - ($0.04)
Instructions
- Cook bacon. Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon, reserve ¼ cup of the grease, and crumble the bacon into small pieces. Set aside.
- Prep cabbage. Wash the cabbage, cut it in half, then quarter it. Remove and discard the hard core. Chop into roughly 1-inch pieces and place in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Assemble. Add the reserved bacon grease, sliced onion, minced garlic, chicken broth, salt, pepper, apple cider vinegar, and crumbled bacon to the slow cooker.
- Cook. Cover and cook on high for 2 to 3 hours or on low for 4 to 6 hours, until the cabbage is tender.
- Finish. Stir well before serving and adjust seasoning if needed.
Notes
- Fat substitutes. Replace bacon grease with ¼ cup unsalted butter or use about ⅔ cup cooked bacon crumbles.
- Broth swap. Water plus chicken bouillon can be used in place of chicken broth.
- Flavor tip. Apple cider vinegar adds balance and brightness. Adjust to taste if preferred.
- Storage. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Reheating. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through.
Nutritional Information
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