Old Fashioned Cabbage Kielbasa and Bacon

Old Fashioned Cabbage Kielbasa and Bacon is a hearty dish, full of flavor using only a few ingredients, budget friendly and ready in less than 30 minutes!

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This tasty Old Fashioned Cabbage Kielbasa and Bacon recipe is perfect for a quick lunch, dinner or side dish, and is only 4 ingredients, not including the salt and pepper!  Does that really make it 6 ingredients?  I guess so.  Alright 6 ingredients, including salt and pepper!  Regardless, sometimes the simplest recipes are the best! 

The problem with cabbage is that it can be bitter, hard and tough when eaten raw and looks terrible when overcooked or not cooked correctly.  When cooked properly cabbage is one of my favorite vegetables.

If I am in a pinch and need something fast and fabulous for dinner this is my go to recipe!  I think I could really eat this dish every single day and luckily my family also enjoy it, even though I doubt they would like to eat it every day.  Actually I know they wouldn’t for sure!  No doubt about it!

The end result of this one pot Old Fashioned Cabbage Kielbasa and Bacon recipe is a cabbage that’s tender but not mushy. This is one of the best ways to prepare cabbage in my opinion and my family will tell you they agree on most days!

Can I make Old Fashioned Cabbage Kielbasa and Bacon healthier?

If you’re watching your fat and calorie intake don’t hesitate to use another oil that fits into your eating style instead of cooking everything with the bacon grease.   Your dinner or side will still turn out beautifully!

To make this dish healthier, you can also substitute some of the green cabbage for a blend of green and purple or red cabbage. Purple or red varieties of cabbage have more vitamin A than green cabbage, and contain antioxidants that are also great for you and your heart. 

Use a different kind of sausage or bacon, even meatless, if you prefer.

Ingredients in Old Fashioned Cabbage Kielbasa and Bacon

• cabbage
• bacon
• kielbasa
• hot pepper sauce (my homemade is easy and terrific!)
• salt
• pepper

How to make Old Fashioned Cabbage Kielbasa and Bacon

Using your largest skillet, or large pot, fry bacon until almost cooked.  Chop your bacon to create big enough pieces that can be easily pierced with a fork. Remove some of the bacon fat from the pan, leaving a few tablespoons behind, if desired. 

If I am only using a half a pound of bacon I usually do not remove any excess grease.  If I use a pound of bacon I do.  I take a few pieces of paper towel, scrunch them up into a ball, slightly tip the pan, soak up some of the grease and discard the paper towel.

I used to just pour the excess grease into a jar I kept handy by the stove, just like my grandmother taught me to!  Anyone else ever do that?

Add chopped or sliced kielbasa.

Stir until browned slightly.  By cooking the bacon first, and then your kielbasa, you will have some of the tastiest cabbage on earth, I believe.

Add chopped cabbage.  Try to cut the cabbage in pieces about the same size as your slices of Kielbasa. The cabbage will cook evenly and fit easily into everyone’s mouth that eats it! 

Also, the skillet will seem too full when you add the cabbage at first but don’t worry, the cabbage will gradually reduce in size as the water is released from it.

Adjust and then stir until cabbage is cooked.

Add 5-6 dashes or 1-2 tablespoons of our homemade hot pepper sauce.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Health Benefits of Cabbage

Cabbage is extremely good for you, on many levels, and something I try to incorporate into our diets regularly.  I sometimes crave and totally enjoy the smooth and buttery flavor of cabbage when it’s cooked and my son and husband love it, thank goodness.

There are numerous health benefits to cabbage and this dish is a great choice for people on special diets or eating programs or plans.  Perfect for Keto, low carb, low glycemic, gluten free, or dairy free.

This dinner is also full of natural fats, protein, and is and is packed with fiber, Vitamin C, Potassium (Vitamin K), and other essential nutrients. The high fiber and low carbohydrate levels keep you full and satisfied, without the “crashing” that comes with high carb meals.

Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable like Broccoli, Cauliflower, Collard greens, Brussels sprouts, Turnips, Radishes, Rutabaga, among others, with a reputation for fighting cancer and promoting cardiovascular health, among other health benefits, you can investigate here, if you are interested.  

Variations to try in this Old Fashioned Cabbage Kielbasa and Bacon

For a different texture or flavor you can always do the following:

Add a different kind of sausage, including chicken sausage, turkey sausage, Polish sausage, or meat free

Include ham or ground beef instead

Use only bacon and more of it

Include pasta, noodles or potatoes

Saute onions before you add the kielbasa

Add garlic and chopped sweet peppers after cabbage has reduced

Use crushed red pepper flakes instead of hot sauce

How long will Old Fashioned Cabbage Kielbasa and Bacon last

This hearty cabbage side dish or main course makes terrific leftovers that you can eat for lunch or dinner the next day, hot or cold, and enjoy every bite!

This dish will keep in your fridge for a couple of days and can be quickly reheated in a hot frying pan, but it is best when it is fresh! 

Other Cabbage Recipes to Try

Easy Cabbage and Vegetables

Lazy Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Casserole

Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Stew

Old Fashioned Cabbage Kielbasa and Bacon Video